Infections are serious ailments that require long-term and qualified treatment by specialists. They are especially difficult to treat if they affect any internal organs. As a rule, the modern pharmaceutical market offers such patients many drugs that can defeat infectious diseases. However, not all of them are equally good at treatment. Doctors often prescribe Abactal to patients. Instructions for use, reviews about it and its analogues will be discussed in this article.
The composition of the drug and its release form
This drug belongs to the antibacterial agents of the fluoroquinolone group, which means that it is used to treat infectious diseases that were caused by drug-sensitive microorganisms. In pharmacies, you can see two forms of release of this drug: in tablets and in the form of a concentrate, which is then used to prepare a solution administered intravenously. The drug in ampoules is usually used to treat patients with severe pathologies in hospitals, and tablets can be taken at home, but under the supervision of the attending physician.
However, in both cases, the basis of the drug is the active substance pefloxacin. Moreover, in the medicine it is in the form of mesylate. For example, the instructions for use of "Abactal" indicate that one tablet contains 558.5 mg of the active substance. This corresponds to 400 mg of “pure” pefloxacin. Also, tablets contain some auxiliary components. The instructions indicate that they include corn starch, lactose monohydrate, talc, povidone, magnesium stearate and some others. The tablets are coated with an additional coating. They have a rounded biconvex forum. Their color can vary from white to light yellow.
One ampoule of the concentrate also contains 400 mg of pefloxacin. At the same time, 1 ml contains 80 mg of the active agent. The solution also includes ascorbic acid, water, sodium bicarbonate and benzyl alcohol. The concentrate is released in the form of a clear liquid, which may have a light yellow tint.
Instructions for use of tablets "Abaktal" (400 mg) indicates that they are available in plastic blisters of 10 pieces. They, in turn, are packed in cardboard boxes. The concentrate can be purchased in 5 ml glass ampoules. For safety, they are sealed in pallets, which are also sold in cardboard boxes. Both forms of release are dispensed from pharmacies only by prescription. The shelf life of the drug is 3 years.
What pathologies does the drug use?
Antibacterial drugs are usually used to treat various infectious diseases. At the same time, “Abactal” (400 mg) ampoules and tablets are described by the instructions for use as a broad-based agent that is also effective in monotherapy. That is, other drugs are not used to treat the disease. In addition, the drug is often used to treat infectious diseases in patients who suffer from immunodeficiency.
The following main indications for use are indicated in the instructions for the drug:
- various infectious diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system;
- infections located in the pelvic area, for example, prostatitis or adnexitis;
- severe infections of the gastrointestinal tract, including typhoid fever, salmonellosis;
- infections affecting the lower respiratory tract;
- various diseases that affect the ENT organs, for example, severe external otitis media, chronic sinusitis and others;
- infectious damage to the abdominal cavity, including peritonitis;
- infectious diseases of the liver and biliary tract;
- osteomyelitis and other infectious lesions of bones, joints and skin;
- blood poisoning;
- gonorrhea;
- bacterial endocarditis and others.
More on contraindications
As a rule, not all patients can take any medicine. Often this happens due to the patient’s sensitivity to one or more of the components that make up the drug. But sometimes the reason lies in other pathologies from which the patient suffers. It is strongly discouraged to ignore contraindications, since taking the medicine can aggravate the patient's condition. It is best, of course, to inform your doctor about all your ailments and consult with him before starting therapy.
The instructions for use of "Abactal" (400 mg) indicate a few contraindications. This means that the product is well tolerated by all categories of patients. For example, it is not recommended to take the drug if the patient has an increased sensitivity to quinolones. Also, with caution, the medicine is prescribed to people who have a history of any disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, for example, epileptics. Since the drug is excreted from the body through the kidneys and liver, people suffering from diseases of these organs need to take the medicine under the strict supervision of a doctor. Elderly patients are recommended to reduce the allowable dosage in order to prevent the development of complications.
Side effects that may appear after starting
Sometimes, when taking any medicine, the patient may detect the appearance of any unpleasant symptoms or just feel unwell. The fact is that each organism reacts differently to the active substances of the drugs. Ampoules and tablets "Abaktal" (500 mg) were no exception. Instructions for use describe in detail the symptoms that may appear after the start of taking the drug. She also recommends that patients consult a doctor if they feel unwell.
We list the main side effects indicated in the instructions:
- Decreased or complete loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, change in taste sensations - such unpleasant symptoms are most often observed from the digestive tract.
- An increase in the activity of liver enzymes and bilirubin levels can be seen when passing laboratory tests.
- From the side of the central nervous system, the patient may notice the appearance of headaches and dizziness, decreased vision, hallucinations and tremors of the limbs. They also complain of anxiety and depression, sleep disturbances. In very rare cases, convulsions may appear.
- Crystalluria, that is, an increase in the amount of salt in the urine. Much less often when blood tests are taken, blood can be found in it. Sometimes patients are diagnosed with nephritis.
- Allergic reactions to the skin, including skin rash, severe itching. Less commonly diagnosed are bronchospasm.
- Pain in the muscles and joints (myalgia and arthralgia).
Instructions for use of the drug "Abactal"
Since the drug has a rather serious effect on the body, patients need to take it under the strict supervision of the attending physician. It is he who must prescribe an individual dosage, especially if there are any contraindications described above.
