Each person periodically experiences discomfort caused by various stimuli. There are many pharmaceutical drugs that effectively relieve pain. The most commonly used are NSAIDs. Alka-Seltzer is one of the representatives of the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
According to the instructions, the drug is intended to eliminate pain caused by various reasons. Based on the reviews, Alka-Seltzer is most often used for symptomatic treatment after excessive drinking. The drug has become so familiar that not many read the instructions and know that it has contraindications and side symptoms.
Alka-Seltzer: Description
The tool relates to symptomatic drugs. It eliminates the manifestations of a pathological condition, and does not eliminate the cause. It is produced by the well-known German pharmaceutical company Bayer. Dosage form "Alka-Seltzer" - effervescent tablets. They are packaged in strips of 10 pieces in a pack.
The drug has a combined effect, since there are several active substances in Alka-Seltzer:
- acetylsalicylic acid - 324 mg;
- anhydrous citric acid - 965 mg;
- anhydrous sodium carbonate - 1625 mg.
Additional substances: povidone, polydimethyl siloxane, sodium benzoate, saccharin sodium, lemon and lime flavors.
Medicinal action
Alka-Seltzer possesses antacid (reduces acidity in the stomach), anti-aggregation (prevents thrombosis), antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect.
Pharmacodynamics due to the composition of the drug. Some Alka-Seltzer components are familiar, but not all. For example, sodium bicarbonate, which is part of the active ingredient, what is it? But about all the substances in order.
Acetylsalicylic acid:
- affects the subcortical centers responsible for thermoregulation and pain sensitivity;
- lowers temperature due to vasodilation and increased secretion of sweat glands;
- reduces pain sensitivity by acting on receptors in the postcentral gyrus;
- eliminates pain and inflammation, but only in the initial phase, without affecting the pathological process;
- reduces redness of the skin, eyes;
- promotes the discharge of excess fluid from capillaries, arterioles;
- dilates blood vessels, prevents blood clots.
Anti-aggregation action persists for a week after a single use of the Alka-Seltzer tablet.
Sodium bicarbonate - what is it? Such a complex name is familiar to everyone - baking soda. Component action:
- neutralizes the acidity of gastric juice, facilitating pain in the abdomen;
- helps to strengthen osmotic diuresis - the release of a large amount of urine, thanks to this action, accelerated elimination of toxins from the body occurs;
- relieves symptoms of motion sickness - a feeling of nausea, kinetosis (a state of motion sickness).
Citric acid alkalizes urine - blocks the negative effects of organic acids. Normalization of urine pH helps restore the acid-base balance of the blood and the body as a whole. It also enhances the absorption and bioavailability of the drug.
Indications for use
The instructions “Alka-Seltzer” is indicated as a drug to alleviate the symptoms of pain. Indications indicated by the manufacturer:
- headache attacks of varying intensity;
- dentalgia - pain in the tooth or surrounding tissues;
- joint pain and aches;
- lumbalgia - periodic pain in the lower back;
- sharp and dull pain in the muscles (myalgia);
- discomfort in the abdomen during menstruation (dysmenorrhea);
- sore throat due to colds and inflammatory diseases;
- fever with chills.
Alka-Seltzer is available over-the-counter. Among ordinary people, it is known as an effective remedy for a hangover. The drug helps to alleviate the post-toxic state.
To whom it is contraindicated
Alka-Seltzer, a long-known substance, is part of the combined active pharmaceutical substance of the drug Alka-Seltzer. They underwent numerous clinical studies in which all the negative effects of the components were identified.
Contraindications to the active substances "Alka-Seltzer" apply to the drug itself:
- hypersensitivity to any of the substances;
- erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, hemorrhagic erosion, duodenitis, lymphoma;
- predisposition to hemorrhages;
- I and III trimesters of the gestation period;
- lactation;
- children under 15 years old with respiratory diseases due to the risk of fat accumulation in the liver parenchyma and the development of acute liver failure;
- bronchospasm developing as a result of the use of salicylates;
- the use of the drug "Methotrexate" at a dosage of more than 15 mg per week.
With special care, and better for the intended purpose and under the supervision of a doctor, Alka-Seltzer is taken under the following conditions and pathological conditions:
- therapy with drugs that inhibit blood coagulation;
- a disease characterized by deposition of urate crystals in the tissues (gout);
- a history of gastrointestinal ulcers, accompanied by episodes of intestinal and gastric bleeding;
- low hemoglobin in the blood, a tendency to anemia;
- renal failure.
