What is the medicine "Agapurin"? Instructions for use, release form and composition of this tool will be presented a little further. In addition, from this article you will learn about in which cases this medicine is prescribed, when it is strictly forbidden to use it, whether it has side effects and so on.
The composition and form of the drug
Does Agapurin have an international name? Pentoxifylline is its second name.
Currently, this medication is available in two different forms:
- Biconvex tablets, coated (white) and having a glossy sheen. This medicine contains the active component pentoxifylline and additional substances (lactose monohydrate, corn starch, anhydrous colloidal silicon, talc and magnesium stearate). As for the shell, it includes elements such as sodium carmellose, crystalline sucrose, powdered sucrose, talc, methyl paraben, titanium dioxide, anhydrous colloidal silicon and acacia gum.
- Solution (clear, colorless) for injection. This medication includes pentoxifylline, sodium chloride, and water for injection.
I also want to say that in pharmacy chains you can also find such an analogue drug as Agapurin Retard. The instruction of this medication states that it is a prolonged action. It is available in tablets, which are coated with a film coating. This medicine contains pentoxifylline and additional elements such as hypromellose, povidone, talc and magnesium stearate.
Pharmacological properties
What is Agapurin? Instructions for use claims that this tool is an antispasmodic and belongs to the group of purines. It significantly improves blood microcirculation, as well as its rheological properties. The principle of action of this medication is to inhibit phosphodiesterase and increase the ATP content in red blood cells and cAMP in platelets with a one-time saturation of the energy potential. As a result of this, vasodilation and a decrease in total vascular resistance (peripheral) occur, as well as an increase in the minute and stroke volume of blood without a significant change in heart rate.
The mechanism of action of the drug
What is the mechanism of action of the drug "Agapurin"? Instructions for use provide an exhaustive answer to the question. After applying the medication, the coronary arteries expand, and then the oxygen delivery to the vessels of the lungs and myocardium increases, the antianginal effect appears and blood oxygenation improves.
It should also be noted that the presented drug is able to increase the tone of the respiratory muscles, in particular, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
With intravenous injections, it leads to increased collateral circulation, as well as an increase in the volume of blood flowing through 1 section. In addition, this medication leads to an increase in the content of adenosine triphosphate in the brain and has a beneficial effect on the bioelectric activity of the nervous system.
According to the instructions, the mentioned medication is able to reduce blood viscosity, increase the elasticity of red blood cell membranes and improve microcirculation in case of impaired blood circulation.
What features does the medicine "Agapurin" have? Instructions for use say that with occlusive lesions of the arteries (peripheral), this drug can lead to the elimination of night cramps in the calf muscles, lengthening the distance of walking and pain at rest.
Pharmacokinetics
The medicine "Agapurin" is rapidly metabolized in the liver. In this case, active metabolites are formed. Their concentration in the blood is several times higher than the concentration of the main substance.
The presented medication is displayed in the form of metabolites in a volume of 94%, and the remainder through the intestines. During the first 4 hours after administration, the drug leaves in the amount of 90% of the dosage used. Unchanged, it is excreted in a volume of 2%. It should also be noted that the active substance pentoxifylline and metabolites do not bind to blood proteins in any way.
With impaired renal function, the metabolite output slows down. With abnormal liver functions, an elimination half-life is observed, as well as an increase in bioavailability.
The drug "Agapurin" (tablets): instructions for use
According to the instructions attached to the medication, it must be taken at the same time of day after eating food, washed down with plain water. The drug should never be chewed.
The initial dosage of the drug is 200 mg three times a day. If the patient has long therapy or if he has poor tolerance to the medication, then a single dose can be reduced by exactly half, but at the same time the number of doses should be maintained.
The daily dosage of the drug should not be more than 1200 mg.
Now you know how to use the drug "Agapurin" (tablets). Instructions for use of a similar drug with prolonged action contain information about the same dosages. However, when using it, a reduction in the reception ratio is possible.
Instructions for use for injection
How to use the medication "Agapurin"? Tablets are prescribed by doctors more often than injectable solutions. If for some reason the patient cannot take the medicine orally, then injections are prescribed.
This drug, available in the form of a solution for injection, can be administered in one of the following ways:
- Intravenously. The contents of the ampoule must be diluted in 5% glucose solution or in 250-500 ml of sodium chloride solution (0.9%). The medication should be administered slowly, not more than 150 ml per hour. If the patient tolerates the medicine well, then the daily dose is allowed to be increased to two ampoules, i.e. 200 mg.
- Intramuscularly. The drug is administered at 100 mg twice a day. In this case, the contents of the ampoule should not be diluted.
- Intraarterially. Treatment of the patient must begin with the introduction of one ampoule, which should be previously diluted in 20-50 ml of isotonic sodium chloride. If prolonged therapy is required, then the dosage can be increased to 2-3 ampoules. They need to be diluted with 30-50 ml of solution.
It should be especially noted that the optimal amount of medication presented is determined only by the doctor and only during an individual patient consultation.
Medication "Agapurin": indications for use
Before using this drug, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination. After all, a medication is prescribed only for certain deviations. We will consider their list further.
- Trophic tissue disorders that arose against a background of poor venous or arterial microcirculation (for example, gangrene, varicose ulcers, frostbite, etc.).
- Disruption of blood circulation (peripheral), which was formed as a result of inflammatory, atherosclerotic and diabetic processes. Also, the medication is prescribed for "intermittent" lameness, which is caused by atherosclerosis, obliterating endarteritis and diabetic angiopathy.
