Sodium Alginate/ Magnesium Alginate

Registered South African indications:

• Gastric regurgitation
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredients or any of the excipients in this combination product
• Known or suspected renal impairment as sodium content (approx. 21mg or 0.92mmol per dose) may add risk of hypernatraemia
• Intestinal obstruction
• Established diarrhoea
• Situations where excessive water loss is likely, e.g. fever diarrhoea, vomiting or high room temperature
• Gastroenteritis where the appropriate treatment is rehydration with fluid replacement

Caution

• Hepatic impairment 
• Hypernatraemia

Not indicated for use in adults

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: pdr

Gastric regurgitation
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Reflux associated with hiatus hernia

Between 1-2 years 

Sodium alginate/ Magnesium alginate
225/87.5 (mg/0.65g)

• <4.5kg: Oral (pdr): 1 dose, after each feed; Max: 6 doses/24hrs
• >4.5kg: Oral (pdr): 2 doses, after each feed; Max: 6 doses/24hrs

See additional prescribing points for dose preparation

Pregnancy

• Not indicated for use in adults

Breastfeeding

• Not indicated for use in adults

Renal Impairment

• Contraindicated

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Elderly

• Not indicated for use in geriatric patients

Porphyria Information

• Not porphyrinogenic (NP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Intestinal obstruction
• Flatulence
• Abdominal distension
• Bezoar

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Hypersensitivity

Thickening agents

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Serum electrolytes

Administration guidelines

• The sachet should not be opened until immediately before mixing as the powder is sterile
• Add 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of cooled, boiled water to the powder in a glass and mix to a smooth paste
• Add another 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of water to the paste and mix 
• Mix immediately before use and shake well before administering the dose

Sodium alginate and magnesium alginate
Sodium alginate and magnesium alginate are salts of alginic acid. They combine with gastric acid to form a viscous gel, which acts as a physical barrier to the reflux of gastric contents.

COMBINATION PREPARATIONS

Sodium alginate/Magnesium alginate

Sachet (per 0.65g) 225mg/87.5mg

• Infant Gaviscon Aluminium Free (Reckitt) originator