For many diseases that cause itching, rash and irritation of the skin, drugs based on glucocorticoids, hormones of the adrenal cortex, are used in therapy. One of these medicines is Elokom ointment. Instructions, analogues and reviews about the drug will be discussed below.
Adrenal hormones and medications
Hormones are the most important component of the health of all systems of the human body. They are produced by special organs - endocrine glands. One such “hormone-forming plant” is the adrenal cortex, which produces glucocorticosteroids or glucocorticoids. These hormones are active participants in many processes in the body. The study of hormones of the adrenal cortex, as well as their synthesis, was carried out in the middle of the last century. This made it possible to create, on the basis of such biologically active substances obtained synthetically, a large group of drugs. The ointment "Elokom" also belongs to them , which is used not only in the treatment of adult patients, but also in pediatrics for children older than 2 years.
In what form is the medicine released?
Artificial glucocorticoids serve as the basis for the production of various types of pharmaceutical products, which the attending physician helps to choose in accordance with the need for treatment of a particular disease in a particular patient. Moreover, quite often under the same name you can buy a medicine in a different pharmaceutical form. For example, you can find on the drugstore shelves under the name "Elokom" - ointment for external use, cream and lotion. They have different auxiliary components, but the active substance in medicines called "Elokom" is one. Ointment is popular among those who need treatment with this tool, since it is sold at an affordable cost in pharmacies. The cardboard packaging of the drug contains a tube with ointment and instructions for its use.
What is included in the composition?
Glucocorticoids are important biologically active substances used in drugs and help the body cope with many diseases. Their group is quite numerous, one of its components is mometasone furoate. And it is he who works in such a medicine as ointment "Elokom". The use of the product is based on the functionality of the active component:
- antiallergic;
- antiexudative;
- glucocorticoid;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipruritic.
In addition to the active substance of mometasone in the form of a furoate, the ointment contains additional components:
- white petrolatum;
- purified water;
- white wax;
- hexylene glycol;
- phosphoric acid;
- propylene glycol stearate.
These ingredients do not play a therapeutic role, they are part of the drug only as form-forming substances.
In pharmacies you can buy ointment "Elokom" in tubes of 15 grams, and the active component in 1 gram of the drug will contain 1 milligram. On the packaging and the tube itself there are corresponding inscriptions: "Ointment for external use of 0.1%." A drug was developed under the proprietary name "Elokom" by the Belgian pharmaceutical company Schering-Plow Labo NV. Under the same name, external drugs can be purchased - cream and lotion. What kind of form should be used in each specific case - this will tell the attending physician observing the patient.
How does the active substance work?
As part of the drug "Elokom" (ointment), only one active substance works - mometasone furoate. But it is a synthetically obtained glucocorticoid, which looks like a slightly yellowish or grayish powder.
Interestingly, this substance is considered a prodrug, since it is converted directly to the active agent itself as a result of metabolic processes - the form of the furoate prevents mometasone from quickly entering the systemic circulation, which suppresses the central effect, which is an undesirable effect when using most glucocorticoids.
When applied to the skin, the drug mainly has a local effect, since its penetration into the systemic circulation is only 0.4%.
The processes of inflammation, which can begin in the tissues of the body and serve as a sign of disease, are very complex in their mechanisms. For them to come into action, many factors must coincide, including the release of arachidonic acid, its subsequent bioconversion into inflammatory mediators - leukotrienes and prostaglandins. These processes are controlled by special proteins - lipocortins.
The substance mometasone promotes the production of these proteins, which in turn adversely affect the mechanisms of biotransformation of phospholipase A2 into arachidonic acid. It is this process that inhibits inflammation. The furoate applied to the skin surface of mometasone actually works only locally, practically without penetrating the systemic circulation and without affecting it.
It should also be noted that mometasone furoate and drugs called "Elokom" in particular, underwent medical research on genetic toxicity - Ames test, micronuclear test. According to the results of a complex of tests, no signs of a drug-induced action were found, which allows us to conclude that it is unable to exert a genetic effect. But there were no lengthy tests about the carcinogenicity of the active component carried out with the help of animals. But since the course of treatment with this drug is often quite short, and the form of the furoate does not allow mometasone to exert a systemic effect on the body, it can be assumed that it does not have a negative effect.
