Lemsip

What is Lemsip Cold & Flu?

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules are designed to help relieve the unpleasant symptoms associated with the common cold and flu.

To purchase Lemsip online, click the green button located at the top of the page. When you buy cold and flu treatments online from Prescription Doctor, you can rest assured that your item will be delivered in discreet packaging to ensure your privacy.

There are three active ingredients in Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules:

• Paracetamol: A well-known, widely used analgesic (painkiller) and antipyretic (reduces fever).
• Phenylephrine hydrochloride: A decongestant.
• Caffeine: A mild stimulant 

What are the Common Cold and Flu?

A cold is a highly common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, typically lasting several days to weeks. Due to the speed at which the cold virus mutates as it spreads, creating an effective vaccine would prove futile.

Flu is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza A or B viruses. It can be avoided by having the flu vaccine.

These viral infections can exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory conditions, such as asthma and COPD. If you are suffering from any respiratory infection, consult your doctor about managing your symptoms while you have a cold or flu.

Many symptoms of cold and flu are the same, for example:

• Blocked or runny nose
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Muscular aches
• Sinus pressure
• Sneezing
• Sore throat

Symptoms of the flu, which tend to develop more rapidly than those of a cold, are generally more severe and likely to result in fever, with temperatures exceeding 38°C; fatigue; weakness; nausea; stomach pain or diarrhoea.

Cold and flu remedies, such as Lemsip, work to relieve symptoms as quickly as possible, allowing you to continue with your life without feeling groggy. It's also essential to drink plenty of water and eat regularly to provide your body with the energy it needs to combat the virus.

Influenza and the common cold are not bacteria and should not be treated with antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics, such as using them to treat viral infections, contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. This causes bacteria to become resistant to the effects of antibiotic treatment, making it harder to treat infections with antibiotics when needed.

It's important to keep up to date with your flu vaccinations. Ask your doctor about when to get your flu jab. Your doctor's surgery may send an annual letter at the start of the flu season to remind you. You can usually get a flu jab from your local doctor's surgery and some pharmacies.

How Does Lemsip Cold & Flu Work?

Lemsip Cold & Flu contains paracetamol, which reduces pain-inducing chemicals called prostaglandins, and acts upon the hypothalamic heat-regulating centre of the brain to reduce fever.

The treatment also contains phenylephrine hydrochloride, which reduces swelling in the nasal passages and helps to relieve sinus pressure and related headaches. By inhibiting blood flow into the nose, it also reduces congestion and mucus production. The capsule includes caffeine to boost energy and help combat illness-related fatigue. 

How to Take Lemsip Max Cold & Flu

Take two capsules of Lemsip Max Cold & Flu every 4 to 6 hours as required. Do not take more than 8 capsules in 24 hours. Do not take for more than 5 days without consulting a healthcare professional.

If you are also taking a single dose of a night-time cold and flu remedy containing paracetamol, limit daytime use of Lemsip Max Cold & Flu to three doses (6 capsules total). Do not use other paracetamol-containing products or other cold and flu remedies throughout the day.

Swallow capsules whole with water. You can take Lemsip Max Cold & Flu with or without food. You can take Lemsip alongside ibuprofen for additional pain relief, if required and suitable for you. 

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Side Effects and Cautions

All medicines carry the risk of side effects, although not everyone experiences them. Familiarising yourself with the potential risks of the medicine you are taking is important to your care. While taking Lemsip, remain vigilant for side effects.

Potential adverse reactions include:

• Skin reactions (potentially serious)
• Blood disorders
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• High blood pressure
• Palpidations
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty in passing urine (especially in men)

The above is not an exhaustive list of possible side effects. More details can be found within the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the medication. You can also report any adverse reactions to your clinician or by using the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme. 

Allergies

If you experience an allergic reaction to Lemsip, stop taking the medicine and seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Skin rash
• Itching
• Swelling of the mouth or face
• Shortness of breath

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Warnings and Interactions 

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu is an effective medication, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Do not take Lemsip if you:

• Are allergic to paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride, caffeine, or any of the other excipients of this medication
• Have a serious heart condition
• Have high blood pressure or an overactive thyroid
• Are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or have done so within the last 14 days
• Are taking other sympathomimetic decongestants
• Have an enlarged prostate, phaeochromocytoma, diabetes mellitus, or closed-angle glaucoma

Precautions Before Taking the Medication

Speak to your clinician or doctor before starting treatment if you have:

• Raynaud’s syndrome
• A problem with your liver or kidneys or a history of stomach ulcers
• Non-cirrhotic liver disease

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu and Other Medicines

Tell your clinician or doctor about any other medicines you are taking, or might take. This includes prescription medication, over-the-counter treatments, or herbal remedies.

Do not take Lemsip Max Cold & Flu capsules with other paracetamol-containing products. Taking other cough and cold medicines together could lead to overdose.

Inform your doctor if you are taking:

• Beta-blockers, antihypertensives, or vasodilators
• Tricyclic antidepressants, other decongestants, or barbiturates
• Blood thinners, cimetidine, disulfiram, or oral contraceptives
• Barbiturates or epilepsy medicines
• Isoniazid
• Oxytocin and ergot alkaloids

It is especially important to tell your doctor if you are taking flucloxacillin, as using it alongside regular doses of paracetamol could result in a serious condition called metabolic acidosis which requires urgent treatment. 

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lemsip if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding. This treatment should not be used by women with a history of pre-eclampsia. 

Paracetamol Warning 

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu capsules contain paracetamol.

While taking this medicine, do not use other paracetamol-containing products during the day. If you take a single dose of a night-time paracetamol-containing product, limit daytime use of Lemsip Max Cold & Flu to three doses (6 capsules). Always read the label of other medicines you are taking. If you are unsure whether another treatment contains paracetamol, consult your doctor or ask a pharmacist for advice.

Two Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules contain 1,000 mg of paracetamol. Do not take more than 2 capsules at a time or more than 8 capsules within 24 hours. Taking more paracetamol can lead to delayed liver damage.

Other Safety Information

Always consult your doctor before purchasing Lemsip online.

Please inform our doctor of all other medications you are currently taking, including those bought over-the-counter or prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take Lemsip past the expiry date printed on the packaging. The date refers to the last day of the specified month.

Never throw away medicine via household or water waste. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to your local pharmacy and ask them to dispose of it on your behalf.

Always keep Lemsip Cold & Flu out of sight and reach from children and pets.

Never share your medicine with anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.

Can You Buy Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Online?

You can safely buy Lemsip online from Prescription Doctor's online pharmacy. We offer discreet, next-day delivery to ensure your confidentiality. Our doctors and pharmacy staff are available to address any questions you may have about your treatment.

We dispense and dispatch all orders from our GPhC-registered, UK-based pharmacy. All items listed on our website are licensed for sale and use in the UK by the MHRA.

Frequently Asked Questions