If there is at least one of the above contraindications, you should refuse to use the drug. In any case, it is best to consult a doctor before using the tablets.
The use of "Alka-Seltzer" during pregnancy
The use of any drugs during the gestation period should be carried out under the supervision of a gynecologist. In the period from 1 to 12 and from 28 to 40 weeks, the use of the drug is prohibited. During the second trimester, salicylates are used only after a rigorous assessment of the ratio of harm to the unborn child and the benefit to the mother. The dosage is selected by the doctor for each woman and in each individual case individually.
There are practically no reviews on the use of the drug "Alka-Seltzer" during pregnancy. This is not surprising - the drug is rarely prescribed. Typically, acetylsalicylic acid is replaced with paracetamol. When absolutely necessary, Alka-Seltzer or other salicylates are prescribed in an amount of not more than 150 mg per day. The use of higher doses can cause certain developmental abnormalities: splitting of the palate, heart defects.
Salicylates and their metabolic products are secreted into breast milk in small quantities through the blood. If the substance entered the woman’s body once and in a small dosage, then the child will not have adverse reactions. If prolonged use or in high doses is supposed, from natural feeding should be refused.
Application features
In order not to further aggravate the disease state, you need to know how to drink Alka-Seltzer. If it is prescribed by a doctor, then the drug should be taken in strict accordance with its recommendations. If the tool is used independently, you must read the instructions.
The drug is allowed from 15 years old, earlier use is possible only as directed by the pediatrician. The tablet is completely dissolved in a glass of water:
- with moderate pain - 1 tablet up to six times a day;
- with intense pain, very high temperature - 2-3 tablets as a single dose;
- the maximum allowable number of tablets per day is 9 pieces (3 g of active substance);
- the interval between admission is 4 hours, not less;
- the duration of the use of the drug as an anesthetic should not exceed 5 days and three days as an antipyretic.
Painful sensations, especially intense ones, are difficult to endure. First of all, patients are interested in how long Alka-Seltzer. The drug is rapidly hydrolyzed by special esterases. Relief of symptoms occurs after 15 minutes.
If you follow the regimen, you can restrain the fever and reduce the intensity of the pain. If the symptoms worsen, you should undergo an examination and take therapy for pathology, the clinical manifestations of which are unpleasant sensations.
Alka-Seltzer from a hangover
The abuse of drinks containing ethanol is fraught with the development of a post-toxic state. It is characterized by unpleasant symptoms, manifested in the following:
- headache;
- increase in blood pressure;
- dry mouth, severe thirst;
- nausea, often accompanied by vomiting, bringing temporary relief;
- feeling of "inner trembling";
- involuntary movements of the arms and legs;
- weakness;
- lethargy;
- bad mood, guilt for actions committed the day before.
Those who often have a hangover syndrome, keep in their medicine cabinet drugs that alleviate the condition. Judging by the reviews, Alka-Seltzer is used by many. Tablets in the amount of two pieces are dissolved in a mug of water and drunk, preferably on an empty stomach. It must be remembered that the maximum allowable number of tablets is 9 pieces.
The active ingredients of the drug relieve physical suffering. Emotional discomfort tablets do not eliminate. The effectiveness and duration of action depends on the degree of intoxication. If the condition does not improve one hour after the use of the drug, do not increase its amount. An overdose in combination with a hangover can be dangerous to health.
Possible side effects
Side effects in most cases arise due to non-compliance with the recommendations prescribed in the instructions to Alka-Seltzer. The first reason for the development of undesirable symptoms is the administration of tablets in the presence of contraindications, the second is an excess of dosage.
Side effects:
- From the gastrointestinal tract. Heartburn, belching with the taste of drinking soda, intense pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting with blood. With frequent illiterate use, anemia can develop, in rare cases, impaired liver function.
- From the hematopoietic system. Increased chance of bleeding.
- Symptoms of Allergies Skin rash, cough, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, eyelids.
Clinical manifestations of an overdose:
- Medium - tinnitus, dizziness, throbbing headache, impaired sound perception, confusion. With a decrease in dosage, the symptoms gradually disappear.
- Severe - intensive breathing, fever, ketosis, impaired blood pH, heart failure, pathologically low blood glucose.
