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Ispaghula Husk

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

This medication is used to increase fibre in your diet and can be used to treat constipation as well as maintain a normal bowel function.

How should I take or use this medication?

Take your medication as prescribed by your healthcare professional.
You may take this medication after meals with plenty of water. Avoid taking immediately before going to bed.
Stir the contents of each sachet in a glass of room temperature water (about 150ml) and drink immediately after mixing.
Consult your healthcare professional should your symptoms do not go away. The full effect of this preparation may take a few days to develop.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
Omit dose if it is very near to your next dose then take your next dose at the usual time.
Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
Inform your healthcare professional if you have either pre-existing and/or a history of bowel obstruction.
Inform your healthcare professional if you have phenylketonuria, some ispaghula preparations are sweetened with aspartame.
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

Ispaghula husk may cause wind or bloating especially during the first few days you take it.

If these symptoms occur, do not go away or cause you discomfort, or should any unusual symptoms arise, check with your healthcare professional.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Seek immediate medical attention should you experience rectal bleeding or should symptoms persist despite treatment.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medication, supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on September 2022

This article was last reviewed on Thursday, June 22, 2023