Lemsip Sachet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Lemsip Sachet combines paracetamol and phenylephrine, working as an analgesic and decongestant. It is a cold and flu remedy mixed with hot water to make a soothing lemon or blackcurrant flavoured drink. It helps relieve headaches, fever, sore throat, body aches, and a blocked nose. It is intended for those aged 16 and over and should be used exactly as directed.

What is Lemsip Sachet

Lemsip Max Cold and Flu Relief Sachets are a cold and flu remedy that you mix with hot water to make a soothing drink. They contain paracetamol, a painkiller and fever reducer, along with a decongestant ingredient, and come in lemon or blackcurrant flavour.

Lemsip Sachet uses

• Relief of cold and flu symptoms
• Headache
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Body aches and pains
• Blocked nose and congestion

Benefits of Lemsip Sachet

• Helps relieve headaches, sore throats, and muscle discomfort
• Helps reduce fever
• Helps reduce congestion and blocked nose
• Most users notice relief within 30 to 60 minutes when taken as directed

How Lemsip Sachet works

Lemsip Max combines paracetamol, which relieves pain and reduces fever, with phenylephrine, a decongestant that helps clear a blocked nose. Together these ingredients ease headaches, sore throats, muscle discomfort, and congestion.

Lemsip Sachet dosage

Pour the contents of one sachet into a mug and fill with hot, but not boiling, water, then stir until fully dissolved. You may sweeten the drink to taste with sugar, honey, or your usual sweetener. Drink plenty of fluids while you have a cold or flu. Leave a gap of several hours between doses, and do not take more than the recommended number of sachets in a day. Do not give this product to children under 16. Continue taking as directed for up to five days, or until symptoms go away, unless a doctor advises otherwise.

Available forms and strengths

• Sachet (oral powder, dissolved in hot water)

Side effects of Lemsip Sachet

Common

• Nausea
• Stomach discomfort
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Headache

Serious

• Allergic reaction
• Breathing problems
• Visual disturbances
• Difficulty passing water
• Signs of liver problems such as pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin

Warnings and precautions

• This product is not suitable for use during pregnancy. Speak to your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before use if you have kidney problems or liver problems, including non-cirrhotic liver disease. 
• If you take more than an occasional dose or two, avoid alcohol, since this can increase the risk of liver damage, especially with regular or heavy drinking.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose.
• If your symptoms last more than three days or get worse, see a healthcare professional.
• Do not take this with any other product that contains paracetamol.
• Talk to a doctor before use if you have liver or kidney problems, or if you are taking other medicines.
• Do not use this medicine if you are under 16, have a serious heart condition, have taken a medicine called an MAOI (often used for depression) in the last 14 days, are taking other decongestant medicines, or have an enlarged prostate.
• Speak to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have Raynaud's syndrome, diabetes, liver or kidney problems, non-cirrhotic liver disease, closed angle glaucoma, or phenylketonuria.
• Speak to your doctor if you are taking beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or other medicines, as they may affect how paracetamol works.

Storage

• Store at 20–25°C.
• Keep in a cool, dry place.
• Protect from heat and moisture.
• Keep sachets in their original packaging.

When to see a doctor

• Stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, breathing problems, visual disturbances, nausea, or difficulty passing water.
• Get medical help right away if you think you have taken too much of this medicine, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
• Check with your doctor right away if you notice pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin, as these can be signs of a serious liver problem.

Alternatives

• NyQuil
• Theraflu
• DayQuil