Remember
In August 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) introduced a package of new measures to support the safer use of OTC stimulant laxatives due to concerns about their overuse.
The licensing changes include limiting the pack sizes available for general sale to 20 standard-strength tablets or 10 maximum-strength tablets, and larger pack sizes of stimulant laxatives being made pharmacy-only medicines. Warnings have also been added to packaging and patient information leaflets that laxatives do not aid weight loss and that long-term use may be harmful.
Signposting
• Use your Counter Intelligence Plus training guide
• NHS – common digestive problems
• Guts UK
• Bladder & Bowel Community
• The IBS Network
• PSNC – laxatives guidance update.