Ralicrom 100mg (Sodium Cromoglycate)

Ralicrom general information

What is Ralicrom used for?

Ralicrom capsules 100mg are used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions of the bowel (large intestine), such as proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum) and proctocolitis (inflammation of the rectum and colon).  Proctitis and proctocolitis is commonly associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can also be caused by infection, both sexually transmitted and food borne infections, radiation therapy for cancer, antibiotics, and allergy to milk proteins in infants.  Symptoms include watery stools often containing mucus, bleeding from the rectum, diarrhoea and lower abdominal pain.  Ralicrom capsules 100mg are also used to treat ulcerative colitis, a chronic IBD that is thought to be an autoimmune condition, where cells of immune system that are found in the large intestine attacks normal healthy cells.  This causes swelling, ulceration and loss of function of the colon and rectum, with symptoms including diarrhoea containing blood, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite and bloating.  Ralicrom capsules 100mg are also used to treat food allergy disease, which is an allergic reaction to certain types of food, and should only be used following investigation of the diet into what food is causing the allergy.  The most common foods that cause allergy are cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shell fish and fish proteins.  Gastrointestinal symptoms of food allergy include include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.  When using Ralicrom capsules 100mg for treatment of food allergy, it is important to avoid eating foods that may cause an allergic reaction.  Ralicrom capsules 100mg help dampen down the allergic reaction that is a common factor in each of these conditions, to relieve symptoms.

How does Ralicrom work?

Ralicrom capsules 100mg contain sodium cromoglicate, an antiallergenic agent that works as a mast cell stabilizer and is used to treat conditions caused by allergic reactions in the bowel.  Mast cells are white blood cell that are part of the immune system and form the first line of defence against the environment, being found in tissues exposed to the environment like the intestines and lungs.  When mast cells are triggered by a pathogen or allergen, they produce chemicals including histamine and cytokines that are mediators in the allergic response and inflammatory response.  Mast cells also play an important role in normal function of the intestine, including secretion of fluid by the intestinal mucosal lining, permeability of the intestinal mucosa, gastrointestinal motility, (peristalsis - which is muscular contraction that helps move food through the intestine) and visceral sensation by stimulation nerve cells in the intestinal wall.  Under certain conditions, the numbers of mast cells can increase above normal levels resulting in production of these mediators in higher than normal levels.  Increased numbers of mast cells is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders of the bowel including IBD and is the result of a local inflammatory response.  A food allergy can be described as an exaggerated by the immune system response to a harmless protein (the allergen).  If permeability of the intestine is altered by the release of mast cell mediators, this may also allow the food allergen to become absorbed and cause systemic allergic reactions.  Infection or allergy in the intestine can result in abnormal immune and allergic reactions resulting in the symptoms due to chronic inflammatory bowel disorders and food allergy.  Sodium cromoglicate in Ralicrom capsules 100mg inhibits the release of mast cell mediators, which stabilises the mast cells, preventing the local inflammatory reaction in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the possibility of a secondary systemic reaction in other organs caused by leakage of antigenic materials into the general circulation.  This action of Sodium cromoglicate in Ralicrom capsules 100mg reduces symptoms induced by these mediators in chronic inflammatory conditions of the bowel and food allergy. 

What does Ralicrom contain?

Ralicrom capsules contain the active ingredient sodium cromoglicate 100mg, used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions of the bowel.  They also contain purified water, No 2 hard gelatin capsules, Black ink containing water, ethyl alcohol, Iso-propyl alcohol, propylene alcohol, N-butyl alcohol, Shellac, potassium hydroxide, Iron oxide black (E172)