- Chronic and acute cerebrovascular accident, which is of ischemic origin. Also, the drug is used for cerebral atherosclerosis, paresthesia, angioneuropathy, Raynaud's disease and acrocyanosis.
- Circulatory disorders in the vessels of the visual organs (in acute and chronic circulatory failure of the vascular and retina of the eye).
- Conditions that occur after an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
- Disorders of the middle ear of vascular origin, which are accompanied by hearing loss.
Contraindications
When can you not use the medication "Agapurin"? The use of this drug is prohibited in the following conditions and deviations:
- acute myocardial infarction;
- severe coronary or cerebral atherosclerosis;
- severe heart rhythm disturbance;
- porphyria;
- uncontrolled arterial hypotension;
- massive bleeding;
- acute hemorrhagic stroke;
- retinal hemorrhage;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- under the age of 18 years (the safety and effectiveness of the drug have not been established);
- hypersensitivity to pentoxifylline, as well as elements from the group of xanthine derivatives.
Cautious use of medication
With extreme caution, this drug should be used in patients with a tendency to hypotension, with labile blood pressure, heart failure (chronic), a tendency to hemorrhage, renal and hepatic insufficiency, as well as in the state after surgery.
Side effects
Are there any side effects of the drug "Agapurin"? Tablets, the instruction of which is presented above, as well as a solution for injection can cause a number of negative consequences. Let's consider them in more detail.
- Digestive system: cholestatic hepatitis, intestinal atony, exacerbation of cholecystitis, dry mouth and decreased appetite.
- Nervous system: anxiety, sleep disturbance, dizziness, cramps and headaches.
- Blood vessels and skin: swelling, brittle nails, flushing of the skin, flushing of blood to the upper chest and face.
- Cardiovascular system: arrhythmia, cardialgia, angina progression, tachycardia and lowering blood pressure.
- Hematopoietic organs and hemostasis system: thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, bleeding from the intestines, stomach, subcutaneous capillaries and mucous membranes.
- Sense organs: visual impairment and scotoma.
- Allergic reactions: itching, urticaria, angioedema and anaphylactic shock.
Overdose cases
What will happen if I use Agapurin (400 mg, 600 mg, 1200 mg) in large doses? In this case, the patient may experience pathological signs such as weakness, a marked decrease in blood pressure, dizziness, tachycardia, fainting, drowsiness, tonic-clonic seizures, loss of consciousness, hyperthermia, increased nervous irritability, symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding (for example, vomiting “ coffee grounds ") and areflexion.
In this case, urgent symptomatic treatment is required, which is aimed at maintaining normal blood pressure and respiratory function.
Special instructions for the use of the drug
What you need to know before using the drug "Agapurin"? The doctors' reviews claim that this medicine copes well with the task, but they need to be treated under the strict control of blood pressure. Moreover, in patients with heart failure (chronic), it is required to achieve blood circulation compensation.
It should also be noted that in patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus taking a hypoglycemic drug, the use of this drug in large doses causes severe hypoglycemia. Therefore, they need a dose adjustment.
With the simultaneous use of the medication with anticoagulants, you should carefully monitor the condition of the blood coagulation system.
In patients who have recently undergone surgery, it is necessary to constantly monitor the concentration of hematocrit and hemoglobin.
The dosage administered should be reduced in patients with unstable or low blood pressure.
Elderly people may need a reduced dose of the drug.
According to studies, smoking significantly reduces the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug.
The compatibility of pentoxifylline with other infusion solutions must be checked in each case.
Interaction with other means
The active substance pentoxifylline often enhances the action of drugs that affect the blood coagulation system. Such drugs include direct and indirect anticoagulants, valproic acid, thrombolytics, as well as antibiotics (for example, medicines Cefamandol, Cefoperazone, Cefotetan).
The mentioned tool increases the effectiveness of antihypertensive and oral hypoglycemic drugs, as well as insulin.
We can not say that the drug "Cimetidine" significantly increases the concentration of pentoxifylline in the blood. At the same time, the risk of side effects increases.
Joint use of the drug "Agapurin", reviews of which are presented below, with other xanthines leads to excessive nervous excitement.
Methods of storing the drug, reviews about it, price
The drug "Agapurin" is sold in almost every pharmacy. You can purchase 60 tablets (100 mg) on average for only 250 Russian rubles.
Reviews of patients about this medication are more positive. That is why it is more often prescribed than other drugs to patients who have problems with blood vessels.
It should also be noted that the drug “Agapurin” in bodybuilding is quite popular. Reviews of bodybuilders say that this tool must be considered separately from other drugs that help improve blood flow. After all, it is the most effective and at the same time inexpensive.
This medication is convenient for athletes to take, as it is available not only in the form of a solution for injection, but also in tablet form. In pharmacies, this tool can be found under other names that sound like "Pentoxifylline" or "Trental."
The main objective of the presented drug is to increase the tone of blood vessels, reduce blood viscosity and increase blood flow. All this is a great way to achieve pumping in sports training, when there is a feeling of a strong pumping of the working muscle.
Use this medication for experienced bodybuilders should be extremely careful, as it can easily cause an overdose and a number of side effects.
Store "Agapurin" preferably in a dark and dry place, where there is no access for small children. In this case, the storage temperature of this drug is only 10-15 degrees. Its expiration date is indicated on the packaging and is equal to two years. After this period, the use of medication is prohibited.
In conclusion, we note once again that you should not independently prescribe yourself this medicine. The duration of treatment and dosage should be determined by the doctor for a particular patient.