For what purposes can a doctor prescribe a drug like Itomed? Instructions for the use of this medication, as well as its indications, will be presented in this article. In addition, we will tell you about whether the drug in question has analogues, how much such a drug costs, what side effects occur while taking it, etc.
Composition of the medicine, description, packaging and form
What does the Itomed medicine look like? The instruction for use states that this drug is a white and coated tablet with the inscription “HC 803” on one side and the risk on the other.
The active component of the drug is itoprida hydrochloride. The preparation also contains such additional substances as lactose, carmellose, corn starch, anhydrous silicic acid, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, macrogol, carnauba wax and titanium dioxide.
The tablets are on sale in blisters (7, 14 or 10 pieces each), which are placed in cardboard packs.
The principle of action of the drug
What are Itomed tablets? Instructions for use inform us that the tool in question is able to increase tonus and enhance motility of the digestive tract. This is due to antagonism with D2-dopamine receptors, as well as inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
This drug is a stimulator of the release of acetylcholine (inhibits its destruction). In addition, the drug has antiemetic properties due to interaction with D2 receptors that are in the trigger zone (it causes a dose-dependent suppression of vomiting).
What other properties does the Itomed medicine have? Instructions for use indicate that the drug is able to activate propulsive motility of the stomach, as well as have a specific effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract, accelerate transit through the stomach and improve its emptying.
It should be noted that the tablets in question do not have any effect on the concentration of gastrin.
Pharmacokinetics
How long does Itomed take? Instructions for use (the description of the drug was presented above) contains information that this agent is well and quickly absorbed from the digestive tract. Its relative bioavailability is approximately 60%. The highest concentration in the blood is achieved after taking 50 mg of the drug after 1 hour.
The drug binds to proteins only 96%. It is actively distributed in the tissues of the body and is found in the small intestine, kidneys, liver, stomach and adrenal glands. In therapeutic dosages, the drug slightly penetrates the spinal cord and brain, as well as into breast milk.
The metabolism of the drug occurs in the liver under the influence of flavin-dependent monooxygenase.
The medicine is excreted through the kidneys. The elimination half-life is 6 hours.
Indications
In what cases do doctors prescribe a drug like Itomed? Instructions for use (analogues of this drug have the same indications) states that this drug must be used for symptomatic treatment of non-ulcer functional dyspepsia (i.e. chronic gastritis). Also, this drug is often prescribed to eliminate the following pathological conditions: a feeling of discomfort in the stomach, flatulence, anorexia, gastralgia, nausea, heartburn and vomiting.
Contraindications
When should you not use Itomed? Instructions for use, reviews of experts suggest that the following conditions are contraindications for this drug:
- lactase deficiency;
- bleeding from the intestines or stomach;
- lactose intolerance;
- perforation and mechanical obstruction of the digestive tract;
- glucose-galactose malabsorption;
- pregnancy period;
- children's age (tablets can not be taken up to 16 years old);
- lactation period;
- hypersensitivity of the patient to itoprid, as well as any additional substances that are part of the medication.
It should also be noted that the drug in question is prescribed with extreme caution to those people who take m-cholinomimetics and cholinesterase inhibitors, as well as older people with reduced kidney and liver function.
The drug "Itomed": method of use and dose
The drug in question must be taken before meals. Usually tablets are prescribed in the amount of 1 piece three times a day. The daily dosage (maximum) of the drug is 150 mg or 3 tablets.
For the treatment of the elderly, the indicated dose is reduced.
If, for one reason or another, the tablets were not taken on time, then in the future the drug must be taken at regular intervals. Do not use the medicine in a double dose in order to compensate for the missed.
Overdose
In the event that the patient has taken an increased dose of the medication, then he is given gastric lavage, as well as symptomatic therapy.
Interaction with other means
Can I use Itomed medicine at the same time as other drugs? Instructions for use (the price of the medicine will be presented at the very end of the article) informs that the drug in question is able to accelerate the absorption of other drugs.
The prokinetic effect of Itomed tablets does not change under the influence of drugs that reduce the acidity of the juice of the stomach (for example, such as Cimetidine, Teprenon, Ranitidine, Cetraxate, etc.).
The cholinergic effect of the active substance of the drug may increase with the simultaneous use of cholinesterase inhibitors and m-cholinomimetics.
M-anticholinergic drugs can reduce the effectiveness of itopride.
Lactation and pregnancy
Can I use Itomed (tablets) during gestation? Instructions for use, reviews, a description of this medication state that itoprida hydrochloride is contraindicated in pregnancy.
We can not say that when taking the drug in therapeutic dosages, its active substance is insignificant, but nevertheless penetrates into breast milk. That is why after the appointment of this drug should stop lactation.
Side effects
Like most medical products, the Itomed medicine also causes side effects. Among the most often manifested are the following deviations:
- Hematopoietic organs: thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.
- Endocrine system: hyperprolactinemia and gynecomastia.
- Digestive tract: diarrhea, nausea, increased salivation, epigastric pain, jaundice and constipation.
- Nervous system: tremor, headaches, irritability, sleep disturbance and dizziness.
- Allergy: anaphylactic shock and urticaria.
- Laboratory indicators: hyperbilirubinemia, as well as increased activity of alkaline phosphatase, ALT, GGT and ACT.
Features of the drug
If signs of gynecomastia and galactorrhea are manifested, therapy should be immediately interrupted or discontinued.
In the treatment of biliary cirrhosis (primary), the patient may experience transient decompensation of the disease, which disappears immediately after the medication is withdrawn.
During the period of therapy with the considered agent, it is necessary to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous activities that require special attention and increased concentration.
Price and analogues of the drug
The price of the tool in question is quite high. For 40 tablets of Itomed, you will have to pay about 350 Russian rubles.
If for one reason or another you could not find the mentioned drug, then it can be replaced by the following means: Ganaton, Itopra, Itoprid.
Patient Reviews
Reviews of patients about the Itomed medicine are ambiguous. Some argue that this drug completely copes with the task. It eliminates the feeling of discomfort in the stomach, flatulence, nausea, heartburn and vomiting, and also treats anorexia and gastralgia.
However, some patients note that after using this remedy, they significantly gained weight (5-10 kg). There is also a category of people who have not noticed any effect from taking the drug in question at all.
It can not be said that a large number of patients complain about the high cost of the medication. Given that it must be taken three times a day for several weeks, such treatment (sometimes ineffective) is very expensive.