Gelclair® Information
What is Gelclair®?
Gelclair® is a viscous gel specially made to aid in rapidly relieving the pain of mouth sores and ulcers associated with oral mucositis.
Oral mucositis is the inflammation of the mouth with painful sores and ulcers. This often occurs in people getting chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Gelclair® helps to provide pain relief from oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, medication, disease, oral surgery, traumatic ulcers caused by dental braces and dentures, diffuse aphthous ulcers, and ageing.
Click here to read more about Oral Mucositis.
Gelclair’s® protective coating:
Gelclair® works by forming a protective film barrier that coats the lining of the mouth. It covers and protects the exposed nerve endings that cause pain. This stops irritation and reduces pain. Gelclair® also hydrates or keeps moisture in the tissue. The two main protective ingredients are Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Hyaluronic acid.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
PVP creates a barrier coating over the oral mouth sores and exposed sensitive nerve endings which provides rapid pain relief. The barrier coating also helps absorb mechanical stress (pressure or force) placed on the tissues when you are eating and drinking or just moving your tongue around in your mouth.
The coating also helps another ingredient, hyaluronic acid, to keep water in the cells and boost the moisturizing and lubricating actions of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in most cells in the human body. It attracts water and has film forming abilities that allow it to help keep the water in the cell and provide some lubrication. This helps make the mouth feel more comfortable because the mouth is often dryer since the salivary glands are damaged during cancer therapy and cannot produce as much saliva.
Hyaluronic acid also has some anti-inflammatory action to reduce swelling and it helps with healing inside cells.
How Gelclair’s® protective gel coats damaged tissue
in the mouth to protect it and relieve pain:
Gelclair® provides a simple, effective way to rapidly relieve the pain of oral mucositis and painful mouth ulcers while helping the patient eat and drink normally.
In clinical studies, Gelclair® effectively reduced mouth pain and provided rapid relief that helped cancer patients with oral mucositis to eat and drink more easily. This improves their quality of life and helps them to stay on your cancer therapy.
Patients find Gelclair®:
Gentle on the lining of the mouth when used and with no numbing of the mouth.
Very well tolerated and does not sting the mouth when used.1,2
Provides a soothing feeling in the mouth.
Watch this video to learn about oral mucositis and Gelclair®
Who can use Gelclair®?
Gelclair® can be used by patients of all ages to manage the painful symptoms of mouth sores and ulcers caused by:
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Ageing
Traumatic Ulcers
Disease
Oral Surgery
Patient Views on Gelclair®
Watch these videos to hear about these patients’ troubles with oral mucositis and how Gelclair® helped them.
Indications for Use
Gelclair® helps with the management of painful symptoms of mucositis (mouth sores or ulcers) of the mouth. Gelclair® forms a protective film that helps to provide pain relief caused by medication, disease, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, oral surgery, traumatic ulcers caused by dental braces and dentures, diffuse aphthous ulcers, and ageing.
Gelclair® should be used 3 times a day 30 – 60 minutes before meals, or as recommended by your health care professional.
Important Safety Information
Undesirable / Adverse Effects No serious adverse events have been reported to date. Adverse events are reversible and not serious, such as stinging, burning sensations, and local discomfort in the mouth and are rarely reported.
Accidental Ingestion / Overdose There has not been any report of overdose with Gelclair®. Ingestion of Gelclair® is not recommended, however, it is not harmful.
Storage
Store at room temperature (15°C – 30°C) away from direct sunlight. Do not freeze.
The gel may become a little darker and thicker during storage; however, this does not affect its efficacy or safety.
Do not use if the sachet is damaged.
How to Use Gelclair®
Squeeze
the entire contents of the single-dose Gelclair® sachet into a glass.
Add
3 tablespoons of water (40 mL). Stir contents until gel is completely dissolved in the water and no gel remains in the the glass, use at once.
Rinse
around the mouth for at least 1 minute to thoroughly coat the tongue, palate, throat, inside of cheeks, and all oral tissue. Do not swallow;
If you are not able to rinse and gargle (e.g., in young children), Gelclair may be applied directly on the mucosal sores or ulcers of the mouth using a sponge or swab.
Gargle
and spit out. Discard any unused gel or mixture;
Wait
30 – 60 minutes before eating or drinking.
For best results, use Gelclair® three times a day, before meals or as recommended by a health care professional.
See Patient Insert for full information about Gelclair®
Where can I get Gelclair®?
Patients who would like to try Gelclair® before buying it can ask their doctor or nurse for a free sample pack.
Gelclair® is available in a box of 21 sachets, enough for 7 days at retail pharmacies.
Gelclair® can be bought from any retail pharmacy without a prescription.
Ask the pharmacist to order Gelclair® from their wholesaler as it is not a regularly stocked item.
Patients may check with their pharmacist to see if Gelclair® is covered by private insurance since some private drug plans may cover it or it may be submitted to a health care spending account if the patient’s plan has that feature.
The pharmacists can order Gelclair® from their wholesaler using the product numbers shown here.
The product usually is available the next day in most pharmacies.
Gelclair® does not require a prescription, however, ask your doctor to write a prescription for it as it will make it easier for the pharmacist to find it and it will increase the chances of your insurance company paying for it.
| Wholesaler | Gelclair® Product Code |
Gelclair® Packet Size |
|---|---|---|
| McKesson | 185864 | Box of 21 sachets |
| Kohl & Frisch | 168537 | Box of 21 sachets |
| UniPharm | 02667962 | Box of 21 sachets |
| CPDN | 701326 | Box of 21 sachets |
Online Ordering
Gelclair® may also be purchased online from Pharmex Direct at
pharmexdirect.com/product/gelclair/
Patients should talk to their doctor or nurse to make sure Gelclair® is right for them.
Click here for online ordering
This product may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label and consult your healthcare provider regularly to discuss whether this medicine is working for you and if it is causing you any unwanted effects.
We cannot diagnose or prescribe treatment for individual conditions.
If you think you may have a medical condition, please visit your doctor.
References
1. Pranav K et al, Topical Hyaluronic Acid in the Management of Oral Ulcers, Indian J Dermatol. 2011 May-Jun: 56(3):300-302 PMCID:PMC3132908 PMID:21772592, doi:10.4103/0019-5154.82485:10.4103/0019-5154.82485
2. Flook C et al, Supportive Care in Cancer 2005; 13(6):443-4 (abs 15-098).
3. McLean M., An Audit of the Efficacy of Gelclair® for Mouth Pain in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy., Presented at British Association of Head and Neck, Oncology Nurses (BAHNON) National Study Day on Sharing Good Practice in Head and Neck Cancer Nursing, 12 June 2009, Leeds, UK.