Traditionally used as a laxative.

INGREDIENTS

1 g (= 33 drops) contains:

Fluid extract (1:1.0-1.2) of 500mg Cascara Sagrada – Frangula purshiana (DC.), (bark, aged) standardized to 20 mg of hydroxyanthracene glycosides calculated as Cascaroside A. (Extraction fluid: Ethanol 30% m/m)

Contains 23% vol. alcohol.

DIRECTIONS

Adults and children (≥ 12 years): 0.9-1.5g (30-50 drops) once a day in half a cup of hot water in the mornings or evenings.

Duration of use: Do not use for more than 7 days.

Direction of use: Allow 6 to 12 hours for laxative effect to occur. The maximum daily dose must not exceed 50 drops. The appropriate dose for a given patient is the lowest dose needed for soft, formed stools.

Contraindications/Cautions

Do not use with abdominal pain, nausea, fever, vomiting, hemorrhoids. Do not use if taking thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, licorice root, or other drugs that may aggravate electrolyte imbalance. Do not use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Do not use within 2 hours of another medicine. Use caution in patient with a kidney disorder or who are taking heart medications. Reduce dose or discontinue use if abdominal cramps, spasms, and/or pain occur.

Side effects

Very rarely cramp-like gastrointestinal symptoms; in these cases, the dose will have to be reduced. In the course of treatment, you may observe harmless discoloration of your urine. Prolonged use or use of higher doses (abuse) may cause disturbances of the water and electrolyte balance. Diarrhea may lead to potassium loss in particular. Potassium loss in turn may give rise to disorders of heart function and muscle weakness, especially if cardiac glycosides (drugs that strengthen the heart muscle), diuretics (drugs that increase urinary output), and/or cortisone and cortisone-like drugs (adrenal cortical steroids) are being taken concomitantly. Prolonged use may lead to excretion of protein and blood in the urine. Patients may also experience discoloration of the intestinal mucosa (pseudomelanosis coli), which usually resolves upon discontinuation of the product.

Interactions with other drugs

Chronic use or abuse may lead to potassium deficiency and thus increase the effects of certain drugs that strengthen the heart muscle (cardiac glycosides) and interfere with the effects of drugs for heart rhythm disturbances (antiarrhythmics). Potassium loss may be increased by the concomitant use of certain drugs that increase urinary output (diuretics), cortisone and cortisone-like drugs (corticosteroids) or licorice root.