Try to eat a balanced diet containing Contact details
high-fibre foods such as wholemeal
and whole-grain breads and cereals, Colorectal clinical nurse specialists:
fruit and vegetables, brown rice and 0121 371 4980 (with answerphone)
wholemeal pasta. If you are not used 0121 371 4501 (with answerphone)
to a high-fibre diet, it may be best to
increase the amount of fibre you eat
gradually. Useful contacts
Keeping your body active will help you Bladder and Bowel Community
to keep your digestive system moving,
Helpline: 0845 345 0165
so try to take some regular daily
exercise. www.bladderandbowel.org
Fybogel is available in three different Guts UK
flavours: plain, orange or lemon. Telephone: 0207 486 0341
www.gutscharity.org.uk
How to mix MASIC Foundation
masic.org.uk
Open the sachet and pour the contents
into a glass. Add about 125ml or ¼
pint of water to the glass. Stir well The Trust provides free
until all the powder has dissolved and
the Fybogel solution is clear or slightly
monthly health talks on a
variety of medical conditions
How to take
Fybogel
hazy, and then drink it. You must take and treatments. For more information visit
the medicine as soon as possible after www.uhb.nhs.uk/health-talks.htm or
preparing it. call 0121 371 4323.
If you have any further questions Functional Bowel Disease Service
please do not hesitate to ask. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston
UHB is a no smoking Trust
Birmingham, B15 2GW
Telephone: 0121 371 4980 To see all of our current
patient information leaflets please visit
www.uhb.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets.htm
PI18/1393/03 Author: Yvette Perston
Date: March 2019 Review date: March 2021
What is Fybogel? like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease bowel removed and also those who
or toxic megacolon suffer from leakage of stool.
Fybogel is one of a group of drugs
called bulk forming laxatives. It is a • Phenylketonuria
source of natural fibre which helps to • An allergy to any of the ingredients
regulate bowel function. These drugs If you are pregnant or breast feeding, What are the alternatives?
are designed to attract water into your talk to your doctor before you take There are other medicines that have
stools, making them softer and easier Fybogel. a similar effect on the bowel; these
to pass, thus reducing constipation. As include Regulan and Isogel.
The most commonly reported
Fybogel absorbs water and makes the
undesirable effects with Fybogel are
stool bulkier, it can also be used to treat
mild. Sometimes people have stomach
diarrhoea or very soft stool.
ache or rumbles, or feel bloated or What dose do I take?
sick. Some people also get increased
flatulence. These symptoms usually A suggested starting dose of Fybogel
How does it work? settle within a few days as your body will have been discussed with you. It
gets used to the increased fibre intake. is usual to start with one sachet a day
Fybogel works by absorbing water in but some people will require a larger
the bowel and so increasing the bulk If any of the above are troublesome dose. People vary a lot in their response
of the stool. This helps regulate bowel or last more than a few days, or if you to Fybogel. It sometimes needs some
movement. It also softens the stool, experience any other undesirable effect experimentation to find the dose that
which makes them pass through the that is not listed, tell your pharmacist or will soften your bowels without giving
bowel more easily reducing straining. doctor. you diarrhoea. It is usual to start on a
As the stool is bulkier,it becomes easier low dose and build it up slowly over
to control and this may help people a few days so that you can judge how
who have had part of their bowel What are the benefits? your body is responding. It is best to
removed or who have leakage problems take Fybogel after meals but do not
The benefits of taking Fybogel are that take it just before going to bed.
to pass stools.
the stools are softer and bulkier and so
move more easily through the bowel. It is important to drink plenty while you
Taking Fybogel regularly prevents are taking Fybogel. You should aim to
What are the risks? constipation. It can also treat loose drink at least two litres (about 8-10 cups)
stool by absorbing fluid and so help of fluid per day. Most sorts of drink will
You should not take Fybogel if your do, but as a start, try just drinking a
doctor has told you that you have: regulate bowel movements. As the
stool is bulkier it makes it easier for the glass of water 3-4 times a day in addition
• An obstruction in your intestine (gut) to what you normally drink. Sometimes
muscles in the back passage to control
• A perforated gut wall it. For this reason Fybogel can be used it may take a few days before you feel
• Severe inflammatory bowel disease, for people who have had part of their the full benefit from a bulk-forming
laxative such as Fybogel.
