Many of us are familiar with the properties of the drug “Levomycetin”, with which you can cope with various ailments. It is effective for infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including those accompanied by diarrhea, and is widely used in ophthalmic practice for diseases of bacterial etiology. However, the use of this medication is not always justified, therefore, the doctor may prescribe an analogue of Levomycetin. But what exactly can be recommended, let's try to figure it out.
Pharmacological properties of the drug "Levomycetin"
This broad-spectrum antibiotic, due to its fat-soluble properties, easily penetrates the cell membrane of pathogenic microorganisms and reacts with the substance of bacterial ribosomes. The result of this effect is a violation of the formation of peptidic bonds and protein synthesis. Thus, it turns out that the active substance of the drug has a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect.
Levomycetin is active against many strains of microorganisms that are resistant to tetracyclines, sulfanilamides and penicillins. But on the pathogenic protozoa - Mycobacterium tuberculosis and fungi - the medication, unfortunately, does not work.
Resistance to this tool in microorganisms develops very slowly. Due to this feature, as well as high toxicity, the drug is used to treat severe infectious ailments in which antibacterial drugs with lower toxicity are ineffective.
Indications for use and release form
Since the drug is used in several areas of medicine, pharmacists took care of ease of use and developed three main forms of the drug. The first is an alcohol solution that is intended for external use. It is prescribed for the treatment of trophic ulcers that do not heal for a long time, as well as burns of the II and III degrees. Quite often they recommend a remedy for purulent skin lesions, boils and nipple cracks in nursing mothers.
The medicine in tablet form is advised to be taken by patients suffering from diseases such as dysentery, paratyphoid fever, typhoid fever, brucellosis, salmonellosis, tularemia, brain abscess, pneumonia. The drug is no less effective in various forms of KU fever, inguinal lymphagranuloma, yersiniosis, psittacosis, biliary tract infections, purulent peritonitis, chlamydia, purulent wound infections, ehrlichiosis, purulent otitis media and urinary tract diseases of bacterial origin.
The third form of the drug is eye drops. They are used in ophthalmic practice to treat and prevent diseases such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis.
Side effects of the drug
This medication, like other drugs, in addition to positive pharmacological properties, has a number of side effects that may occur during therapy.
The use of the drug in tablet form can cause dysbiosis, dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, as well as irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and oral cavity. The hematopoietic system can also respond to taking the drug, which manifests itself in the form of thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia, erythrocytopenia, reticulocytopenia and leukopenia. Less commonly, a patient may develop aplastic anemia or granulocytopenia. From the side of the nervous system, the reaction to Levomycetin tablets may be peripheral neuritis, confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, psychomotor disorders, etc.
Adverse reactions to the use of the drug in the form of a solution can be an allergy, manifested in the form of a skin rash or angioedema.
Structural equivalent of a means
The main active ingredient in the drug is chloramphenicol. Therefore, the main structural analogue of “Levomycetin” is a drug of the same name “Chloramphenicol”. Indications for its use are completely identical to those described in the instructions for use of Levomycetin.
This tool is available in three main forms. The first is tablets and capsules containing 0.5 and 0.25 g of the active ingredient. The second form is 25% eye drops, the third is a powder intended for the preparation of a solution for injection.
It is worth noting that, like Levomycetin, analogues containing chloramphenicol are broad-spectrum antibiotics and should be prescribed directly by a doctor. In cases of self-administration of drugs of this group, the risk of developing side effects increases.
The drug "Levovinisol"
Another structural analogue of Levomycetin, which can be purchased at a pharmacy today, is known under the trade name Levovinisol. At the heart of this tool is used chloramphenicol and a number of auxiliary substances. A medicine is produced in the form of an aerosol, liniment, powder for the preparation of a solution and a ready-made alcohol solution.
This drug is prescribed for various bacterial skin infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. In addition, doctors often use the medicine to treat patients with infected deep and superficial burns, pressure sores, trophic ulcers, non-healing wounds, boils, and also recommend medication to lactating women with nipple cracks.
Unlike the Levomycetin preparation, modern analogues for local use, in particular the Levovinisol medication, have a small list of side effects, therefore they can even be used to treat children from birth.
As for contraindications, there are not so many of them either. The drug is prohibited for people with hypersensitivity to components, inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis, as well as those who suffer from acute intermittent porphyria, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, renal or hepatic insufficiency, psoriasis, fungal infections of the epidermis, eczema.
Means "Syntomycin"
Trying to understand the question about what the drug “Levomycetin” has synonyms and analogues, it is necessary to mention the drug “Syntomycin”. This remedy is often prescribed to patients with infected burns of the 2nd-3rd degree of severity, non-healing trophic ulcers and various wound infections.
The drug is based on chloramphenicol. As auxiliary components for creating a single dosage form, pharmacists used ordinary castor oil seed oil, sorbic acid, purified water, emulsifier No. 1 and sodium carmellose 70/450 "O".
The drug "Metronidazole"
Antiprotozoal and antibacterial agent is used in various areas of medicine. It is prescribed both for protozoal infections, diseases of the joints and bones, and for diseases of the abdominal cavity of bacterial etiology. This drug is available in four main dosage forms: in the form of a vaginal gel, infusion solution, suppositories and tablets.
