What is J Collis Browne's mixture used for?

Relieving a dry, irritating, unproductive cough.

Treating diarrhoea.

This medicine is suitable for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over.

How does J Collis Browne's mixture work?

J Collis Browne's mixture contains two active ingredients, morphine hydrochloride and peppermint oil.

Morphine is a type of medicine called an opioid. In high doses it is a strong painkiller, but it also has cough suppressant and anti-diarrhoeal actions. This medicine contains a low dose of morphine that is not a painkiller and is used purely for its anti-diarrhoeal or cough suppressant effect.

Morphine relieves a cough by reducing the nerve signals sent from a part of the brain called the coughing centre to the muscles that produce coughing. This blocks the cough reflex and is useful for stopping a tickly, irritating unproductive cough.

Morphine relieves diarrhoea by reducing the speed at which the gut contents are pushed through the intestines, allowing more time for water and electrolytes to be reabsorbed back into the body. This results in firmer stools that are passed less frequently.

Peppermint oil acts directly on the smooth muscle in the bowel wall, causing it to relax. This helps reduce painful spasms and pressure in the bowel and eases bloating and wind associated with the diarrhoea.

What should I know before taking J Collis Browne's mixture?

If you have any of the following symptoms with your cough you should not take this medicine and consult your doctor so that the cough can be investigated further: 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.

If any of the following apply to your diarrhoea you should not take this medicine and consult a doctor instead: if your diarrhoea started either during or after taking a course of antibiotics if the diarrhoea contains yellow or greenish mucus or blood if you also have a fever. Acute diarrhoea makes you lose more fluids and salt than you usually would and can make you dehydrated. This medicine only treats the diarrhoea symptoms and so will not rehydrate you. You should ensure that you drink plenty of fluids, and you may also want to take an oral rehydration therapy, which is a soluble powder containing sugars and salts, to help rehydrate you. This is particularly important for frail and elderly people and children. Rehydration salts can be bought from pharmacies. It may be an offence to drive while you are taking J Collis Browne's mixture. Do not drive if you think it affects your ability to drive safely, for example if it makes you feel sleepy, dizzy, unable to concentrate or make decisions, or if you have blurred or double vision. Don't drink alcohol while taking J Collis Browne's mixture, as this will make you more likely to get side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision. As this medicine contains morphine, travellers wanting to take it abroad might be advised to carry a doctor's letter with them explaining why the medicine is necessary.



How do I take J Collis Browne's mixture?

Shake the bottle before measuring out a dose.

To treat diarrhoea, adults and adolescents over 12 years of age should take two to three 5ml spoonfuls every four hours, up to a maximum of three doses.

To relieve a cough, adults and adolescents over 12 years of age should take one to two 5ml spoonfuls every four hours.

Do not exceed the recommended dose.

If you still have your symptoms after 48 hours of treatment, get medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should not take J Collis Browne's mixture?

Children under 12 years of age.

People with breathing problems such as very slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a condition called bronchiectasis, in which there is persistent widening of the airways as a result of lung disease, eg infection, tumours or cystic fibrosis.

People having an asthma attack.

People with heart failure secondary to chronic lung disease.

People with inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

People who have severe abdominal pain, are constipated, or have a blockage or inactivity in the gut.

People with inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

People with epilepsy.

People with a tumour of the adrenal glands (phaeochromocytoma).

People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.

People with a head injury or raised pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure).

People allergic to any ingredients of the medicine.

J Collis Browne's mixture should be used with caution for:

Elderly or weak people. A lower dose may be needed.

People with kidney or liver problems.

People who suffer from asthma.

Men with an enlarged prostate gland.

People with an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

People with reduced production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (adrenocortical insufficiency).

People with low blood pressure (hypotension).

People with an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

People with disorders of the bile duct.

People with a condition called myasthenia gravis, in which there is abnormal muscle weakness.

People with a history of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence.

Is it safe to use J Collis Browne's mixture if pregnant or breastfeeding?

This medicine should not be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding unless recommended by a doctor.

What are the side effects of J Collis Browne's mixture?

Medicines and possible side-effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side-effects which may be associated with this medicine. Just because a side-effect is listed here, this does not mean that everyone who uses this medicine will experience it, or any side-effect. If you are concerned about side-effects or experience an adverse reaction from your medicine, consult your doctor.

Nausea and vomiting.

Constipation.

Drowsiness.

Difficulty passing urine.

Dry mouth.

Sweating.

Headache.

Facial flushing.

Sensation of spinning.

Skin rashes.

Itching.

Changes in heart rate.

Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations).

Low blood pressure (hypotension).

Contracted (pinpoint) pupils.

Changes in mood.

Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations).

Decreased sex drive.

Dependence on the medicine if used for prolonged amounts of time. When you stop taking it after prolonged use you may get withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and irritability. If you find you need to use this medicine all the time you should consult your doctor for advice.

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 J Collis Browne's mixture.

If you think you have experienced side effects from this medicine you can report them using the yellow card scheme.



Can I take J Collis Browne's mixture with other medicines?

It's important to tell your pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you take this medicine, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Painkillers with J Collis Browne's mixture

It is safe to take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen with this medicine. Strong opioid painkillers such as dihydrocodeine, codeine and morphine should be taken with caution as you may feel more drowsy.

Other medicine interactions with J Collis Browne's mixture

This medicine should not be taken by people who are currently taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or who have taken one of these medicines in the last 14 days. MAOIs include the antidepressants phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid and moclobemide, and rasagiline and selegiline for Parkinson's disease.

J Collis Browne's mixture may cause drowsiness. You're more likely to feel drowsy if you take it with any of the following medicines, which can also cause drowsiness:

antihistamines that cause drowsiness, such as chlorphenamine, promethazine, triprolidine, hydroxyzine (some of these may be found in non-prescription cough, cold or hayfever remedies)

(some of these may be found in non-prescription cough, cold or hayfever remedies) antipsychotics, such as haloperidol, chlorpromazine

baclofen

barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, amobarbital

benzodiazepines, such as temazepam, diazepam

pregabalin

sleeping tablets, such as zopiclone

tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.

Taking cimetidine with J Collis Browne's mixture may increase the risk of getting morphine side effects such as drowsiness, so don't take the two together unless advised to by your doctor or pharmacist.

The morphine in this medicine may oppose the effects of the following medicines on the gut:

domperidone

metoclopramide.

The morphine in this medicine may increase the blood level of the following medicines:

esmolol

gabapentin.

Read more detailed information about medicines that may interact with J Collis Browne's mixture here

Last updated 02.10.2019

Rita Ghelani (BPharm, MRPharmS) Pharmacist A UK registered practising pharmacist with over 20 years' experience, Rita is a member of the medical journalists’ association (MJA) and has a wealth of experience in community pharmacy.

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