Olygrip

Olygrip is available in day and night tablets, packaged in a single blister pack inside a cardboard box. The pack contains:

• 12 white tablets to be taken during the day;
• 4 night-time tablets, film-coated, round, blue in colour.

The daytime tablets contain 500 mg of paracetamol and 60 mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, whilst the night-time tablets contain 500 mg of paracetamol and 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. 

Olygrip Day and Night is indicated for the short-term symptomatic treatment of:

• nasal and sinus congestion;
• mild to moderate pain (headache, neuralgia, myalgia);
• fever associated with colds and flu;
• night-time symptoms that appear in the evening at bedtime and cause difficulty falling asleep.

The medicine is intended for adults and adolescents over 15 years of age and is recommended exclusively for the relief of cold and flu symptoms.

The medicine is to be taken orally only, with a glass of water, strictly adhering to the recommended dosage:

• Day: 1 white tablet every 4–6 hours, up to a maximum of 3 times a day (morning, midday and afternoon).
• Night: 1 blue tablet, taken in the evening before going to bed.

Do not exceed 3 tablets per day within a 24-hour period and do not take the night-time tablets during the day. 

Olygrip is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity to paracetamol, pseudoephedrine, diphenhydramine or any of the excipients. 

Furthermore, the medicine must not be used in patients with diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, pheochromocytoma, severe kidney failure, lung diseases with breathing difficulties, or in those currently or recently (within the last 14 days) being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Particular caution is required in patients with liver or kidney disorders, epilepsy, benign prostatic hypertrophy, haemolytic anaemia, occlusive vascular diseases, long QT syndrome or alcohol dependence. 

The onset of a generalised febrile rash with pustules or sudden loss of vision requires immediate discontinuation of treatment and urgent medical assessment.

Like all medicines, Olygrip can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. 

Allergic skin reactions, sometimes severe, breathing difficulties, facial or tongue swelling have been reported. Other reactions include drowsiness (especially with the night-time tablets), dizziness, headache, confusion, nervousness, sleep disturbances, dry mucous membranes, gastrointestinal disturbances, constipation or diarrhoea, changes in blood pressure and heart rate. 

Olygrip may interact with numerous classes of medicines, including tricyclic antidepressants, moclobemide, cardiac glycosides, ergot alkaloids, sympathomimetic medicines, antihypertensives, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, anticholinergics and medicines that prolong the QT interval. 

Alcohol consumption is contraindicated, as it increases the risk of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. 

Overdose of Olygrip, particularly if the paracetamol dose is exceeded, constitutes a medical emergency. Even in the absence of immediate symptoms, there is a risk of delayed onset of severe liver damage. In the event of accidental ingestion of a dose higher than the recommended amount, it is essential to seek medical advice immediately.

The medicine must be stored in its original packaging, at temperatures below 25 °C, protected from moisture and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the packaging. Unused tablets must be disposed of in accordance with the pharmacist’s recommendations, in order to protect the environment.

• NIH, Acetaminophen
• PubMed, Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety issues
• MDPI, Paracetamol: a review of recommendations in guidelines
• MJA, Efficacy and safety of paracetamol for pain relief: an overview of systematic reviews