Quite often, doctors prescribe Anaprilin to their patients. What does he help get rid of? What is it like? Are there any contraindications to taking this medication? These questions are of interest to many patients.
The drug "Anaprilin": release form and composition
To date, the medicine is available in the form of small tablets, but there is also a solution for injection, which, however, is used much less often.
The main active substance of the drug is propranolol hydrochloride. Each tablet contains either 10 or 40 mg of this component. Of course, auxiliary substances are also used in the production: colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, calcium stearate, corn starch, as well as microcrystalline cellulose.
Pharmacological properties of the drug
This medicine is a non-selective beta-blocker. The active component of this drug weakens the effect of sympathetic impulses on myocardial beta receptors. Thus, there is a decrease in the frequency and strength of heart contractions, as well as the neutralization of the effects of catecholamines. The drug reduces the oxygen demand of the heart muscle. Under its influence, a decrease in blood pressure is observed.
But the action of Anaprilin does not end there. For example, immediately after taking the medicine, the tone of the bronchial muscles increases, as well as the contractility of the uterus. In addition, there is an increase in motor and secretory activity of the digestive system.
After administration, the tablet dissolves rapidly in the digestive tract, after which the active components enter the bloodstream. The maximum concentration of propranolol is observed 1-1.5 hours after administration. The medicine is excreted in the form of metabolites by the kidneys. The elimination half-life makes 3-5 hours. Only with prolonged use can the substance remain in the blood for up to 12 hours.
Indications for admission
Of course, today many patients are prescribed Anaprilin. What does this remedy help with? To begin with, it is worth noting that the main indication for its intake are diseases of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. For example, it is prescribed for people suffering from chronic arterial hypertension, as well as atrial and sinus tachycardia.
In some cases, the drug is used for mitral valve prolapse, as well as neurocirculatory dystonia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction.
There are other cases in which Anaprilin is used. What else does he help from? Sometimes a medicine becomes an excellent prevention of severe migraine attacks. In combination with other drugs, it is used to treat withdrawal symptoms. It is also known that the treatment of hemangiomas with “Anaprilin” is also often successful, and in the initial stages it even helps to avoid surgical intervention. And although the drug was not developed entirely for these purposes, in modern surgery it is often prescribed even for children.
Anaprilin tablets: instructions for use
Tablets are best taken 10-30 minutes before meals, it is advisable to drink plenty of fluids. It is immediately worth noting that only the attending physician can prescribe Anaprilin. The dose here is determined individually.
As a rule, administration begins with 10 mg of propranolol per day. If the medicine is well tolerated, then the daily amount is gradually increased to 80-100 mg, divided into four doses. In some cases (if the drug does not cause adverse reactions, and the therapeutic effect is poorly expressed), the dose can be increased to 180-300 mg, divided into 4-6 doses.
The duration of therapy is also determined separately for each patient, but, as a rule, the course of treatment is 3-4 weeks. In some cases, doctors recommend taking a break for two months, and then repeat again.
If we are talking about arrhythmias or coronary disease, then beta-blockers take much longer. But in this case, the gradual withdrawal of the medicine is extremely important. If you abruptly stop taking, serious and dangerous complications are possible.
Contraindications to treatment
Of course, in this case, therapy has some contraindications. In particular, the drug is not used to treat patients with complete or partial atrioventricular or sinoatrial block. In addition, sinus bradycardia, in which the heart rate does not exceed 50 beats per minute, is a contraindication to use. The medicine should not be given to patients suffering from arterial hypotension.
The drug is contraindicated in people with certain diseases of the respiratory system. For example, it should not be taken by patients with severe asthma, as well as people with a tendency to bronchospasm. Contraindications are also considered obliterating diseases of the peripheral vessels, as well as Raynaud's syndrome and diabetes mellitus.
Are adverse reactions possible?
In fact, there are a number of disorders that may appear while taking Anaprilin. What is worth insuring against? What to pay attention to? Most often, the medicine causes an upset digestive system. For example, some patients complain of severe nausea, which is often accompanied by vomiting, as well as pain in the epigastric region. Diarrhea is also possible. More rarely, more serious side effects occur, including various impaired liver function, as well as ischemic colitis.
Allergic reactions are sometimes observed, accompanied by itching, redness, and urticaria. In some cases, during treatment, an exacerbation of psoriasis is observed, as well as baldness. Taking the drug can cause malfunctions in the respiratory system, including bronchospasm, laryngospasm, as well as severe coughing and shortness of breath.
From the circulatory system, side effects such as bradycardia and arterial hypotension are possible . In addition, the drug can also affect the functioning of the nervous system, causing a feeling of anxiety, insomnia and nightmares. Perhaps the appearance of headaches, dizziness. Much less often, patients develop clinical depression.
The drug "Anaprilin": overdose, its symptoms and treatment methods
Taking too much dose of the medicine can affect the work of the whole body. In particular, symptoms include severe dizziness and weakness. Often there is a pronounced decrease in blood pressure, as well as arrhythmia, bradycardia and other disorders of the circulatory system up to the development of heart failure.
There are other disorders that can result in taking a large amount of Anaprilin. An overdose can be accompanied by shortness of breath, bronchospasm. Seizures and collapse are sometimes observed.
A person with these symptoms needs to be urgently taken to the emergency room. If possible, induce vomiting. As a first aid, doctors conduct gastric lavage and prescribe adsorbent agents to patients. Further treatment depends on how much damage has been done. For example, with heart failure, glycosides are used, and with convulsions, the drug "Diazepam" is indicated.
Interaction with other drugs
The active components of this medication may interact with other medications. For example, the hypotensive properties of propranolol are enhanced with the simultaneous administration of anesthetics, sympatholytics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and hydralazine. But the presence in the blood of hormonal drugs (in particular, estrogens and glucocorticosteroids), as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances, on the contrary, reduces the effect of taking Anaprilin tablets. With the introduction of radiopaque agents, the likelihood of developing anaphylactic reactions increases significantly. Therefore, you must inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
Can I use the medicine during pregnancy?
It is immediately worth noting that the use of Anaprilin’s medicine, as well as almost any other beta-blocker, is contraindicated during pregnancy. The fact is that this medicine reduces the level of placental perfusion, which in turn increases the risk of fetal death or premature birth. In some cases, the mother's administration of the drug leads to the development of bradycardia in the fetus. There is a high probability of various complications in the postpartum period, in particular, from the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
The doctor can prescribe this medicine to a pregnant patient only if the expected benefit for her exceeds the possible risk to the child. By the way, the main components of the drug can penetrate into breast milk, so the lactation period is also a contraindication.
Additional drug information
Today, many people are interested in questions about what Anaprilin is, the instructions for use, price, possible side effects. And immediately it is worth noting that experts categorically forbid the use of alcohol during therapy. The fact is that alcohol along with pills can lead to a sharp life-threatening decrease in blood pressure.
Store the drug in a dry, warm place, protected from direct sunlight at a temperature of no higher than 25 degrees Celsius.
As for the cost of the medicine, it ranges from 40 to 100 rubles. By the way, in almost any pharmacy you can buy Anaprilin tablets, a doctor’s prescription is not needed for this. The drug also has analogues, in particular, Inderal, Propamine, Stobetin and some others.