This analogue of “Levomycetin” for diarrhea should be used only as directed by a doctor who will establish the duration of the therapeutic course and dosage. Otherwise, the risk of developing adverse reactions of the body increases significantly. In this case, the central nervous system suffers, and patients complain of cramps, headache, weakness, insomnia, dizziness, irritability, drowsiness, ataxia, confusion, and even hallucinations. In addition, self-administration of the drug can aggravate the patient's condition, increasing diarrhea. Vomiting, a feeling of dry mouth, a complete loss of appetite and other digestive disorders may also occur. Therefore, like Levomycetin, the instructions for use recommends that you take analogues only as directed by your doctor. This will help to avoid unwanted adverse reactions and quickly cope with an existing problem.
Means "Ciprofloxacin"
Another analogue of Levomycetin is Ciprofloxacin tablets. This medication has an antibacterial effect and is active against pathogens of many ailments of the genitourinary system and the gastrointestinal tract. The dosage of the drug and the duration of the therapeutic course are calculated individually.
This medicine is not a structural analogue of Levomycetin, but the pharmacological properties of these two medicines are very similar. In addition, they can be used for diarrhea caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. As for contraindications for taking the antibiotic "Ciprofloxacin", there are a lot of them. Firstly, it is strictly forbidden to use the medicine for the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of fifteen. Secondly, it is not recommended to use the drug for women during pregnancy and lactation. This is explained by the fact that this analogue of “Levomycetin” is a representative of the quinolone series antibiotics, which can accumulate in bone and cartilage tissues, destroying their structure. And this is very dangerous both for the developing crumbs in the womb, and for the baby whose mother is breastfeeding.
Antibiotic Amoxicillin
Another antibacterial drug that has proven itself in the treatment of intestinal infections that cause diarrhea is Amoxicillin. Like the drug "Levomycetin", its analogues should be used only on the recommendation of a doctor. After all, all antibiotics have a large number of side effects. Therefore, when prescribing an antibacterial agent to a patient, the specialist will not only calculate the dosage of the drug, but also acquaint him with the rules of administration. He will also necessarily include probiotics in the complex therapy, which will help mitigate the negative effect of the antibacterial agent and maintain the intestinal microflora in a normal state.
Analogs of "Levomycetin" for children
If diarrhea began in a child, then self-medication is not the best solution to the problem. And to speak about the independent use of antibacterial agents is not at all necessary. The first thing to do is contact a specialist for help. The doctor will examine the baby, conduct a series of studies and prescribe therapy that is safe for the small patient. Of course, if it is established that the cause of diarrhea is precisely a bacterial infection, then treatment without antibiotics is unlikely to be possible. But this does not mean that the doctor will prescribe the drug “Levomycetin”. Analogs for children are selected according to the age group of the patient, the severity of the disease, and also in accordance with the individual characteristics of the crumbs (allergy, intolerance to certain medications and their components, chronic diseases, etc.).
Most often in such cases, the synthetic drug Nifuroxazide is used, which belongs to the group of nitrofurans. This analogue of Levomycetin is available both in tablet form and in suspension. Tablets, as a rule, are prescribed for adults and children of senior school age, but in liquid form, the drug can be given to crumbs.
What is the substitute for in ophthalmology?
Considering the properties of the drug "Levomycetin" and its analogues, do not forget that this antibacterial drug is available in various forms and can be used in several areas of medicine. So, eye drops are widely used in ophthalmic practice for the treatment of diseases caused by bacterial infections. The remedy can be prescribed to patients suffering from conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, uveitis and other ailments.
However, despite its high effectiveness, the drug may not be recommended to everyone, since the list of contraindications to its use is quite large. In accordance with the information contained in the instructions for use, the medication is strictly prohibited for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. Patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system, renal or hepatic insufficiency and other systemic ailments should also not use the drug “Levomycetin” (eye drops). Analogs containing safer components in such situations is the only correct solution to the problem. Depending on the age of the patient and the complexity of the disease, the doctor may recommend such drops as Albutsid, Okomistin, Normaks, Floksal and others.
The drug "Albucid"
Like the drug “Levomycetin” (drops), the analogue “Albucid” is a medication with a bacteriostatic effect. This drug is prescribed to patients - regardless of age - for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory infectious diseases of the eye, such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, etc. The only thing you should pay attention to is that 20% drug solution is used to treat children , but representatives of the older age group are shown 30%.
If we consider the possible side effects of the medication, then, as a rule, they appear very rarely and do not require symptomatic treatment.
What you need to know about the drug "Levomycetin" and its analogs?
There are not so many medicines that are similar in structure to the Levomycetin. But there are more than enough drugs with identical pharmacological properties, and which doctor should decide which one to choose. Only a specialist who has diagnosed and determined the severity of the disease and its etiology can recommend the patient taking Levomycetin.
Analogs (for diarrhea, for example) in the form of tablets and suspensions should also be taken on the recommendation of a doctor, clearly observing the dosing system. This will reduce the risk of side effects.