In severe overdose, the patient is hospitalized. In a hospital, symptomatic therapy is carried out, a neutral solution is injected into the bronchi, activated carbon is given, therapeutic measures are carried out, as a result of which the acid-base balance is normalized, diuresis is eliminated.
special instructions
Judging by the reviews, Alka-Seltzer is considered a safe tool, and few read the instructions before use. The drug has some features that you need to know and consider:
- When using a diet with a limited sodium intake, when using the drug, it should be borne in mind that one Alka-Seltzer tablet contains 445 mg of sodium.
- In the treatment of vascular pathologies, the daily dose of the drug should not exceed 300 mg.
- When using the drug with other NSAIDs, the likelihood of developing gastric ulcers and bleeding increases.
- The simultaneous use of Alka-Seltzer tablets and medications that affect the metabolism of uric acid (Benzpromaron, Purinol, Clofesol) helps to reduce the uricosuric effect.
- Caution is advised to drink tablets for people with diabetes. Increases the hypoglycemic effect of hypoglycemic drugs.
- With the simultaneous use of the drug "Alka-Seltzer" and drugs that can dissolve blood clots ("Urokinase", "Retaplase", "fibrinolysin"), the effect of the latter is reduced.
- After tablets, you can not drink alcohol. The likelihood of mucosal damage and the development of bleeding increases.
- Use of the product does not affect driving.
- The drug increases the tendency to bleeding. This should be taken into account when it is necessary to perform surgical procedures, for example, tooth extraction.
Analogues of the drug
On the pharmacy shelves there is a wide selection of drugs of the same pharmacological group as Alka-Seltzer. Most of them are generics, that is, they have an almost identical composition. The choice of analogues "Alka-Seltzer" depends on the destination. Drugs that help relieve hangover:
- "Zorex morning." Effervescent tablets from the manufacturer Vitale-HD LLP (Estonia). The preparation has absolutely identical composition to Alka-Seltzer. The only sodium carbonate content is slightly higher - 2.013 g. In this regard, no more than eight tablets are allowed per day.
- "Alka-Prim" - effervescent tablets from the Polish pharmaceutical plant "Polandpharma". The active pharmaceutical substance of the drug is acetylsalicylic acid (330 mg). The remaining auxiliary substances, contained in much smaller quantities: aminoacetic and citric acid, sodium bicarbonate. For the treatment of pain, 1-2 tablets are dissolved in water and drunk 2-4 times a day.
- “Drink OFF” is a semi-synthetic preparation of Russian manufacture. Dosage form - capsules. They include squeezes of ginger, licorice, eleutherococcus, ginseng, mate, succinic and citric acid. Dosage depends on weight: 2 capsules per 80 kg of body weight, but a single dose should not exceed five capsules.
NSAIDs - analogues of Alka-Seltzer, eliminating pain:
- Tylenol. Manufacturer "McNeil-PPC", USA;
- "Efferalgan." UPSA CAC, France;
- "Paracetamol-Hemofarm." Hemofarm, Serbia;
- "Kalpol." Oldesloh GmbH, Germany;
- "Tsefekon N". Nizhpharm, Russia.
Reviews received Alka-Seltzer
Most people who took these pills with a hangover were not satisfied. The drug practically does not eliminate the symptoms, the head also continues to hurt, nausea does not go away. But most of all, dissatisfaction is the cost of Alka-Seltzer. The main active substance, acetylsalicylic acid, produced by Russian companies, has a price 17 times lower.
But there are also users to whom the remedy has helped from a hangover.
Positive reviews are also left by those who took the drug as an antipyretic for respiratory diseases. The drug acts quickly and retains its effect for a long time. But the indications for use are pain and fever, and not alcohol intoxication.
Alka-Seltzer: reviews of doctors
The opinion of narcologists is even more skeptical than that of patients. Experts believe that the hangover syndrome is intoxication, the main treatment method of which is to eliminate toxins. Alka-Seltzer in case of alcohol poisoning can be used as an additional means of complex therapy.
The tool relieves headaches, nausea, but not for long, it all depends on the characteristics of the body. The latter factor is of particular importance. The drug relieves symptoms, and patients take it uncontrollably.
The tool has an anti-aggregation effect, which persists for seven days after taking 500 mg of acetylsalicylic acid. With alcohol intoxication, especially severe, people are not limited to one tablet. As a result, the components accumulate and there is a high risk of bleeding.