For the relief of the symptoms of dyspepsia.

The route of administration is oral.
Recommended Dosage
Adults: One to Two x 5ml spoonfuls taken 20 minutes to one hour
after meals and at night as required or as directed by the physician.

Aluminium hydroxide may cause constipation due to its astringent action, this effect may be
balanced by the cathartic effect of the magnesium salts.
Aluminium hydroxide may lead to a phosphate depletion syndrome, particularly in patients
on a low phosphate diet e.g. malnutrition.
Magnesium salts may cause central nervous depression in the presence of renal insufficiency
and should be used with caution in patients with advance renal disease.
In patients with renal impairment, plasma levels of both aluminium and magnesium increase.
In these patients, a long-term exposure to high doses of aluminium and magnesium salts may
lead to encephalopathy, dementia, microcytic anemia or worsen dialysis- induced
osteomalacia.
The prolonged use of antacids in patients with renal failure should be avoided.
Aluminium hydroxide may be unsafe in patients with porphyria undergoing hemodialysis
because it has been shown that aluminium may be involved in porphyrin metabolism
abnormalities.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.

Aluminium hydroxide may form complexes with certain drugs, e.g. tetracyclines, digoxin and
vitamins, resulting in decreased absorption. This should be borne in mind when concomitant
administration is considered.
Concomitant use with quinidines may increase the serum levels of quinidine and lead to
quinidine overdosage.
Aluminium-containing antacids may prevent the proper absorption of H2 antagonists,
atenolol, chloroquine, cyclines, diflunisal, digoxin, diphosphonates, ethambutol,
fluoroquinolones, sodium fluorure, glucocorticoids, indometacine, isoniazide, kaylexalate,
ketoconazole, lincosamides, metoprolol, nueroleptics phenothiazines, penicillamine,
propranolol, iron salts.
Staggering the administration times of the interacting drug and the antacid by at least 2 hours
(4 hours for the fluoroquinolones) will often help avoid undesirable drug interactions.
Aluminium hydroxide and citrates may result in increased aluminium levels, especially in
patients with renal impairment.

The product should not be used during pregnancy unless considered essential by the
physician.

None

Gastrointestinal side- effects are uncommon.
Occasionally high doses of antacids may cause diarrhoea or constipation.

Serious symptoms are unlikely following overdosage.

Maalox is a balanced mixture of two antacids: aluminium hydroxide is a slow acting antacid
and magnesium hydroxide is a fast acting one. The two are frequently combined in antacid
mixtures. Aluminium hydroxide on its own is astringent and may cause constipation. This
effect is balanced by the effect of magnesium hydroxide, which, in common with other
magnesium salts, may cause diarrhoea.

The absorption of aluminium and magnesium from antacids is small. Aluminium hydroxide
is slowly converted to aluminium chloride in the stomach. Some absorption of soluble
aluminium salts occurs in the gastro intestinal tract with urinary excretion. Any absorbed
magnesium is likewise excreted in the urine.

Not Relevant

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate E218
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate E216
Citric Acid, anhydrous
Sodium Saccharin
Sorbitol, liquid (Crystallising) E420
Mannitol E421
Hydrogen Peroxide
Peppermint Oil

Hydrochloric acid, Concentrated
Purified water

Not applicable.

Do not store above 25oC.

White HDPE bottles with plastic screw cap: 100ml, 300ml, and 500ml.
Not all pack sizes are marketed.

No special requirements.