Laxido Sachets

About Laxido Orange

Laxido Orange sachets are available to buy online from The Independent Pharmacy. Laxido is supplied in packs of 30 sachets.

Laxido contains Macrogol 3350 and electrolytes. Macrogols are laxatives that are used for the treatment of constipation. Macrogol 3350 can also be used to treat a build-up of hard faeces in your bowel known as faecal impaction.

Macrogol 3350 makes your faeces softer and easier to pass, giving you relief from constipation while the electrolytes help to maintain your body’s normal levels of sodium, potassium and water during treatment.

What causes constipation?

Constipation is a common problem which can be caused by lifestyle factors such as not eating enough fibre or not drinking enough fluid or a lack of movement or exercise. Some medical conditions and medications can also increase your risk of becoming constipated.

Find out more about constipation.

How does Laxido work?

The active ingredient Macrogol 3350 in Laxido Orange is known as an “osmotic laxative” which works by absorbing water into the stool. This increases the stool volume, makes it softer and therefore easier to pass, giving relief from constipation.

How long does Laxido take to work?

A commonly asked question is how long do Laxido sachets take to work? The answer to this is that it can vary from person to person and can depend on a variety of factors.

Some people will experience effects within 6 hours, however, most commonly people notice effects within 1-2 days of commencing treatment.

Does Laxido work overnight?

Laxido can work overnight, but it doesn’t usually take effect that quickly. It kicks in when it reaches the large bowel, which will typically happen within 1-2 days. In some cases it can produce results within as few as 6 hours, but it's best to take it as soon as you know you need it.

Is Laxido Orange safe for long-term use?

A course of Laxido for constipation does not normally last more than 2 weeks. Laxido treatment for faecal Impaction does not normally last more than 3 days.

If your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks or your symptoms are getting worse you must consult a doctor.

Long-term use of Laxido can lead to prolonged diarrhoea. You may also be at an increased risk of electrolyte imbalance, where your sodium, potassium and magnesium levels can become too high or too low.

In cases of long-term constipation, it may be recommended by a doctor that you continue to take Laxido sachets but reduce the dose to 1-2 sachets a day.

When to use Laxido sachets

Laxido is a type of laxative used to treat constipation. Laxido contains an osmotic laxative which means that it works by softening hard stools by forcing them to absorb more water from inside the bowel. Laxido works in the same way as Movicol and CosmoCol.

Osmotic laxatives like bulk-forming laxatives, such as Fybogel, can take a few days to work but as they work with your body to naturally encourage bowel movements they allow you to have more control over your treatment.

Stimulant laxatives such as Senna and Dulcolax get to work within around 8 hours by speeding up bowel movements by stimulating the nerves. Stimulant laxatives give faster relief from constipation and are good for short term use but are more likely to cause unwanted side effects such as stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

For more information about constipation and treatments, take a look at our Treatment Advice for Constipation page.

Sources

• https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/macrogol/
• https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6399/pil
• https://patient.info/medicine/macrogols-for-constipation-or-bowel-cleansing
• Laxido Orange Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6399/pil

Laxido dose

Laxido powder sachets should be taken orally. Not recommended for those under 12 years.

Treatment for Constipation:

• Dissolve 1 sachet in 125ml of water, 1-3 times a day as directed

Treatment for Faecal Impaction:

• Take 8 sachets daily and consume within 6 hours
• Dissolve each sachet in 125ml of water or all 8 sachets in 1 litre of water.

What do I do if I have taken too much Laxido Orange?

If you have taken more Laxido Orange than you should you may experience severe pains or swelling in the abdomen or vomiting and diarrhoea which may result in dehydration. If this occurs stop taking Laxido Orange and drink plenty of fluids.

What do I do if I forget to take my dose of Laxido Orange?

If you forget to take a dose of Laxido, take it as soon as you remember and continue as before. If you miss a dose DO NOT take a double dose.

Is it ok to stop taking Laxido Orange before finishing the course of treatment?

To get the most benefit from Laxido sachets, it is recommended that you complete your course of treatment. If you stop the course early your symptoms are likely to persist.

Laxido ingredients

Each Laxido sachet contains the active ingredients macrogol 3350 (13.125g), sodium chloride (350.7mg), sodium hydrogen carbonate (178.5mg) and potassium chloride (46.6mg).

The inactive ingredients include acesulfame potassium (E950) and orange flavour (E1520).

Laxido side effects

Like all medicines, Laxido Orange may cause unwanted side effects in some people.

Common Side Effects (1 in 100 people affected):

• Diarrhoea
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain
• Bloating & wind
• Nausea & vomiting
• Sore anus

These side effects usually get better if you reduce the amount of macrogol or after you have had a poo. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious Side Effects:

Call a doctor straight away if these rare but serious side effects happen to you:

• severe diarrhoea or vomiting
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen ankles, feet or legs
• Muscle weakness
• Irregular heartbeat

Laxido bloated stomach

One of the more common side effects of Laxido Orange is bloating of the stomach and wind. To reduce the impact of this the NHS advise taking Laxido Orange between meals instead of directly before or after them.

Eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding foods that can increase bloating and wind can also help. These foods include lentils, peas, beans and onions. Try to eat and drink slowly and get regular exercise.

Diarrhoea after taking Laxido

Another common side effect of Laxido Orange is diarrhoea. If you are having a significant amount or persisting diarrhoea you may want to consider reducing your dose.

To avoid becoming dehydrated make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. Signs of dehydration include needing to urinate less frequently or dark-strong smelling urine.

Laxido warnings

• When taking Laxido Orange you should continue to drink plenty of fluids. The fluid content of Laxido Orange should not replace your regular liquid intake.
• You should not take any other medicines by mouth 1 hour before and for 1 hour after taking Laxido Orange.
• Laxido Orange can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
• Driving and using machines Laxido Orange does not affect the ability to drive or use machines.
• Laxido Orange contains 0.68mmol (26mg) potassium per sachet. This should be taken into consideration if you take more than one sachet daily and you have reduced kidney function, or if you are on a controlled potassium diet.
• Laxido Orange contains 187mg sodium in each sachet. This is equivalent to approximately 9% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need three or more sachets daily for a prolonged period, especially if you have been advised to follow a low sodium diet.