Treating inflammatory bowel conditions with Ralicrom

Ralicrom capsules 100mg contain sodium cromoglicate, an antiallergenic agent that is used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions of the bowel (large intestine), such as proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum) and proctocolitis (inflammation of the rectum and colon).  Proctitis and proctocolitis are commonly associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can also be caused by infection, both sexually transmitted and food borne infections, radiation therapy for cancer, antibiotics, and allergy to milk proteins in infants.  Symptoms include watery stools often containing mucus, bleeding from the rectum, diarrhoea and lower abdominal pain.  Ralicrom capsules 100mg are used to treat ulcerative colitis, a chronic IBD that is thought to be an autoimmune condition, where cells of immune system that are found in the large intestine attack normal healthy cells.  This causes swelling, ulceration and loss of function of the colon and rectum, with symptoms including diarrhoea containing blood, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite and bloating.  Mast cells are white blood cell that are part of the immune system and form the first line of defence against the environment, being found in tissues exposed to the environment like the intestines.  When mast cells are triggered by a pathogen or allergen, they produce chemicals including histamine and cytokines that are mediators in the allergic and inflammatory responses.  Mast cells also play an important role in normal function of the intestine, including secretion of fluid by the intestinal mucosal lining, permeability of the intestinal mucosa, gastrointestinal motility, (peristalsis - which is muscular contraction that helps move food through the intestine) and visceral sensation by stimulation nerve cells in the intestinal wall.  Under certain conditions, the numbers of mast cells can increase above normal levels resulting in production of these mediators in higher than normal levels.  Increased numbers of mast cells is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders of the bowel including IBD causing a local inflammatory reaction in the intestine.  Sodium cromoglicate in Ralicrom capsules 100mg inhibits the release of mast cell mediators, which stabilises the mast cells, preventing the local inflammatory reaction in the gastro-intestinal tract, as well as the possibility of a secondary systemic reaction in other organs caused by leakage of antigenic materials into the general circulation, this reduces symptoms induced by these mediators in chronic inflammatory conditions of the bowel. 

Ralicrom for food allergy

Ralicrom capsules 100mg contain sodium cromoglicate, an antiallergenic agent that is used to treat food allergy disease, which is an allergic reaction to certain types of food, and should only be used following investigation of the diet into what food is causing the allergy.  The most common foods that cause allergy are cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shell fish and fish proteins.  Gastrointestinal Symptoms of food allergy include symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.  When using Ralicrom capsules 100mg for treatment it is important to avoid eating foods that may cause an allergic reaction.  Mast cells are white blood cell that are part of the immune system and form the first line of defence against the environment, being found in tissues exposed to the environment like the intestines.  When mast cells are triggered by an allergen, they produce chemicals including histamine and cytokines that are mediators in the allergic and inflammatory responses.  Mast cells also play an important role in normal function of the intestine, including secretion of fluid by the intestinal mucosal lining, permeability of the intestinal mucosa, gastrointestinal motility, (peristalsis - which is muscular contraction that helps move food through the intestine) and visceral sensation by stimulation nerve cells in the intestinal wall.  Under certain conditions, the numbers of mast cells can increase above normal levels resulting in production of these mediators in higher than normal levels.  Increased numbers of mast cells is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of an allergic reaction to some foods.  A food allergy can be described as an exaggerated response by the immune system to a harmless protein (the allergen). If permeability is altered by the release of mast cell mediators, this may allow the food allergen to become absorbed and cause systemic allergic reactions.  Sodium cromoglicate in Ralicrom capsules 100mg inhibits the release of mast cell mediators, which stabilises the mast cells, preventing local allergic reaction in the gastro-intestinal tract, as well as the possibility of a secondary systemic reaction in other organs caused by leakage of antigenic materials into the general circulation.  This action of Sodium cromoglicate in Ralicrom capsules 100mg reduces symptoms induced by these mediators in food allergy. 

What are the side effects of Ralicrom?

Side effects are not common when using Ralicrom capsules 100mg and those reported include nausea, skin rashes and joint pains.

When should Ralicrom not be used?

You should not use Ralicrom capsules 100mg if you:

• are allergic to sodium cromoglicate or any ingredients in Ralicrom
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor

How should Ralicrom be taken?

You should take your Ralicrom capsules 100mg four times daily and before a meal.  The dose you take and for how long depends on your doctors recommendation, age (different dose for adults and children) and what you are being treated for. You should continue you take your Ralicrom capsules 100mg until your symptoms have been controlled, which may take several weeks followed by maintenance as directed by your doctor.

How long should you take Ralicrom?

You should continue you take your Ralicrom capsules 100mg until your symptoms have been controlled, which may take several weeks followed by maintenance as directed by your doctor.

Missed dose of Ralicrom

If you miss a dose of Ralicrom capsules 100mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Ralicrom be stored?

You should store your Ralicrom capsules 100mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.