The article presents the drops of "Sofradex" instructions for use and price.
An antibacterial, and at the same time anti-inflammatory drug can selectively suppress the vital activity of various pathogenic microorganisms. It is widely used for medical treatment in otolaryngological practice and ophthalmology. Many often wonder if Sofradex is an antibiotic or not. The answer to this question is yes. In this regard, the use of this drug without a doctor's prescription is not recommended.
Instructions for use with Sofradex are very detailed.
Drug properties
The active ingredients of this medication are absorbed through the upper layer of skin epithelium and enter the bloodstream as part of local use. The elimination half-life, as a rule, does not exceed three hours. This medicine is fully excreted along with urine from the body.
Framycetin sulfate (the main component of the drug) is classified as a natural antibacterial element from the aminoglycoside category. This substance has antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, which are opportunistic bacteria that serve as part of the indigenous microflora in the human body. This medicine is also effective against representatives of the family of enterobacteria and shigella, which cause many inflammatory processes. Framycetin sulfate cannot kill viruses along with microscopic fungi and anaerobic bacteria.
Another component of Sofradex, gramicidin, is an antibiotic from the thyrotricin category. This antibiotic is characterized by effective antistaphylococcal activity. Against the background of achieving minimum inhibitory concentrations, it has a bacteriostatic effect, and in the case of an increase in dosage, produces a bactericidal effect.
Is Sofradex safe for children? Instructions for use contain information about this.
The next active substance is dexamethasone. This ingredient acts as a hormonal substance from the category of glucocorticoids, which is also known and famous for its ability to effectively reduce inflammatory processes and weaken allergic reactions. One of the main differences of this substance is its desensitizing effect on the human body.
The anti-inflammatory effect of this drug is usually achieved by suppressing the release of inflammatory mediators into the bloodstream. Also, this effect is achieved by inhibiting the migration of mast cells and lowering the degree of permeability of the walls of the capillaries. In the treatment of eye infections, the presented drug alleviates pain, reducing pain in the eyes along with a fear of light. The use as drops for ears is explained by the ability of Sofradex to stop the acute inflammatory process.
The composition of the medication
According to the instructions for use with Sofradex, the following main active ingredients are contained in 1 milliliter:
- Framycetin sulfate is contained in an amount of 5 milligrams.
- Gramicidin is contained in an amount of 0.05 milligrams.
- Synthetic dexamethasone, which is a glucocorticosteroid, is contained in an amount of 0.5 milligrams.
In the role of auxiliary components, the drug contains sodium chloride along with sodium salt, citric acid, phenylethyl and ethyl alcohol, distilled water.
Drug Release Form
As indicated by the instructions for use with Sofradex, the only form of release of the drug is a liquid antibiotic, which is sold in small bottles of 5 milliliters of dark glass. In the package, in addition to the medicine bottle, there is also a plastic dropper along with instructions for using the drug.
Indications for use by children and adults
When are Sofradex eye and ear drops prescribed? Instructions for use informs that this antibiotic is prescribed by the doctor immediately after making an accurate diagnosis and ascertaining the degree of sensitivity of pathogenic organisms to antibiotics from the aminoglycoside category. This medicine effectively treats inflammatory processes that occur in the organs of hearing and vision.
Thus, this drug is taken in a number of the following cases:
- In the presence of blepharitis, which is an infectious lesion of the eyelids. The main causative agent of this disease is Staphylococcus aureus. A feature of this ailment is a long and difficult therapy due to the high resistance of staphylococci to many antibiotics.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the eyes. The main symptoms in this case are purulent discharge, which prevents the opening of the eyes. In this case, swelling may develop along with severe itching and sharp pains in the organs of vision.
- With keratitis, that is, in the presence of clouding, ulceration and pain in the eyes, which contribute to the formation of a thorn or decrease in visual acuity in the absence of adequate medication.
- With anterior uveitis. This is a very common disease, which is characterized by a pathological change in the color of the iris, and, in addition, narrowing of the pupils and turbidity of the vitreous body, which leads to a sharp decrease in visual acuity in people.
- With scleritis, which is an inflammatory process of the deep layers of the sclera. This pathology usually develops as an independent disease, but may also be a consequence of anterior uveitis. In the absence of treatment leads to irreversible loss of vision.
- Against the background of episcleritis. This disease is completely similar to the previous one, except for the fact that with its development only the outer layers of the membranes of the eye are affected.
- With eczema of the eyelid, which is a neuroallergic pathological condition of the skin around the eyes, against the background of which extensive redness is observed along with itching and polymorphic rashes on the eyelids. And when are ear drops prescribed? You can find information about this in the instructions for use with Sofradex.
