Package leaflet: Information for the patient
MOVICOL® Paediatric Plain 6.9g sachet, powder for oral solution
(Macrogol 3350, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Potassium Chloride)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start to give this medicine to your child because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for your child. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as your child’s.
- If your child gets any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Movicol Paediatric Plain is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you give Movicol Paediatric Plain
3. How to give Movicol Paediatric Plain
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Movicol Paediatric Plain
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Movicol Paediatric Plain is and what it is used for
The name of this medicine is Movicol Paediatric Plain 6.9g sachet, powder for oral solution. It is a laxative for the treatment of chronic constipation in children aged 1 to 11 years and for the treatment of very bad constipation (called faecal impaction) in children aged 5 to 11 years.
Movicol Paediatric Plain helps your child to have a comfortable bowel movement even if they have been constipated for a long time.
2. What you need to know before you give Movicol Paediatric Plain
Do not give Movicol Paediatric Plain if your doctor has told you that your child has:
- a blockage in their intestine (gut obstruction, ileus)
- a perforated gut wall
- severe inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon
- an allergy to the active substances of Movicol Paediatric Plain (listed in section 6).
If your child has a heart or kidney problem, an impaired gag reflex or reflux oesophagitis (heart-burn caused by back-flow of stomach contents into the oesophagus), you should talk to your doctor before giving Movicol Paediatric Plain.
Warnings and precautions
When taking Movicol Paediatric Plain you should continue to take plenty of fluids. The fluid content of Movicol should not replace your regular liquid intake.
Other medicines and Movicol Paediatric Plain
Tell your doctor if your child is taking or has recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with Movicol Paediatric Plain. When taking large volumes of Movicol Paediatric Plain, (e.g. for faecal impaction), other medicines may be flushed through your digestive system.
Your child should not take any other medicines by mouth together with Movicol Paediatric Plain and for one hour before and for one hour after taking Movicol Paediatric Plain.
If you need to thicken fluids in order to swallow them safely, Movicol Paediatric Plain may counteract the effect of the thickener.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Movicol Paediatric Plain can be given during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before giving Movicol Paediatric Plain.
Movicol Paediatric Plain contains sodium
Movicol Paediatric Plain contains 93.4 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) per sachet. This is equivalent to 4.6% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
3. How to give Movicol Paediatric Plain
This medicine can be given at any time with or without food.
Dissolve the content of each sachet in 62.5 ml (1/4 of a glass) of water and drink.
Chronic Constipation:
The dose of Movicol Paediatric Plain depends on the age of the child and their response to treatment.
- As a starting dose, children aged 1 to 6 years should be given 1 sachet (=1 dose) each day.
- Children aged 7 to 11 should be given 2 sachets each day.Your doctor may tell you to increase the number of sachets taken until your child has a soft bowel movement. If the dose does need increasing, this should be done every other day. For children below 2 years of age, no more than 2 sachets should be taken in one day. For children 2 to 11 years, normally, no more than 4 sachets are required to be taken in one day.
It is not necessary to take all of the drink at one time, if the child prefers it, half the drink can be taken in the morning and half in the evening.
Faecal impaction:
Before your child takes Movicol Paediatric Plain for faecal impaction, it should be confirmed medically that your child has this condition.
A course of treatment with Movicol Paediatric Plain is as follows:
For children aged 5-11 years
Number of sachets to be given over a course of 7 days is
Day 1 = 4 sachets
Day 2 = 6 sachets
Day 3 = 8 sachets
Day 4 = 10 sachets
Day 5 = 12 sachets
Day 6 = 12 sachets
Day 7 = 12 sachets
The daily number of sachets should be taken in divided doses, all taken within 12 hours (e.g. 8am – 8pm). Each sachet dissolved in 62.5 ml (1/4 of a glass) of water. Treatment can be stopped when the medicine has worked. This is shown by your child passing large volumes of stool and/or watery diarrhoea.
How to mix
- Open the sachet and pour the contents into a glass. Add about 62.5 ml or ¼ glass of water to the glass. Stir well until all the powder has dissolved and the Movicol Paediatric Plain solution is clear or slightly hazy, then give it to your child to drink.
