Pico-Salax Drug Interactions

As a purgative, PICO-SALAX increases the gastrointestinal transit rate. The absorption of other orally administered medicines (e.g. anti-epileptics, contraceptives, anti-diabetics, antibiotics) may therefore be modified during the treatment period (see Precautions). Medicines with the potential to chelate with magnesium (e.g. tetracycline and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, iron, digoxin, chlorpromazine and penicillamine) should be taken at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after administration of PICO-SALAX.
The efficacy of PICO-SALAX is lowered by bulk-forming laxatives.
Care should be taken with patients already receiving drugs which may be associated with hypokalaemia (such as diuretics or corticosteroids, or drugs where hypokalaemia is a particular risk i.e. cardiac glycosides). Caution is also advised when PICO-SALAX is used in patients on NSAIDs or drugs known to induce SIADH e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, antipsychotic drugs and carbamazepine as these drugs may increase the risk of water retention and/or electrolyte imbalance.