EchinaCold is a traditional herbal medicinal product containing Echinacea purpurea herb, and is used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections. This usage is based on traditional use only. It is available as:

• EchinaCold Capsules
• EchinaCold Effervescent Tablets

How to take EchinaCold.

Adults, elderly and children over 12: Start taking EchinaCold at the first sign of a cold or flu. Do not take for longer than 10 days.

Capsules: Take 1-2 capsules daily. Swallow them whole with some water or other liquid.

Effervescent Tablets: Take1-2 tablets daily, dissolved in a glass of water (about 200ml) and drink immediately.

Do not give EchinaCold to children under 12 years old.

If you forget to take EchinaCold. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. It doesn't matter if you miss a dose.

Each EchinaCold Capsule or Soluble Tablets Contains: 176 mg of dried pressed juice from fresh flowering Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench herb (20-28:1), which is the active ingredient.

EchinaCold also contains the following ingredients: Herbal preparation: Maltodextrin. precipitated silicon dioxide, citric acid monohydrate.

Soft Capsule: Refined soya-bean oil, refined coconut oil, white beeswax. rice starch, fractionated palm kernel oil, phospholipids from soya-beans, succinylated gelatine, glycerol, non-crystallising sorbitol solution 70%. titanium dioxide E171, ferric (II, Ill) oxide E172, quinoline yellow E104, patent blue V E E131, purified water.

Effervescent Tablet:  Citric acid, sodium hydrogen carbonate, maltodextrin, saccharin sodium, sodium cyclamate, ascorbic acid and citric flavour, Permaseal 84260-51.

Do Not Take EchinaCold if you:

• are allergic to any of the ingredients or to plants of the Asteraceae/Compositae family such as daisies, marigolds or artichokes
• have a tendency to allergies such as hives, allergic eczema or asthma
• are allergic to peanut or soya
• are fructose-intolerant (react badly to some sugars)
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• suffer from the infection tuberculosis
• suffer from connective tissue disease such as sarcoidosis
• suffer from autoimmune diseases such as inflammation of the connective tissue (collagenoses) or multiple sclerosis
• suffer from conditions which reduce your immunity to infection such as HIV
• are on therapy which reduces your resistance to infection such as cancer
  drug treatment or radiotherapy, history of organ or bone marrow transplant
• suffer from blood disorders involving the white blood cells count due
  to bone marrow disorders (agranulocytosis) or leukaemia
• are taking immunosuppressant medicines such as ciclosporin or methotrexat

Take Special Care with EchinaCold:

• Do not exceed the stated dose
• If you are prone to allergies, there is a risk of developing serious allergic reactions to Echinacea e.g. Anaphylactic reactions
• Taking Echinacea containing products may trigger autoimmune diseases
• The Effervescent tablets contain 17.05 mmol (or 392 mg) sodium per tablet. This should be taken into consideration by patients on a sodium controlled diet.

Side-Effects

Like all medicines. EchinaCold can have side-effects. although not everyone gets them. Stop taking EchinaCold and check with your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner if any of the following side-effects occur:

Allergic (hypersensitive) reactions such as:

• rash
• hives
• inflammatory disorder of the skin (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)
• swelling of the skin due to fluid
• swelling of the facial area (Quincke's oedema)
• shrinking of the airways in the lungs with obstruction (bronchospasm)
• asthma and life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock)

Echinacea can trigger allergic reactions in patients who have a tendency to develop allergic conditions.

Association with autoimmune diseases has been reported such as:

• inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (disseminated encephalitis)
• painful lumps on the shins (erythema nodosum)
• low blood platelet count (immunothrombocytopenia)
• destruction of blood cells by antibodies (Evans Syndrome)
• dryness in the mouth and eyes with renal tubular dysfunction (Sjogren Syndrome)

A decrease in the number of white blood cells (leucopenia) may occur in long-term use (more than 8 weeks). The frequency is not known.

If any of these side-effects become troublesome, or if you notice side-effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner.

After taking EchinaCold

You must see your doctor or a qualified healthcare practitioner if your symptoms worsen, if you experience a high fever or your symptoms persist after 10 days.

If you take more than the recommended dose, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner and take this leaflet with you.