Alax®

Aloe capensis + Frangulae corticis extractum siccum

What Alax contains:
1 sugar-coated tablet contains: 10–15 mg of anthranoid compounds, expressed as aloin.

Active substances: 35 mg of dried juice of Aloe barbadensis Miller and/or Aloe ferox Miller, in powder form (aloe leaves), with anthranoid content calculated as 18% aloin. 42 mg of dry extract of Rhamnus frangula L. bark (buckthorn bark), DER 5–8:1, extraction solvent: methanol, with anthranoid compound content calculated as 15% aloin.

Excipients: Core: microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, magnesium stearate. Coating: sucrose, talc, spray-dried gum arabic, a mixture of white beeswax and carnauba wax, Ponceau 4R (E 124).

What Alax is and what it is used for:
The anthranoids contained in the product have a laxative effect. Their mechanism of action includes stimulation of colonic peristalsis (by irritating nerve endings) and inhibition of water reabsorption from the intestine. As a result, bowel activity is accelerated and intestinal contents are softened.
The laxative effect may occur 8–12 hours after administration.

Alax is intended for short-term use in episodic constipation in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.

If symptoms worsen or do not resolve, consult a doctor.

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When Alax should not be used:
- Do not use the product in case of confirmed hypersensitivity (allergy) to the active substances or allergy to any component of the product.
- Contraindications include intestinal obstruction and stenosis, atony, appendicitis, inflammatory diseases of the colon (e.g. Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), abdominal pain of unknown origin, severe dehydration with water and electrolyte deficiency.
- Do not use in children under 12 years of age.

Warnings and precautions:
- If you are using medicines for heart disease, diuretics, corticosteroids, or products made from licorice root, consult a doctor before starting the use of products containing buckthorn bark and aloe.
- As with other laxatives, products containing buckthorn bark and aloe should not be used by patients with intestinal obstruction or undiagnosed acute or chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, unless approved by a doctor.
- If there is a need for daily use of laxatives, the cause of constipation must be determined.
- Avoid prolonged use of laxatives. Use for longer than 1–2 weeks is not recommended and should be only under medical supervision.
- Prolonged use of stimulant laxatives may impair bowel function (intestinal atony) and lead to dependence, resulting in the need to increase the dose and worsening of constipation.
- Products containing buckthorn bark and aloe should be used only when a therapeutic effect cannot be achieved by dietary changes or by using bulk-forming agents.
- When using products containing buckthorn bark and aloe, patients with fecal incontinence should change protective pads more frequently to avoid perianal irritation.
- In patients with impaired renal function, use of products containing buckthorn bark and aloe may cause electrolyte imbalance.
- Exercise caution when using Alax in patients with concomitant kidney diseases. Consult a doctor before use.
- Exercise caution when using Alax in elderly patients.
- Children: do not use in children under 12 years of age.
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Alax and other medicines:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines you plan to take.

- Prolonged use of laxatives may increase and/or alter the effects of medicines used to treat heart diseases.
- Concomitant use of diuretics, corticosteroids, or products made from licorice root may cause electrolyte imbalance.
- The product may reduce the absorption of other oral medicines.

Pregnancy and lactation:
Do not use during pregnancy. Since data confirming safety of use are not available, use of this medicinal product during lactation is not recommended. Some metabolites may pass into breast milk. If you suspect that you may be pregnant or are planning pregnancy, consult a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
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Driving and operating machines: The product does not affect the ability to drive vehicles or operate machinery.

Alax contains lactose. If you have been diagnosed with intolerance to certain sugars, consult a doctor before using this product.

The coloring agent (Ponceau 4R) contained in this medicinal product may cause allergic reactions.
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How to use Alax:
Take the product according to the instructions for use or as recommended by a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. If in doubt, consult a doctor or pharmacist.

- Children over 12 years of age, adults, elderly patients: 1–2 sugar-coated tablets in the evening with a glass of water. Usually, it is sufficient to take the product no more than 2–3 times per week. The optimal single dose is the minimum dose that produces bowel evacuation with softened stool without excessive effort.
- Do not exceed the daily dose of 30 mg of anthranoids, which corresponds to approximately 2 tablets per day.
- If the product is used for longer than 1–2 weeks, consult a doctor. If symptoms (constipation) persist during use, consult a doctor or pharmacist.

If you take too much Alax:
The main symptoms of overdose or misuse include severe abdominal pain and diarrhea with loss of water and electrolytes, which must be replenished (in particular, diarrhea may cause potassium loss). In case of overdose, consult a doctor. Treatment should be symptomatic, and intake of large amounts of fluids is required.

If you miss a dose of Alax: Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.


Possible side effects:
- Hypersensitivity reactions may occur.
- Intake of buckthorn bark may cause abdominal cramps and thinning of intestinal contents, especially in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. However, these symptoms may occur with excessive doses, in which case dose reduction is necessary. Chronic use may cause disturbances of water and electrolyte balance, proteinuria, and hematuria.
- During use of the product, urine color may change and become yellow or reddish-brown (depending on urine pH); however, this symptom is not clinically significant.
If side effects occur that are not described, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
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How to store Alax:
- Keep the product out of the sight and reach of children.
- Store at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

- Do not use the product after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the indicated month.
- Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask a pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicines. This helps protect the environment.

Pharmaceutical product group: pharmaceutical product group III, available without prescription

Responsible person and manufacturer:
Poznańskie Zakłady Zielarskie “Herbapol” S.A.
47/51 Towarowa St., 61-896 Poznań, Poland
Tel. +48 61 886 18 00, Fax +48 61 853 60 58