The path of the drug in the patient’s body
Ointment "Elokom" application is quite extensive, because the active substance in its composition refers to glucocorticoids, which are used as antitoxic, desensitizing, immunosuppressive, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-shock drugs. In principle, the mechanism of work of these substances has not yet been sufficiently studied, as well as their effect on tissues and systems of the human body. But they have long been successfully used in the treatment of many diseases. For example, ointment "Elokom". This drug is applied externally, applied to the skin, and it can also be applied to skin with minor damage.
The drug is easily absorbed, providing mainly local action. Its penetration into the systemic circulation is very insignificant, and the form of the furoate allows us to consider it a pre-drug substance, because only in the body does it turn into mometasone, which also has a therapeutic effect. It should be noted that if the skin has minor damage, it is important to take into account the potential for more active penetration of the active component into the systemic circulation. But one way or another - this threshold will be low enough not to have a negative effect on the body. It is this factor that significantly distinguishes mometasone furoate from other hormonal drugs produced in the form of external drugs. In accordance with this, the ointment "Elokom" has indications for use even in the field of pediatrics.
In what cases is an ointment prescribed?
Ointment "Elok" is prescribed for children and adults in cases where it is necessary to weaken or eliminate inflammatory processes, itching with dermatoses of various etiologies, but amenable to glucocorticosteroid therapy. For children, this drug is approved for use from the age of 2 years.
When can not I use the product?
For such a drug as ointment "Elokom", the instructions for use describe not only the recommendations (purposes), but also the contraindications available. Since the active substance of the drug is practically not absorbed into the systemic circulation, a contraindication to its use in therapy will be only increased sensitivity to both the active component itself and to the accompanying ingredients. No other contraindications were found.
Feasible side effects
Both the patient and the attending physician should read the instructions for use for the drug "Elokom". Ointment for external use with glucocorticoid mometasone in the form of a furoate may have the following side effects:
- skin atrophy;
- itching
- burning;
- rosacea;
- furunculosis.
Special studies have been conducted showing the incidence of such effects. As a result, it was found that in adults the potential for the appearance of an undesirable effect of ointment is less than 5%, in children this negative effect may appear somewhat more often - in 7% of cases. If irritation or other symptoms appear, then you should stop using it and consult a specialist in order to choose another remedy for the treatment of an existing disease.
What are the signs of an overdose?
One of the drugs based on the hormone mometasone, which is used externally in pediatrics and for the treatment of adults, is the ointment "Elokom". Indications for use of this medication imply its use even for a course of treatment. But this drug can not be used without the advice of your doctor. Some patients believe that external agents can be used in larger quantities, because it is recommended to do this by specialists - doctors and drug manufacturers - pharmaceutical companies.
Most often in this case, the ointment is used uncontrollably - neither the dosage of the drug itself, nor the mode of its application are observed. But such an application can lead to an overdose of the active substance, which is present in the ointment "Elokom". This is expressed mainly in slowing down the functional work of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. This condition needs to be normalized as soon as possible by canceling the ointment, prescribing appropriate symptomatic therapy.
How to use ointment
One of the effective and fairly safe medicines based on the hormone of the glucocorticosteroid group is Elok ointment. Instructions for use for children and adults to this drug indicates the mode of its use. It is very simple - the drug is applied to the affected area of ​​the skin only once a day. It is not necessary to close the area with the applied product with a compress, the ointment is quickly absorbed and leaves no residue on clothing. According to the duration of application, the attending physician should give recommendations taking into account the course of the disease and the effectiveness of the therapy.
It should also be borne in mind that this hormonal drug requires a gradual withdrawal, and not a sharp cessation of treatment with this agent. This advice should be followed if "Elokom" used more than a week.