The instructions for use of "Abactal" in ampoules and tablets are different. First, we’ll talk about how to use concentrate for treatment.
The attending physician should deal with the dilution of the solution and its introduction into the body. The dosage and duration of therapy in this case will depend on the diagnosed pathology. Typically, the solution is administered twice daily at 400 mg at a time. The concentrate is not administered in its pure form; it is previously diluted with a glucose solution. The entire dose is introduced into the body gradually over 1 hour. In this case, it is forbidden to dilute the medicine with any solutions containing chlorine. If "Abaktal" is used before surgery, then patients are once injected with 400 to 800 mg of the drug. For patients suffering from liver and kidney diseases, the allowable dosage of the concentrate is calculated individually. Usually, 8 mg of active ingredient is taken per 1 kg of a person’s weight. In this case, the frequency of administration of the drug can be reduced to 1 time per day.
Tablets are recommended to be taken with meals, in order to prevent the development of complications from the digestive tract. As a rule, the standard dose does not exceed 800 mg of the drug per day. Thus, patients should take 2 tablets per day, the interval between doses - 12 hours. In some cases, the drug is used once, for example, in the treatment of gonorrhea.
Can pregnant women and children take the drug?
For pregnant women, the instructions for use of "Abactal" (400 mg) prohibits the use of the drug in any dosage, as this can adversely affect the development of the fetus. In addition, you can not be treated with this remedy and lactating women, since its active substance with mother’s milk can get into the baby’s fragile body. If the patient can not pick up an analogue, then doctors recommend abandoning breastfeeding and switch to artificial.
The concentrate and tablets should also not be taken by children and adolescents under 18 years of age in order to prevent the occurrence of side effects and complications. Therefore, for the smallest patients, it is recommended to choose a more gentle drug.
The consequences of overdose and their treatment
Instructions for use of "Abactal" indicate that patients are allowed to take no more than 1.2 g of the drug (3 tablets) per day. If the specified daily dose is exceeded, it is necessary to stop taking the medicine and immediately consult your doctor. The first signs of an overdose, experts call nausea, developing into vomiting, mental agitation and confusion of the patient. If the patient is not helped in time, he may lose consciousness. In severe cases, severe convulsions appear.
At the first signs of an overdose, it is necessary to give the patient a gastric lavage and give activated charcoal, which will help slow down the absorption of the drug into the body. Treatment and recovery of the patient should be carried out under the strict supervision of specialists. To eliminate the consequences, the patient should receive a sufficient amount of fluid. Sometimes doctors also conduct symptomatic therapy to alleviate the patient's condition. Moreover, in practice it has been proved that hemodialysis is ineffective for removing this drug from the body.
Can I take the medicine with other drugs?
Instructions for use "Abactal" (400 mg) recommends consulting with your doctor before taking the medicine with other medications at the same time. The fact is that sometimes such a combination can not only reduce the effectiveness of therapy, but also lead to complications. For example, antacids slow down the absorption of "Abactal", so you can not take them at the same time. The interval between doses of two drugs should be at least 2 hours.
On the contrary, the instructions for the use of tablets "Abaktala" indicates that its simultaneous use with indirect anticoagulants can increase their effect on the body. The concentrate should not be mixed with solutions that contain chlorine. The administration of the drug with tetracycline has an antagonistic effect. That is, their effectiveness with joint admission will be lower than individually.
Analogs of "Abaktala"
Instructions for use indicate that patients should not voluntarily change this drug to one of its analogues. Only the attending physician should do this if there are contraindications or side effects. On the pharmaceutical market there are many analogues of the drug, which also contain pefloxacin. Most of these products are also available in the form of tablets and ampoules. We list the main ones:
- Pelox 400
- "Pefloxacin-AKOS".
- "Pefloxabol".
- Pefloxacin.
- Unicpef.
- "Pefloxacin mesylate" and others.
Positive feedback on this drug
Before taking the drug, many patients prefer to familiarize themselves not only with the instructions for use of the Abactal tablets, but also with the reviews of doctors and patients who have already used this medicine in practice. It is worth noting that people often respond well about him. Among its advantages, experts highlight high absorption and bioavailability. In their opinion, he effectively copes with infectious diseases of different severity. However, its reception does not cause serious side symptoms. They also note that the concentrate in practice shows greater efficiency.
Patients also respond positively about the drug, noting that tablets are more convenient for them to use. Most patients indicate that they tolerated the Abactal administration easily. At the same time, its drug showed effectiveness after the first use. Patients note that the medication helped them in the treatment of pathologies with which its analogues could not cope.
Negative drug feedback
Unfortunately, the instructions for use of "Abactal" do not describe the details of how patients tolerate the drug. And in some cases, they indicate in their negative reviews that they have serious side effects, such as joint pain, anxiety, or vomiting. Moreover, they were expressed so strongly that patients had to stop taking the medicine and start therapy with its analogues. Doctors also note that "Abaktal" with long-term use violates the intestinal microflora.
Is it worth it to be treated with these pills?
Having studied the instructions for use of "Abactal" and patient reviews, we can conclude that treatment with this drug should be carried out extremely carefully. It has a serious effect on the body, so you should always follow all the instructions of your doctor. In order to prevent the occurrence of serious side effects, it is worth taking the medicine only with meals and not exceed the permissible dosage. If any unpleasant symptoms appear, it is better to stop taking it and go to a specialist consultation.