How much?

Falqui®  is available in pharmacies in a single formulation or pack of 20 tablets at the price of 6.50 euros.

Mechanism of action

Confetto Falqui® belongs to the category of drugs for the treatment of occasional constipation as, thanks to the functions performed by its active ingredient, it encourages the formation and evacuation of soft and easy-to-expel stools and is indicated both in adults and children to counteract the occasional constipation. The product should only be used in short-term therapies.

Posology and Method of Use

As far as the dosage is concerned, it is necessary to comply with the following or with the instructions given in the package leaflet or with the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist.

Children 10 years of age or younger suffering from chronic constipation should be kept under close medical supervision. Bisacodyl is contraindicated in children 2 years of age and younger.

The recommended dosage in adults and children over 10 years of age is 1 or 2 tablets a day to be taken before going to bed. In children from 2 to 10 years: one tablet a day in the evening before going to sleep. The exact dose is the minimum needed to produce soft stools and easy evacuation.

It is useful to start with the minimum doses foreseen and then adjust it. Just never exceed the maximum dose indicated. The tablets must be swallowed whole and must be administered after dinner to allow the laxative effect to act in 10-12 hours without disturbing sleep.

There are no particular precautions to be taken, but it is still advisable to consult your doctor before taking any medicine if you suffer from renal or hepatic insufficiency.

For any doubts about the drug and its dosage and method of use, it is advisable to consult your doctor or ask your trusted pharmacist for advice.

Overdose

In the event of an overdose of Falqui® , the patient may experience stomach pain and/or diarrhea attacks. It is advisable to notify your doctor or contact the nearest hospital. If the patient forgets to take the dose of the drug, he should not take a double dose to make up for the forgetfulness. This reduces the risk of an overdose.

There are currently no known other symptoms of a possible overdose of the drug Falqui® . For any doubts about the drug or about a possible overdose, it is advisable to consult your doctor or trusted pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The use of laxatives that act with an irritant mechanism of action such as bisacodyl are generally not recommended during pregnancy as their intake could cause miscarriages.

Contraindications

The use of the drug is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to bisacodyl or to drugs belonging to the same pharmaceutical category. Its use is also not recommended in the case of hypersensitivity to the excipients present in the drug.

The excipients contained in the Falqui® drug are as follows: microcrystalline cellulose, starch, talc, ethyl phthalate, sucrose, titanium dioxide, glycerol behenate, sorbitol, methacrylic acid copolymer, povidone, triethyl citrate, macrogol 6000, sepifilm 002 and rubber lacquer.

The drug is contraindicated in patients suffering from acute abdominal pain or abdominal pain of unknown origin, rectal bleeding of unknown origin, nausea or vomiting, acute surgical abdomen, intestinal obstruction or stenosis, severe dehydration, gastroenteritis or appendicitis.

Furthermore, the drug is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age and during pregnancy and lactation. For any doubts about the drug or about possible contraindications, it is advisable to consult your doctor or trusted pharmacist.

Interactions with other drugs

Laxative medicines can reduce the residence time in the intestine of drugs administered at the same time orally and can therefore also reduce their absorption.

It is advisable to avoid taking laxatives with other medicines at the same time but to allow an interval of at least two hours to pass between a medicine and the laxative.

Taking diuretics or corticosteroids with laxatives can increase the risk of electrolyte imbalance and cause glycoside sensitivity. Milk or antacid drugs can interact with the effect of the medicine, it is advisable to let at least one hour pass before taking the Falqui® laxative .

For any doubts about the drug or about the possible contraindications of the drug, it is advisable to consult your doctor or trusted pharmacist.

Side effects

The undesirable effects that most commonly appear during treatment based on  Falqui® are: stomach pain, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

Immune system disorders such as allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity and angiodema may also appear. Nervous system disorders such as syncope and dizziness may appear. Other side effects are possible metabolic disorders such as dehydration.

The drug can also cause gastrointestinal pathologies such as colitis, abdominal cramps and pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and blood in the stool, anorectal discomfort.

It is advisable to inform your doctor or pharmacist of the appearance of any side effects not listed on the package leaflet.

The pharmacist or doctor will take care of reporting to the Italian Medicines Agency AIFA the hitherto unknown side effects.

Do not use the medicine after the expiry date  which can be read on the package. The expiry date refers only to a drug correctly stored in the original package.

The drug should not be thrown into the water but disposed of according to the regulations.