Among the huge number of drugs, a very small percentage has universally recognized effectiveness and is actively used throughout the world. These drugs include Chlorhexidine. The instruction refers it to antiseptics effective against many bacterial infections. The drug is widely used in dentistry, ENT practice, gynecology, surgery. It has many advantages over other popular antiseptic drugs, the main among which is its rather low price.
History of the creation of "Chlorhexidine"
Antiseptic drugs are very popular. But not all of them are equally effective. Some, for example, diamond green or Miramistin, are common only in Russia, others have many side effects or high cost. But there is one drug that is devoid of all these shortcomings. This is Chlorhexidine. Instructions for use note its high effectiveness in bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
The drug was created in the 50s of the 20th century in the UK. The tool began to be sold as a local antiseptic. After some time, new properties of Chlorhexidine were discovered. The instruction began to recommend it for use in dentistry, as it turned out that it effectively stops the development of periodontal disease. Over the years, it has been proven to be highly effective as an antiseptic for the skin and mucous membranes. Now, preparations containing chlorhexidine bigluconate recommended for use in hospitals, at home, during cosmetic procedures. Due to its versatility and low price, the substance is added to toothpastes, cosmetics, medicines.
Forms of drug release
Most often, a chlorhexidine solution can be found on sale. The instruction recommends using it in different concentrations, depending on the characteristics of the pathology and the place of application. In addition, you can find on sale candles with chlorhexidine, ointments, mouthwashes. This substance is added to toothpastes, hand disinfection gels, deodorants.
In medicine, solutions of different concentrations are used. The most common form is Chlorhexidine 0.05. The instruction recommends using it to rinse your mouth and throat, treat the skin before surgery, and treat various dermatological pathologies. A more concentrated solution - 0.5% or 1% - is used to treat infected wounds and treat medical instruments. But even in the smallest concentration (0.01%), the drug is effective - it has fungicidal properties.
The action of the drug "Chlorhexidine"
The action of this tool is based on the properties of the active active substance. This is chlorhexidine bigluconate. The instruction notes its high bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. That is, the drug not only stops the division and reproduction of microorganisms, but also completely destroys them. This happens because the chlorhexidine bigluconate molecule is positively charged, and the bacterial cell walls are negatively charged. Upon contact, their destruction occurs, the drug penetrates into the cell and completely destroys it. Moreover, this whole process takes only 20-30 seconds.
In a similar way, the drug acts on fungal microorganisms. Penetrating into the cell of the fungus, this substance destroys it, while the microorganism dies. All this happens at ordinary temperature. Not all antiseptics have such a wide spectrum of action as Chlorhexidine. The instruction for use notes that in addition to bacteria and fungi, this drug can destroy spores, simple microorganisms and some viruses. With its help, you can effectively treat flu, cytomegalovirus, herpes, even HIV. But doctors say that it can only be used as part of complex therapy, along with means for internal use.
The instruction to "Chlorhexidine" notes that, unlike many other antiseptics, it also affects a formation such as a biofilm. This, for example, plaque, which is almost not amenable to other antiseptic drugs. After all, the special structure of the biofilm makes it stable. Only Chlorhexidine can act on it. Instructions for use note that it effectively prevents the occurrence of plaque.
The scope of the drug
The instruction to "Chlorhexidine" describes it as an exclusively external preparation. It can be used to treat the surface of the skin, to rinse the mouth, and for douching. The drug is also used to disinfect the doctor’s hands and medical instruments. The effectiveness of this antiseptic is due to the fact that it has the ability to bind to skin proteins and adhere to hard surfaces. Therefore, its antiseptic activity is manifested within 2 days.
What microorganisms is Chlorhexidine effective against? Instructions for use note that it is more active against gram-positive bacteria. These are staphylococci and streptococci, which die even with small concentrations of the drug. A more concentrated solution can destroy gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, enterobacteria, pseudomonas, Proteus, Salmonella. It also acts against fungi and some viruses.
The instruction explains the effectiveness of the use of “Chlorhexidine” by the fact that it does not lose its activity even in the presence of pus or blood. Whereas other antiseptics in such conditions become almost useless. Therefore, this substance is included in many hand sanitizer solutions.
Most often, this drug is used in medicine: surgery, dentistry, gynecology, obstetrics, in the treatment of skin diseases. It is used to rinse, irrigate, rinse, treat wounds or the hands of a doctor. The drug is effective if you use it for inhalation through a nebulizer. But that is not all. The tool is also used in some cosmetics, added to deodorants, toothpastes, acne ointments.
A chlorhexidine solution of 0.05% is recommended for use in the treatment of cuts, burns, and dermatological diseases. They can rinse your mouth or throat, apply for douching, use under the dressing for wounds.
Instructions for the use of "Chlorhexidine" in dentistry
This is the most common area of use of the drug. The ability to stop the development of periodontal disease, to treat gingivitis and other inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity was discovered almost immediately after its creation. Therefore, chlorhexidine is added to some toothpastes and rinses. In addition, the drug is prescribed for such pathologies:
- periodontitis;
- stomatitis;
- aphthous inflammation of the mucosa;
- for the prevention of infection after tooth extraction;
- to prevent plaque formation.
In all these cases, Chlorhexidine is prescribed to rinse the mouth. Instructions for use recommend doing this twice a day. First you need to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth well with clean water. After applying the antiseptic for 10-15 minutes you can not eat, drink water or brush your teeth. This may decrease the effectiveness of Chlorhexidine. A mouthwash instruction recommends using a solution. Enough 15 ml of the product. When rinsing, you need to try not to swallow the drug. Although it is low toxic, it can cause unpleasant consequences for the gastrointestinal tract.
When using “Chlorhexidine” for rinsing the oral cavity, side effects are possible in the form of darkening of tooth enamel. This happens only in 15-20% of people. Not always, but the teeth may stain dark brown. Therefore, in more modern solutions for rinsing the mouth began to include a special component that prevents staining. In addition, other side effects may be more rare:
- bitterness in the mouth;
- change in taste
- dryness or burning on the mucous membrane;
- sore or bleeding gums.
"Chlorhexidine": instructions for use for gargling
The active substance of the drug is active against many bacteria and viruses that cause diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, Chlorhexidine is often used to rinse not only the oral cavity, but also the throat. It is prescribed for tonsillitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis. If the disease is caused by streptococci or the flu virus, such treatment will be effective.
Most often in this case, a 0.02% or 0.05% chlorhexidine solution is used. Gargling instructions recommend taking 10-20 ml of the drug and keeping it in your mouth for 30-40 seconds. This is best done after the oral cavity and throat are treated with chamomile broth or soda solution. It is necessary to carry out a medical procedure three times a day. After that, do not drink or eat anything for half an hour.
How to use the drug in gynecology
Most often, “Chlorhexidine” 0.05% is used after unprotected intercourse to prevent infection. The drug is effective for the prevention of gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia. Using a special nozzle, you need to inject an antiseptic solution into the vagina for 2-3 minutes. Then the hips, pubis, and external genitalia are processed. It is not recommended after this to urinate a couple of hours. For the same purposes, you can use vaginal suppositories with chlorhexidine. Such prevention is effective if carried out no later than 2 hours after sexual intercourse.
In addition, Chlorhexidine is also used to treat many gynecological diseases. This is vulvitis, colpitis, cervical erosion, thrush. A solution is used for this at a concentration of 0.05% or diluted with water (more concentrated). It is more convenient to use a bottle with a special nozzle, but you can take an ordinary small syringe.
The use of candles and gel
Recently, you can buy the drug in a more convenient form - in the form of a gel. It contains 0.5 g of chlorhexidine bigluconate per 100 g of gel. A drug called Hexicon is available. This gel is multifunctional, as it can be used in various fields of medicine.
When used in dentistry, the drug does not have such side effects as a solution, because it can be applied pointwise only to inflamed areas, so it does not affect tooth enamel. The gel is also used in gynecology and urology: for vulvitis, balanitis. When used for the treatment of dermatological diseases, the effectiveness is higher than that of the solution. After all, the gel remains on the skin for a longer time, exerting its antiseptic effect. It is used for diaper rash, dermatitis, panaritium, pyoderma, impetigo.
In gynecology, candles with chlorhexidine are popular. They are used for vulvitis, colpitis, vaginitis, thrush, as well as for the prevention of genital infections. Candles are prescribed in the morning and in the evening, for 5 days. Due to the low concentration of the active substance and the special form of release, suppositories are absolutely safe and can even be used to treat pregnant women.
Contraindications and side effects
Since the drug effectively treats influenza, tonsillitis or laryngitis, many people try to use it for any other diseases. But this can not always be done. For example, “Chlorhexidine” is not used as drops in the nose, since it will be absolutely useless. You can not drip it in the eyes, because in ophthalmology special means are used. It is also contraindicated to use it for the treatment of otitis media, when instilled into the ears, it can damage the auditory nerve. It is not recommended to use the solution for the treatment of pregnant women, since there have been no studies on its effect on the fetus. The same applies to treating children. An antiseptic is prescribed only for external use, and for rinsing the oral cavity or throat it can be used only after 18 years.
This drug is considered safe and low toxic. But still, side effects are sometimes possible. Most often this happens with individual intolerance or in violation of the rules for using the drug. This manifests itself in the form of an allergic reaction: itching, rashes, dermatitis. Often, such effects develop with the combination of “Chlorhexidine” with other agents. It is especially incompatible with iodine, such treatment can lead to severe dermatitis. Therefore, when using “Chlorhexidine”, it is necessary to abandon “Iodinol”, Lugol's solution, “Yoks”, “Povidone-iodine”, “Betadine”. In addition, you can not use it together with hydrogen peroxide and even with ordinary cosmetic soap.
Analogues of the drug
There are no direct analogues of this remedy, there are only a few options for medicines that also contain chlorhexidine bigluconate in their composition. This is "Amident", "Hexicon", "Hibiscrab", "Plivasept".
But for the same purpose, other drugs can be used to disinfect and treat wounds, rinse your mouth or throat: hydrogen peroxide, Furacilin, Rotokan, Miramistin, iodine alcohol solution, Protargol, Hexoral and others.
Compared to other antiseptics, Chlorhexidine is considered more effective. In addition, most often people prefer it for him at a low price - a bottle of solution can be bought for 10-20 rubles. In addition, its advantage is the preservation of activity in contact with blood and pus, and other antiseptics in such conditions are useless.
Reviews on the use of "Chlorhexidine"
This drug has been popular among doctors and ordinary people for more than half a century. Many people constantly have it in the medicine cabinet, as it helps to cope with common skin problems and to avoid infection of wounds. A lot of positive reviews about the use of "Chlorhexidine" for the prevention of genital infections. Often it is also used in dentistry. Many doctors prescribe a mouth rinse, not only for various inflammatory diseases, but also after dental procedures. In all these cases, the use of the drug is effective. Moreover, side effects or intolerances are reported very rarely.