Dioralyte sachets blackcurrant 20 pack

For oral administration only.

Dioralyte should not be reconstituted in diluents other than water.

Each sachet should always be dissolved in 200ml of water. A weaker solution than recommended will not contain the optimal glucose and electrolyte concentration and a stronger solution than recommended may give rise to electrolyte imbalance. If diarrhoea persists unremittingly for longer than 24-48 hours the patient should be seen by a physician. Dioralyte should not be used for the self treatment of chronic or persistent diarrhoea except under medical supervision. Infants under the age of 2 years with diarrhoea should be seen by a physician as soon as possible. No specific precautions are necessary in the elderly.

Dioralyte should not be used for self treatment by patients with liver or kidney disease, patients on low potassium or sodium diets or patients with diabetes. The use of Dioralyte in patients with these conditions should be supervised by a physician.

Oral correction of fluid and electrolyte loss in infants, children and adults. Treatment of watery diarrhoea of various aetiologies including gastro-enteritis in all age groups.

The contents of each sachet should be dissolved in 200ml (approx. 7 fl oz ounces) of drinking water. Use fresh drinking water for adults and children. For infants, and where drinking water is unavailable, the water should be freshly boiled and cooled. The solution should be made up immediately before use and may be stored for up to 24 hours in a refrigerator, otherwise any solution remaining an hour after reconstitution should be discarded. The solution must not be boiled.

A basic principle of treatment of diarrhoea is to replace lost fluid and electrolytes and then to maintain sufficient fluid intake to replace fluid loss from stools. The amount of reconstituted Dioralyte administered should be adapted to the age and weight of the patient and the stage and severity of the condition.

Severe dehydration may need to be corrected by parenteral fluids initially, followed by oral maintenance if indicated. If the loss of fluid in the diarrhoea is excessive, medical advice should be sought.

Daily intake may be based on a volume of 150ml/kg body weight for infants up to the age of 2 and 20-40ml/kg body weight for adults and children. A reasonable approximation is:

Infants up to the age of 2: One to one and a half times the usual 24 hour feed volume.

Children: One sachet dissolved in 200ml of water after every loose motion

Adults (including elderly): One or two sachets after every loose motion. Each sachet should be dissolved in 200ml of water.

More may be required initially to ensure early and full volume repletion.

In the initial stages of treatment of diarrhoea all foods, including cow's or artificial milk should be stopped. However, breast milk need not be withheld. In breast fed infants it is suggested that the infant is given the same volume of Dioralyte as the bottle fed baby and then put to the breast until satisfied. Expression of residual milk from the breasts may be necessary during this period. After 24-48 hours, when symptoms have subsided, the normal diet should be resumed but this should be gradual to avoid exacerbation of the condition.

When vomiting is present with the diarrhoea it is advisable that small amounts of Dioralyte be taken frequently. However, it is important that the whole of the required volume of Dioralyte be taken. Where the kidneys are functioning normally, it is difficult to over-hydrate by mouth and where there is doubt about the dosage, more rather than less should be taken. If no improvement is seen within 24-48 hours it is recommended that the patient be seen by a physician.