Span K 600mg Tablets 200

  Information General Information Consumer Medicine InformationWhat is in this leafletThis leaflet answers some common questions about Span-K. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Span-K against the benefits they expect it will have for you.If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.What Span-K is used forSpan-K tablets are used to provide extra potassium for people who have lost potassium from their bodies because of illness or treatment with certain medicines. Span-K is also used for people who do not have enough potassium in their regular diet or cannot replace the potassium they have lost from their diet alone.Potassium is essential for life and health. Vegetables, potatoes and fruit are good sources of dietary potassium.Too much potassium can be harmful. That is why it is important to take Span-K only as prescribed by your doctor.The dose of Span-K may need to be adjusted if your diet is rich in natural sources of potassium. However, never change your dose without first checking with your doctor.Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Span-K has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.Before you take Span-KWhen you must not take itDo not take Span-K and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:1. You have an allergy to it or to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips or tongue; skin rash, itching or hives.2. You have any of the following medical conditions:Severe burns or other serious injury Kidney failure Significant dehydration Blockage in food passage, stomach or gut Untreated Addison's Disease - a disease where the adrenal glands don't work properlyTalk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether any of these medical conditions apply to you.Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.Before you start to take itTell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.Tell your doctor is you have or have had any other medical conditions, in particular:Any problems with your kidneys or adrenal glands Cirrhosis of the liver Heart disease Peptic ulcer or other problems with your stomach or gut, or with swallowing or digestionAlso tell your doctor if you are on any type of special diet and in particular, if you use salt substitutes on your food. Salt substitutes containing potassium should be avoided when taking Span-K.Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The possibility of side effects can be increased during pregnancy.Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Span-K passes into breast milk.Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of you taking Span-K when breastfeeding.If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him or her before you start taking Span-K.Taking other medicinesTell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and Span-K may interfere with each other. These include:Some types of fluid tablets, also known as "diuretics", e.g. spironolactone, triamterene or amiloride Certain types of heart medicines, known as ACE-inhibitors Cyclosporin, a medicine that acts on the immune system, e.g. after a transplant or for the treatment of severe skin disease or arthritis Other medicines that contain potassium, including some types of penicillin Any medicine that acts on the stomach or gut to slow down the passage of foodThese medicines may be affected by Span-K or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Span-K.Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.How to take Span-KFollow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.How much to takeYour doctor will tell you how much Span-K to take. Do not take more than your doctor tells you to. The amount of Span-K you need will depend on your condition. The usual dose is 1 or 2 tablets taken 2-3 times a day, i.e. from 2 to 6 tablets each day. However, you may need only 1 or 2 tablets each day if you are also taking a diuretic (fluid tablet).When to take itTake Span-K at meal times. Taking it with food will reduce the chance of you having a side effect.How to take itSwallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablets.How long to take itContinue taking Span-K until your doctor tells you to stop. Your doctor may need to check the potassium levels in your blood to help decide when you should stop taking Span-K.If you forget to take itIf it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.If you take too much (overdose)Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Span-K. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.If you take too much Span-K you may feel very weak and your heart beat may be slow and irregular.While you are taking Span-KThings you must doStop taking Span-K and contact your doctor if you have severe vomiting or gut pain, a lot of wind or blackened stools. Although rare, potassium supplements such as Span-K have been known to cause stomach or gut ulcers.Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Span-K. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits of taking it during pregnancy.Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.Remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Span-K if you are about to be started on any new medicine.Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may do tests such as blood counts from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.Things you must not doDo not take Span-K to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to. Do not stop taking your medicine or increase the dose even if you think the medicine is not working.Do not start taking salt substitutes without first discussing this with your doctor or pharmacist. It may be necessary to avoid salt substitutes containing potassium when taking Span-K. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you.Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms or condition as you.Side effectsTell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Span-K. This medicine helps most people needing a potassium supplement but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) Diarrhoea or discomfort in your stomach or gutThe above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. The chance of you getting these side effects can be reduced by taking Span-K at meal times.Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience:Muscle weakness Slow, irregular heart beatThese side effects may mean that you are getting too much potassium and you may need medical attention. These side effects are rare.If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:severe vomiting or gut pain a lot of wind or blackened stoolsThe above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are also rare.Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.After using Span-KStorageKeep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 °C. Do not expose them to direct sunlight.Do not store Span-K or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.Keep Span-K tablets where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.DisposalIf your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.Product descriptionWhat it looks likeSpan-K tablets are round, white and sugar-coated. There are 200 tablets in each bottle.IngredientsEach Span-K tablet contains 600 mg of potassium chloride. It also contains:stearic acid macrogol 6000 ethylcellulose cocoa powder sucrose gelatin calcium carbonate magnesium stearate purified talc sodium benzoate potassium sorbate titanium dioxide povidone hydrogenated castor oil PVP/VA copolymerSupplierSpan-K is supplied in Australia by:Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd34-36 Chandos StSt Leonards NSW 2065Australian Registration NumberAUST R 27978This leaflet was prepared in August 2008® Span-K is a registered trademark Miscellaneous Drug Interactions Warnings Common Uses Ingredients Directions Indications