Visco Liquid

Visco Liquid is used for: Dyspepsia, Heartburn in pregnancy, gastric reflux and reflux oesophagitis, acid indigestion

Oral Adults: 1 or 2 tablets to be chewed four times a day, after main meals and at bedtime.

Oral Children> 6 years: 1 or 2 tablets to be chewed four times a day, after main meals and at bedtime.

Chew the tablets before swallowing.

Hypersensitivity

Chronic renal impairment; CHF; oedema; cirrhosis and low Na diets; patients with recent GI haemorrhage. Administer 2-3 hrs before/after another medication to minimise drug interactions. Pregnancy and lactation. Lactation: excretion in milk unknown

Aluminium Hydroxide: Enhanced absorption with citrates or ascorbic acid. Decreases absorption of allopurinol, tetracyclines, quinolones, cephalosporins, biphosphonate derivatives, corticosteroids, cyclosporin, delavirdine, Fe salts, imidazole antifungals, isoniazid, mycophenolate, penicillamine, phosphate supplements, phenytoin, phenothiazines, trientine. Magnesium Hydroxide: Decreases absorption of tetracyclines and biphosphonates. Separate administration of these and other drugs by around 2 hr. Simethicon, Sodium Alginate: None well documented.

Side effects of Dried Aluminium Hydroxide Gel + Magnesium Hydroxide + Simethicone + Sodium Alginate : Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported the most frequently. These have included constipation (secondary to aluminum hydroxide therapy) and diarrhea (secondary to magnesium carbonate therapy). Patients with renal failure may be at risk of aluminum toxicity because of ingestion of aluminum hydroxide and because of exposure to aluminum-containing water used for dialysate solutions. Adverse effects of aluminum accumulation in these patients has led to monitoring of water source aluminum content by dialysis units and periodic measurements of serum aluminum in patients undergoing chronic dialysis. Concurrent administration of aluminum hydroxide with citrate containing products has been associated with unusually high serum concentrations of aluminum and, especially in cases of renal failure, severe toxicity. Citrate may increase aluminum solubility and absorption. During long-term use, aluminum has been shown to deposit in bone, joint, and brain. Signs and symptoms of hypermagnesemia may include hypotension, nausea, vomiting, EKG changes, respiratory depression, loss of deep tendon reflex, dilated pupils, altered mental status, and coma. Metabolic Metabolic side effects have included hypophosphatemia with the use of aluminum hydroxide. In patients on long-term aluminum hydroxide therapy, especially in association with poor diets, hypophosphatemia may result in muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis, hemolysis, and encephalopathy. Osteomalacia due to aluminum deposition in bone is generally only seen in patients with chronic renal failure. Bone formation slows in response to aluminum bone deposits. Aluminum may also deposit in joint tissue, resulting in arthropathy and hydrarthrosis. Musculoskeletal side effects have included osteomalacia, due to aluminum hydroxide, which may occur by two different mechanisms. Osteomalacia may occur due to hypophosphatemia or due to aluminum accumulation in bone. Osteomalacia due to hypophosphatemia is often accompanied by malaise, bone pain, muscular weakness, and bone fractures. Osteomalacia due to aluminum deposition may present in a similar fashion and occurs predominately in patients with chronic renal failure. Aluminum deposits typically can be observed on bone biopsy. Nervous system Encephalopathy associated with aluminum accumulation is characterized by speech disorders, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphasia, tremor, myoclonus, seizures, coma, and ultimately death. EEG of patients with aluminum encephalopathy may show paroxysmal slowing and diffuse rhythmical bursts of delta activity. Renal Renal side effects have rarely included formation of renal calculi, most probably due to hypercalciuria, with the use of aluminum hydroxide.

Aluminum hydroxide: Neutralizes stomach hydrocloride to form AlCl3 salt plus water; increases gastric pH. Magnesium hydroxide: Promotes bowel evacuation by causing osmotic retention of fluid, which causes the colon to distend with increased peristaltic activity; forms magnesium chloride when reacts with hydrochloric acid. Simethicone: Disperses and prevents gas pockets in the GI system by decreasing surface tension of gas bubles. Alginic acid is used in combination with an antacid or histamine H2-antagonist in the management of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. It reacts with gastric acid to form a viscous gel which acts as a mechanical barrier to reduce reflux.

Visco Liquid manufactured by Aristo Pharmaceuticals Ltd.. Its generic name is Dried Aluminium Hydroxide Gel + Magnesium Hydroxide + Simethicone + Sodium Alginate. Visco is availble in Nepal. Farmaco Nepal drug index information on Visco Liquid is not intended for diagnosis, medical advice or treatment; neither intended to be a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment.