At what dose is Roxithromycin prescribed for patients? Instructions for use of the tablets will be described later. Also from the article you will learn about how much this drug costs, whether it has analogues, what are the adverse reactions and contraindications.
Composition, description, form of the drug
Roxithromycin tablets are film-coated, have a white color, as well as a round and biconvex shape with an engraving of "164".
The active substance of this medication is roxithromycin. In addition, the preparation also includes such auxiliary components as hyprolose, povidone K30, poloxamer, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch and talc.
As for the film membrane, it contains hypromellose, dextrose, titanium dioxide and propylene glycol.
The drug goes on sale in blisters and cardboard packs, respectively.
Pharmacological characteristics of antibiotic tablets
How does the medicine "Roxithromycin" affect the body? The instruction for use states that it is a semi-synthetic antibiotic belonging to the macrolide group, which has a wide spectrum of antibiotic activity.
The medication has a bacteriostatic effect. It binds to the 50S subunit of ribosomes, slows down protein synthesis by ribosomes, suppresses transpeptidation and translocation reactions, as well as the formation of bonds between the peptide chain and amino acids. This effect contributes to inhibition of the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
The antibiotic Roxithromycin penetrates the cells well and quickly, which ensures its high efficiency against intracellular pathogens.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
Where is the absorption of the drug "Roxithromycin"? Reviews of experts report that after oral administration, the drug is absorbed from the digestive tract.
The tablets are stable in the acidic environment of the stomach. Food consumed ÂĽ hours after the medication does not have any effect on its absorption.
After taking the drug, its maximum concentration is achieved after a half to two hours.
The use of the drug with an interval of 13 hours ensures the preservation of the necessary concentrations of the drug in the blood throughout the day.
Communication with plasma proteins is 95.5%. In this case, the drug penetrates into the lungs, prostate gland and tonsils. It is also found in cells (macrophages) and various body fluids.
Roxithromycin, the price of which is indicated below, practically does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and is excreted along with breast milk only in small quantities. Despite this, taking this medication during such periods is prohibited.
The drug is partially metabolized in the liver. Its largest part (about 50%) is excreted unchanged by the intestines, as well as through the kidneys (about 12%) and the lungs (about 15%).
The half-life of the active substance after a single dose is approximately 13 hours.
With poor liver function, the maximum concentration and half-life of the drug increases.
Indications for antibiotic use
For what purpose are Roxithromycin tablets prescribed? The instruction for use states that this remedy effectively treats infections that were caused by pathogens sensitive to the active substance.
For adults, a medication is prescribed for:
- tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute sinusitis;
- infections of soft tissues and skin;
- pneumonia, bronchitis;
- urinary tract infections;
- infections in odontology (teeth and oral cavity).
Roxithromycin is prescribed for children with:
- pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute sinusitis;
- pneumonia, bronchitis;
- infections of soft tissues and skin.
Contraindications to the use of an antibiotic
In what cases is the patient not prescribed Roxithromycin? Instructions for use report the following prohibitions:
- hypersensitivity of the patient to roxithromycin or macrolides in general, as well as other substances of the drug;
- porphyria;
- pregnancy period;
- simultaneous reception with "Tsizaprid", "Terfenadine", "Pimozide" and "Astemizole";
- body weight less than 40 kg;
- period of breastfeeding;
- complex use of vasoconstrictor ergot alkaloids (dihydroergotamine and ergotamine);
- age up to 12 years.
Caution: Prescribing Pills
Roxithromycin, the analogues of which will be indicated below, is prescribed with caution to people with liver and kidney failure, elderly patients, as well as patients with conditions that contribute to the occurrence of heart rhythm disturbances, and with a congenital lengthening of the QT period.
Dosage of the drug for adults and children
Tablets are prescribed orally before meals. For adults and children over 12 years of age, the standard dosage is 150 mg of the drug twice a day with an interval of 13 hours or 300 mg once (for adults).
In older people, the daily and single dose of the medication does not change. For patients with renal failure, the drug is prescribed at a dose of 150 mg twice a day.
In patients with liver failure, the dosage is halved (up to 150 mg once a day).
Duration of treatment for adults and children
How long do you take Roxithromycin? The duration of treatment depends on the indications, as well as the microorganism that caused the infection, and the severity of the disease.
In adults, a standard course can take about 5-10 days. In infections that were caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus, therapy should last at least 10 days.
As for children, the course duration for them is also 5-10 days.
Drug overdose
When taking high doses of the drug in a patient, dose-dependent side effects may increase. As a treatment for such conditions, symptomatic therapy and gastric lavage are used.
Side effects
Against the background of taking the drug in question, the following side effects may appear in the patient:
- nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, pancreatitis;
- increased activity of liver transaminases, acute hepatocellular or cholestatic hepatitis;
- paresthesia, dizziness, changes in taste, headaches, olfactory disturbances, temporary hearing loss, hallucinations, vertigo, hypoacusia;
- redness, rash, purple;
- angioedema, bronchospasm, urticaria, eosinophilia;
- shock anaphylactic, exudative erythema multiforme ;
- superinfection, candidiasis.
Special recommendations
For people with liver failure, medication is prescribed with extreme caution.
With the development of allergic reactions and superinfection, the drug should be discontinued and appropriate therapy should be prescribed to the patient.
When taking the medication, as well as two to three weeks after treatment, the patient may develop diarrhea caused by pseudomembranous colitis.
The drug "Roxithromycin" and alcohol are prohibited to combine.
Drug interaction
The medication in question is not prescribed with drugs that contain dihydroergotamine or ergotamine, as this can cause arterial spasm.
It is not recommended to take "Roxithromycin" with "Terfenadine" because of the increased risk of complications from the cardiovascular system.
With the simultaneous administration of this drug with Digoxin, its absorption may increase, which will lead to the development of glycoside intoxication.
The combination of Cyclosporin or Theophylline with Roxithromycin can cause an increase in the plasma concentration of the latter.
Analogues of the drug
The most popular analogue of Roxithromycin is Erythromycin. The instruction says that this drug is also an antibiotic.
So which of these remedies is better? Compared with Erythromycin, Roxithromycin has more advanced pharmacokinetic properties. After oral administration, it is rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract.
Having a more developed bioavailability, which is weakly dependent on food intake, this medication is found in the blood after ÂĽ hour.
It should also be said that the medication “Roxithromycin” forms more tangible and reliable concentrations not only in human fluids and tissues, but also in blood serum.
Thus, it can be safely noted that the first drug is slightly worse than the second. Erythromycin, the instruction of which is also enclosed in a cardboard box, is an obsolete antibiotic.
In addition to the mentioned remedy, the drug “Roxithromycin” can be replaced with such drugs as “Brilid”, “Esparoxy”, “Vero-Roxithromycin”, “Elrox”, “Xitrocin”, “Rusbricar”, “Remora”, “Rulitsin”, “ Roxeptin ”,“ Rulid ”,“ RoxyHEXAL ”,“ Romik ”,“ Roksid ”,“ Roksolit ”,“ Roksilor ”,“ Roksitromitsin DS ”,“ Roksimizan ”.
Medication price
How much is the antibiotic Roxithromycin? The price of this medicine is quite high. You can buy it in pharmacies for 550-600 rubles.
Patient reviews about the drug
The antibiotic Roxithromycin is a rather popular drug among patients. Therefore, there are a fairly large number of reviews about this tool. Most people report that this medication appears to be a very effective antibiotic medicine. In combination with other drugs, he fights various infections of the lower and upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute sinusitis), as well as the genitourinary tract, soft tissues and skin integuments.
Along with positive reviews, this tool has negative ones. Most often, the latter are associated with side effects that occur when taking the medication in question. Some patients complain of nausea, severe diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, exacerbation of pancreatitis and a rash.
If such symptoms appear, doctors recommend that you refuse to take the pills and consult a doctor who is required to advise a safer medication.
It should also be noted that there are many reviews that this drug has overpriced. Patients claim that the analogues of this tool are much cheaper and at the same time are not inferior to it in effectiveness.