Lemsip max all in one liquid for cold and flu

Lemsip max all in one liquid contains a painkiller, decongestant, cough expectorant and antiseptic.

lemsip max all in one liquid for cold and flu
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Lemsip max all in one liquid used for relieving the symptoms of colds and flu, including chesty coughs, blocked nose and sinuses, sinus pain, fever, headache, aches and pains and sore throats.

Heres's everything you need to know about Lemsip max all in one liquid, including how it works, who shouldn't use it and the potential side effects:

How does Lemsip max all in one liquid work?

Lemsip max all in one liquid contains four active ingredients, the painkiller paracetamol (1000mg per 20ml), a cough expectorant called guaifenesin (200mg per 20ml), a decongestant called phenylephrine hydrochloride (12.18mg per 20ml) and an antiseptic called cetylpyridinium chloride. These active ingredients have different actions to relieve your symptoms.


Expectorants such as guaifenesin are used to treat a productive, chesty or mucus cough, where you cough up phlegm. Guaifenesin helps to thin and loosen the mucus in the airways, making it easier to cough up.


Cetylpyridinium chloride is a mild antiseptic, which kills the bacteria that may be associated with throat infections.

How to take Lemsip max all in one liquid

Shake the bottle for at least 10 seconds before measuring a dose.

Adults aged 16 years and over should take one dose of 10ml to 20ml up to four times a day as needed. Leave at least four hours between doses. Do not take more than four doses in 24 hours. Each dose should be measured using the measuring cup provided with the liquid.


Do not take more than the recommended dose. Do not take this medicine with any other products that contain paracetamol, as this can easily result in exceeding the maximum dose of paracetamol.



      Who shouldn't take Lemsip max all in one liquid?

      ● Children under 16 years of age.



      ● People with heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension).

      ● People with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

      ● People with a tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma).

      ● Men with an enlarged prostate gland.

      ● People with closed-angle glaucoma.

      ● Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

      People with any of the following symptoms should get medical advice beforehand:

          ● Anyone coughing up phlegm that is green, rusty brown, yellow, blood-stained or foul smelling

          ● shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing

          ● chest pain

          ● pain and swelling in your calf

          ● sudden weight loss

          ● recurrent night-time cough

          ● or a long-term persistent cough.

          ● kidney or liver problems.

          ● Diabetes.

          ● Blood circulation problems such as Raynaud's disease.

          ● Lemsip max all in one liquid contains alcohol (equivalent to approximately 32ml of wine or 76ml of beer per 20ml dose) and may be harmful to people suffering from alcoholism or epilepsy.

          Lemsip max all in one liquid side effects

          Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with the ingredients of Lemsip max all in one liquid. Just because a side effect is stated here doesn't mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

          • Abdominal discomfort.
          • Diarrhoea.
          • Feeling sick or vomiting.
          • Headache.
          • Dizziness.
          • Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
          • Restlessness.
          • Increase in blood pressure.
          • Increased heart rate.
          • Palpitations.
          • Difficulty passing urine.

            Read the leaflet that comes with the medicine or talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you want any more information about the possible side effects of Lemsip max all in one liquid. If you think you have experienced a side effect, did you know you can report this using the yellow card website?

            Lemsip max all in one liquid and other medicines

            If you're already taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and those bought without a prescription, you should always check with your pharmacist before taking Lemsip max all in one liquid as well, to make sure that the combination is safe.

            Don't take Lemsip max all in one liquid with any other medicines that contain paracetamol or a decongestant. Many over-the-counter painkillers and cold and flu remedies contain these ingredients. It's important to check the ingredients of any medicines you buy without a prescription before taking them with Lemsip max all in one liquid, or ask your pharmacist for advice. Using more than one medicine with the same (or similar) active ingredients at the same time could lead to you exceeding the maximum dose or having a higher risk of side effects.

            It's fine to take Lemsip max all in one liquid with plain ibuprofen or aspirin (assuming these are appropriate for you). However, don't take it with co-codamol, co-dydramol or Tramacet because these contain paracetamol.

            Don't take Lemsip max all in one liquid with medicines that contain a cough suppressant, such as dextromethorphan or pholcodine, as these would have an opposite effect to the guaifenesin in this medicine.


            Don't take Lemsip max all in one liquid if you're taking any of the following medicines, because the combination may increase your blood pressure:

            • amphetamine-like stimulants, including methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and modafinil
            • appetite suppressants
            • the antibiotic linezolid
            • tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.

            If you're taking medicines for high blood pressure you shouldn't take Lemsip max all in one liquid, because the decongestant may make your blood pressure medicine less effective.

            If you take Lemsip max all in one liquid in the hour before or the six hours after taking colestyramine, the paracetamol is likely to be less effective. This is because colestyramine reduces the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.


            If you're taking the anti-cancer medicines imatinib or busulfan you should not take Lemsip max all in one liquid without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

            Covonia cold & flu formula contains the same active ingredients. There are many other cough, cold and flu remedies available to buy without a prescription. Many of these will also contain paracetamol, phenylephrine, guaifenesin or cetylpyridinium chloride among their ingredients.

            Last updated 9.1.2021

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