Recommendations for pregnant and lactating women
Details on the use of external ointment "Elokom" in the instructions. The reviews of the patients who used it help to better get acquainted with the potential capabilities of the medicine. So, among the responses you can often see the advice of women who needed the help of Elok ointment during pregnancy and lactation. As has been shown by numerous studies, this drug acts mainly at the site of its application. Therefore, the ointment can be used in special periods in a woman's life. Undoubtedly, it is worth doing this only on the recommendation of the doctor conducting the pregnancy, or with a specialist observing the mother and baby. It should be noted that there have been no special studies regarding the use of “Elokom” by pregnant and lactating women.
At the same time, systemically used glucocorticosteroids pass into breast milk and may have a negative effect on a breast-fed baby. The only thing is that the form of the furoate does not allow mometasone to have a central effect, limited to local functionality. The specialist decides whether a pregnant or lactating woman should use this medicine, taking into account the need for hormone therapy and the potential risk for the child. Many young mothers say that the drug helps to cope with skin irritations, dermatoses that appear on the site due to allergies. or exposure to any aggressive substances.
Caution - hormones!
Ointment "Elokom" is a hormonal drug, because the synthetically obtained substance, mometasone furoate, works in it. It refers to glucocorticosteroids - hormones produced by the adrenal glands. It should be noted that the complex effect of several hormonal drugs can cause disturbances in the work of a number of systems and organs. Therefore, only such attending physician should prescribe each such remedy for use, taking into account many components of the correct therapy - the diagnosis, course of the disease, concomitant health problems, medical history, the drugs used and their interactions. Ointment "Elokom" indications for use is quite limited - these are superficial dermatoses caused by various reasons.
Where to buy and how to store the drug?
The main working substance, as the instruction for use says about the Elokom ointment, is the synthetic hormone of a number of glucocorticosteroids - mometasone in the form of furoate. This allows you to limit locally the action of the product - it works only locally, that is, in the area of ​​application to the skin. But despite the apparent safety, it is impossible to take it uncontrollably, as well as use it on the advice of relatives or friends. This medicine is prescribed only by your doctor! It can be purchased in the pharmacy network only according to the prescription prescribed by a specialist. The cost of one package of medicine is from 350 to 500 rubles in various pharmacies.
This medicine should be stored in the same way as the vast majority of therapeutic ointments and creams - away from heat sources, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight. After each use of the ointment, the tube should be tightly closed with a lid and removed so that a small child could not get it, if he is in the family.
This drug can be used within 3 years after the release date. After the expiration date, the drug is disposed of, it is forbidden to use it.
Are there any analogues?
One of the tools to help cope with dermatoses of various etiologies, which is also used in pediatrics for children over 2 years old, is Elok ointment. The Russian analogue is a generic drug, which was named by the name of the active component - "Mometasone Furoat". Under the same name, ointments made in Ukraine, China or Italy can be purchased. The same main component - mometasone is in the Russian preparation "Uniderm", produced in the form of cream for external use. Identical products are Momat cream and ointment manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a pharmaceutical corporation from India, and Gistan-N ointment, which contains an identical active substance, from India.
A popular remedy in pediatric dermatology is Elok ointment. Cheap analogs may contain other glucocorticosteroids as an active component. For example, fluocinolone acetonide, which functions in the Sinaflan drug manufactured in Russia. Or, such an agent as Afloderm, in which alklomethasone acts as the active component. These funds should be prescribed by a specialist, because they also have their own characteristics in use, which must be known and taken into account during the treatment of a disease.
What do doctors and patients say about the medicine
All basic information about the drug "Elokom" contains instructions for use. Ointment reviews of patients are most often recommended. After all, it can be used to treat not only adults, but also children over two years of age. The vast majority of reviews suggest that the tool is very effective - dermatoses pass quickly enough when applied. People like that the ointment leaves no residue on clothes, and the place of application does not need to be covered with protective bandages. Also, many note the economical expense of the product, because a small tube weighing 15 grams is enough when used correctly, even for a long course or repeated courses of use. Many patients note that the instructions for use describe the ointment "Elokom" in detail. Analogues for those who need the help of glucocorticoids are prescribed by specialists to replace very rarely, because the drug in question has only a local effect, almost never causing side effects.
Specialists also note the excellent healing capabilities of the ointment "Elokom". , , , , , -.
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