Many people are familiar with what heaviness in the abdomen, pain, digestive upset is. This may be due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or to normal dietary errors. In any case, enzyme preparations will help to establish digestion . One of the most common is the "Festal". The instruction for use notes that it can be taken for therapeutic purposes in various diseases, as well as periodically in case of overeating or errors in the diet. This drug is intended to reduce the burden on the digestive tract and to improve digestion.
general characteristics
"Festal" is a drug known to many for a long time, manufactured by a large Indian company. It is used not only by people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Many people keep this medicine in their medicine cabinet to take it in case of overeating or digestive disorders. This drug is available in enteric-coated tablets, since it contains enzymes that act not in the stomach, but in the intestine. In addition, they are not absorbed into the blood, so the drug rarely has systemic side effects.
Festal tablets are white round tablets. They are produced in 10 pieces in 1 strip. Insert 2, 4 or 10 of such strips into a cardboard box, as well as instructions for the use of Festal. This drug is inexpensive, and it’s more profitable to buy large packages. If 20 tablets cost from 120 to 140 rubles, then 40 pieces - about 200 rubles. In addition to the common Indian-made drug, there is the Festal Neo launched in Ukraine. The instruction for use notes that this is a generic, that is, a drug that is completely similar to the original.
What effect does the drug have?
Human digestion occurs not only in the stomach. There, food under the influence of gastric juice is broken down into smaller fragments, which then enter the duodenum. Here, digestion continues. Enzymes secreted by the pancreas, as well as bile, enter the duodenum. Under their action, food is broken down into components that are easily absorbed by the body.
But it happens that these enzymes are not enough due to malfunctions of the pancreas, or there is too much food, or it is of poor quality. In this case, preparations that contain enzymes, for example, Festal, will come to the rescue. Instructions for use notes that it has such an effect on the body:
- improves digestion;
- stimulates the secretion of bile;
- removes flatulence and increased gas formation;
- improves fat absorption;
- promotes more complete assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins;
- relieves pain and heaviness in the abdomen;
- improves the functioning of the pancreas and liver.
The composition of the drug "Festal"
This action is explained by the properties of the active substances of the drug. The main component of "Festal" instructions for use calls pancreatin. This is a natural substance produced by the pancreas. They get it from cattle. It is pancreatin that helps to establish digestion. It consists of the main enzymes:
- amylase - helps break down carbohydrates;
- lipase - accelerates the absorption of fats;
- protease - responsible for the breakdown of proteins.
And although there are few of these substances in the preparation, they can accelerate the absorption of food. Most of all, “Festal” contains lipases, therefore it effectively copes with hard-to-digest fats. Additional components help in this: bile and hemicellulose. Bile has a moderate choleretic effect, and also stimulates the breakdown of fats and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. And hemicellulose removes gas formation and bloating due to the fact that it accelerates the breakdown of plant foods.
Indications for use
Quite often, doctors with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract prescribe tablets "Festal". Instructions for use recommend drinking it in such cases:
- with chronic pancreatitis, when the production of enzymes decreases;
- biliary dyskinesia, accompanied by a decrease in bile secretion;
- with chronic gastritis, gastroduodenitis;
- ulcerative colitis;
- dysbiosis;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- chronic cholecystitis;
- with a violation of the liver due to damage by toxic substances or alcohol;
- after removal of the gallbladder or resection of the stomach;
- after irradiation of the digestive tract;
- with violation of chewing function.
In addition, the drug is often used by healthy people. Many people know what “Festal” helps from. The instruction for use notes that it can be drunk once after a plentiful feast, when consumed stale or heavy for digesting food. It is recommended to use it for heartburn, flatulence, bloating, dyspepsia. It also helps after mild food poisoning - it contributes to a more rapid elimination of the eaten. For this reason, “Festal” is prescribed before the diagnosis of the digestive tract - it helps to remove gas formation and flatulence. This drug is also needed for people who move a little or observe bed rest.
Instructions for use "Festal"
Reviews of this drug note that with overeating or small errors in the diet, it helps to relieve unpleasant symptoms without the use of other means. You can drink 1-2 tablets 1-3 times a day, depending on the severity of the condition. You need to take it immediately after a meal, without chewing, since the drug begins to act in the intestine. Drink it with a small amount of water or non-hot tea.
For various diseases of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, the Festala tablets for adults recommend that they drink in the same amount: 1-2 pieces, but always three times a day immediately after eating. For children, the dosage is prescribed individually by the doctor. The duration of the drug may be different: from 1-2 days to several months. It depends on the severity of the patient's condition. Sometimes "Festal" is recommended to drink constantly. And before diagnostic procedures, he is prescribed 2 tablets 3 times a day for 3 days before the examination.
Contraindications
Instructions for use with "Festal" notes that not everyone can take it. There are certain contraindications, as with all drugs. It is not recommended to drink "Festal" in acute pancreatitis, as it stimulates the pancreas, which in such a disease leads to a worsening of the condition. You can not take it also in the presence of stones in the gallbladder or purulent inflammation, as it stimulates the formation and excretion of bile. This, as well as severe liver diseases become an obstacle to the adoption of "Festal". The instructions for the use of tablets for adults recommends abandoning such treatment and consult a doctor. This drug is contraindicated in such cases:
- with acute or chronic hepatitis;
- obstructive jaundice;
- with an increase in the amount of bilirubin in the blood;
- hepatic ancestor;
- cystic fibrosis;
- with a tendency to diarrhea;
- bowel obstruction.
For children, the instructions for the use of Festal recommends that it be prescribed only after 3 years. Therefore, it is undesirable to drink this drug during pregnancy or during lactation. Only a doctor can decide if the use of Festal is justified at this time.
Possible side effects
Instructions for use with Festal tablets warns that sometimes they can cause side effects. This is rare, since the drug contains natural ingredients. But some people may experience an allergic reaction to them. It can be redness of the skin, itching, rhinitis or lacrimation.
If taken incorrectly or overdosed, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and abdominal pain may appear. And with prolonged use, the amount of uric acid in the blood may increase. Instructions for the use of Festal for children note that because of side effects, they may have irritation of the oral mucosa and anus. If any negative reactions to the drug appear, its administration must be stopped.
Application features
Festal is often taken as part of complex therapy. But you need to know how it interacts with other drugs. For example, magnesium-based antacids slow down or completely neutralize its effect, so at least an hour should pass between taking them and Festal. When taken with certain antibiotics, absorption may be accelerated, which may increase the risk of side effects. Iron absorption may also slow down. For this reason, before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor and be sure to study the instructions for use of "Festal".
Analogues of the drug
Only a few drugs from the group of enzyme agents have a completely similar composition and similar effect. These are Enzistal, Normoenzyme, Digestal, Biofestal and Ferestal. In addition to enzymes, they also contain bile. Analogues of this drug include other pancreatin-based enzyme agents. These are Pancreatin, Mezim Forte, Creon, Penzital, Hermitage, Ipental, Mikrasim, Panzinorm. But in addition to the absence of bile acids in these preparations, a different amount of enzymes. Therefore, the question of choosing a medication for treatment should be decided by a doctor.
Usage Reviews
The drug "Festal" is one of the most popular enzyme products. The point is its low price, as well as its high efficiency with insufficient pancreatic or liver functions. Doctors often prescribe this drug as part of a comprehensive treatment, noting its good tolerance by patients. And the patients themselves like that “Festal” quickly relieves abdominal pain, relieves flatulence and bloating, and helps speed up digestion after overeating. Many constantly have this drug in their home medicine cabinet, it helps them cope with a violation of the digestive tract.