Please read this carefully before starting to take your medicine.

Pylorid tablets belong to a new class of medicine that combines H₂-antagonist properties with action against the bacterium (germ) Helicobacter pylori, and protection of the gut lining.

The H₂-antagonist activity in your medicine reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach. The germ Helicobacter pylori can make ulcers return. Your medicine works against this germ in your gut, and so stops ulcers from coming back.

Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for the following:

• To heal ulcer disease of the stomach, or the part it empties into, the duodenum.
• To clear up infection with the germ H.pylori when used with antibiotics. This can stop duodenal ulcers from coming back.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHY YOU ARE TAKING THESE TABLETS ASK YOUR DOCTOR

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions tell your doctor before taking your medicine.

Have you been told that you are allergic to Pylorid tablets, ranitidine bismuth citrate or any of the other ingredients in Pylorid tablets?

Are you pregnant, or trying to become pregnant?

Are you breast-feeding?

Do you have kidney or liver problems?

Do you suffer from the rare condition called porphyria?

Do you have any other illness, or are you taking any other medicines, including those you have bought yourself?

Take your medicine as your doctor has told you. The label on it will tell you how much to take and how often.

The usual adult dose is one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Swallow each tablet whole with a drink of water. The usual course of treatment is 4 weeks up to a maximum of 8 weeks. They should not be taken for more than 16 weeks in any twelve months.

Pylorid is not recommended for children.

Your doctor may also give you antibiotics to take as well as Pylorid tablets. The label should tell you how much to take and how often. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

It is important to keep to the dose on the label of your medicine. Taking more than this is unlikely to harm you unless many tablets are taken at once. In that case don't delay; ask your doctor what to do or contact your nearest hospital emergency department.

If you forget to take a tablet, don't worry, take another as soon as you remember. Then go on as before, but make sure that you leave at least six hours between doses.

Most people taking this medicine find that it causes no problems. As with all medicines, a few people may find that it causes side effects.

Some people can be allergic to medicines. If you have any of the following symptoms soon after taking

your medicine, STOP taking the tablets and tell your doctor immediately

• Lumpy skin rash ("hives") anywhere on the body.
• Swelling of eyelids, face or lips.
• Sudden wheeziness and chest pain or tightening.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following

• Skin rash (red spots) or itching

Tell your doctor at your next visit if any of the following side effects are noted:

• Diarrhoea, indigestion, wind or stomach cramps.
• Headache

These tablets often make bowel motions darker. You may also notice that your tongue gets darker. This common and harmless side effect of this type of medicine will disappear when your treatment has finished.

Pylorid tablets may upset the results of certain blood tests including "blood counts".

Pylorid tablets contain ranitidine bismuth citrate. The side effects below have been reported with other forms of ranitidine. They may or may not occur with your medicine.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following:

• Nausea (feeling sick) and loss of appetite which are worse than normal and/or jaundice (yellow colour of the skin or the whites of the eyes).
• Slow or irregular heart beat, dizziness, tiredness or fainting.
• Feeling of depression, confusion, or hallucinations.
• Severe stomach pain or a change in the type of pain.
• Unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, or tendency to infections or bruising which can be caused by upsets to "blood counts"

Tell your doctor at your next visit if you experience any of the following:

• Joint or muscle pains.
• If you are a man, breast tenderness and/or breast enlargement.

If you are unwell or have any other unusual discomfort you do not understand, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep your tablets away from heat which can spoil them. As with all medicines, keep Pylorid tablets safely away from children. A child may be harmed by a medicine prescribed for someone else.

If your doctor stops your treatment do not keep any left over tablets unless your doctor tells you to. Return any unused tablets to your pharmacist for safe disposal.

Do not take the tablets after the expiry date shown on the tablet foil or carton.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children

Each light blue tablet contains: The active ingredient ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg.

Other ingredients: sodium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvidone, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (E171), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (E464), triacetin and indigo carmine (E132).

REMEMBER: This medicine is for YOU. Never give it to someone else. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

Not all the information about your medicine is printed here or inside. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to answer questions from patients about their diseases. You may well be able to find out more about prescribed medicines from books in public libraries.

This information has been provided in accordance

with guidance issued by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

The information provided applies only to Pylorid

PL 14213/0001

POM

Pylorid is a trade mark of the Glaxo Wellcome Group of Companies.

Product Licence held by Glaxo Group Limited, Greenford, England, UB6 0NN

Manufactured by Glaxo Operations UK Limited, Ware England SG12 0DJ