- If you like you can add a flavour such as orange squash to the drink. If your child is taking Movicol Paediatric Plain for faecal impaction it may be easier to dissolve 12 sachets in 750ml of water.
Duration of treatment
Chronic constipation:
Treatment needs to be for a prolonged period of time, at least 6 – 12 months.
Faecal impaction:
Treatment with Movicol Paediatric Plain can be for up to 7 days.
If your child takes more Movicol Paediatric Plain than they should:
Your child may develop excessive diarrhoea. If this occurs, stop taking Movicol Paediatric Plain and drink plenty of fluids. If you are worried contact your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to give Movicol Paediatric Plain:
Give the dose as soon as you remember.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately and stop giving Movicol Paediatric Plain if your child:
- gets a serious allergic reaction which causes difficulty in breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
Very common side effects (more than 1 person in 10)
- stomach pains
- stomach rumbles
Common side effects (more than 1 in 100 but less than 1 in 10 people):
- diarrhoea
- vomiting (being sick)
- nausea (feeling sick)
- anal discomfort (uncomfortable sensation around the bottom).
If your child is being treated for chronic constipation, diarrhoea will usually improve when the dose is reduced.
Uncommon side effects (more than 1 in 1000 but less than 1 in 100 people)
- swollen stomach
- wind
Rare side effects (less than 1 person in 1000)
- allergic reactions, which may include, breathlessness or difficulty in breathing.
Other side effects reported include:
Skin rash (hives), itching, reddening of the skin or a nettle rash, swollen hands, feet or ankles, headaches, indigestion, high or low levels of potassium in the blood
Reporting of side effects
If your child gets any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via:
IE: HPRA Pharmacovigilance Website: www.hpra.ie.
MT: www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/adrportal.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more Information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Movicol Paediatric Plain
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use Movicol Paediatric Plain after the expiry date which is stated on the sachet and carton.The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
- Once you have made up Movicol Paediatric Plain in water, if your child cannot drink it straight away keep it covered and in the fridge (2°C – 8°C). Throw away any solution not used within a 24 hour period.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Movicol Paediatric Plain contains
Each 6.9g sachet of Movicol Paediatric Plain contains the following:
Macrogol 3350 6.563 g
Sodium Chloride 0.1754 g
Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate 0.0893 g
Potassium Chloride 0.0251 g
Movicol Paediatric Plain contains no colours, flavours or sweeteners.
When it is made into a drink with ¼ glass (62.5ml) of water, each sachet gives the equivalent of:
Sodium 65 millimoles/litre
Chloride 53 millimoles/litre
Potassium 5.4 millimoles/litre
Bicarbonate 17 millimoles/litre
What Movicol Paediatric Plain looks like and contents of the pack
Movicol Paediatric Plain is available in rectangular sachets and tubular (stick-pack) sachets.
Movicol Paediatric Plain is a white powder.
Movicol Paediatric Plain is available in boxes of 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 100 sachets.
Not all sachets and pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Norgine Healthcare B.V., Antonio Vivaldistraat 150, 1083 HP Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Manufacturer:
Norgine B.V., Antonio Vivaldistraat 150, 1083 HP Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Or
Meribel Pharma Höganäs AB, Sporthallsvägen 6, 263 35 Höganäs, Sweden.
This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Austria MOVICOL Junior aromafrei
Belgium MOVICOL Junior Neutral
Finland MOVICOL Junior Plain
Germany Macrogol Norgine Junior Neutral Pulver zur
Herstellung einer Lösung zum Einnehmen
Ireland MOVICOL Paediatric Plain
Italy MOVICOL Bambini 6,9 g polvere per
soluzione orale, Senza Aroma
Luxembourg MOVICOL Junior Neutral
Malta MOVICOL Paediatric Plain
Portugal MOVICOL Pediátrico Sabor Neutro
Spain MOVICOL Pediátrico Sabor Neutro
Sweden Movicol Junior Neutral
This leaflet was last revised in 02/2026.
Other sources of information
If you need the information on this leaflet in an alternative format, such as large print, please ring 00 44 1895 826 606.