- Against the background of acute and chronic forms of bacterial otitis media, which is an inflammation of the external, and, in addition, the middle auditory canal. According to statistics, eighty percent of children under the age of three years, at least once suffered from otitis media. Symptoms in this case are purulent exudates along with cutting pains in the ear and sensations of shooting. Also, a rise in temperature is not excluded. This disease can lead to complete hearing loss.
Also, in accordance with the instructions for use, Sofradex can also be instilled into the nose.
Contraindications
Antibiotic Sofradex is forbidden to use if the patient has a history of the following diseases and conditions:
- With individual intolerance to at least one of the components of the drug.
- With concomitant viral and fungal infections, especially with tuberculosis and trachoma.
- In the presence of a damaged outer stratum corneum and sclera of the eye.
- With keratitis of herpes simplex, as this does not exclude a sharp increase in eye ulcer in diameter, which can lead to complete blindness.
- In the presence of glaucoma.
- In case of damage or absence of the tympanic membrane, since during the penetration of the active substances of the drug into the ears, hearing loss occurs.
- During pregnancy, the patient.
It is forbidden to use this medication for the treatment of newborn children, and, in addition, young patients. Therapy of such patients is carried out exclusively under the strict supervision of a physician. The appearance of side effects is considered a reason for immediate correction of the course of antibiotic therapy.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use with Sofradex.
Ear Drop Dosing
According to the instructions, this medicine is dripped in each ear in three drops with an interval of at least six hours. Children are dripped in two drops. For the treatment of otitis externa, the swab is moistened with medicine and placed in the ear for no more than five hours.
The maximum permitted time for the use of this drug should in no case exceed one week. The exception, as a rule, are severe forms of diseases that are accompanied by concomitant infections. But it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and limit the uncontrolled use of an antibiotic to reduce the risk of developing a high level of resistance of virulent strains of microscopic organisms.
The instructions for Sofradex eye and ear drops do not end there.
Method of application and dosage of eye drops for children and adults
In the presence of uncomplicated eye infections, Sofradex solution is prescribed to instill one or two drops into the affected eye. This should be done every four hours. In the presence of a severe course of the disease, the drug is administered in the same dosage every one to two hours. After the clinical effect is achieved, the frequency of procedures decreases.
The course of treatment with eye drops is usually not more than seven days. The exception is cases of apparent prolonged progression of the disease.
How to use Sofradex in the nose of children? Instructions for use indicate that drops are used in the complex treatment of chronic or allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and adenoids, as well as for the prevention of otitis media. Depending on the causative agent of the pathological condition, the drug is administered into the nasal cavity in a pure or diluted saline form. It is permissible for newborns to insert turunds moistened in a diluted solution into the nostrils.
In general, a medicine is instilled into the nose in a course of 4–6 days. After this period, breathing normalizes, swelling of the mucosa decreases, local immunity is restored.
Side effects
This antibiotic is very favorably different from others not only in its wide spectrum of activity, but also in a small list of possible side symptoms. Among these, only an allergy of a long-term and immediate type is possible, which can be accompanied by acute pain, and, in addition, a burning sensation in the organs of vision or hearing. Negative reactions from the digestive and nervous systems, provided that the dosage regimen is correct, are completely excluded.
Increased intraocular pressure
It is noted that prolonged therapy is characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure, and, in addition, a decrease in visual acuity and the appearance of glaucoma. This fact necessitates the urgent need to regularly measure and monitor intraocular pressure. In case of non-observance of the time interval during instillation of the eyes and too frequent use of drops in patients, thinning of the outer shell of the visual organ along with perforation is noted, as well as the appearance of concomitant fungal infections.
What else can you learn from the instructions for use with Sofradex Drops?
During pregnancy
To date, experiments that would be aimed at establishing the negative effect of this antibiotic on the course of pregnancy have not been conducted. But it is known that this medicine can diffuse through the placental barrier and easily pass into breast milk. In this regard, pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding are not allowed to bury Sofradex in their eyes and ears. Instructions for use must be followed.
If there is an urgent need, breast-feeding must be stopped. It is also worth mentioning that the active ingredients included in the composition extremely negatively affect the intestinal microflora of the child and can lead to the formation of serious pathological processes.
The cost of the drug
This medicine is relatively affordable, and its price in pharmacies is about three hundred and fifty rubles. It depends on the region and the pharmacy network.
Analogues of the drug
The following medicines are cheap analogues of these therapeutic drops:
- The drug "Garazon." Its price is in the region of one hundred and thirty rubles. The main active components in this substitute are gentamicin and betamethasone.
- The medicine “Tsipromed” costs one hundred and fifty rubles and is also a cheaper remedy compared to Sofradeks. This medicine is classified as a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
Reviews on Ear and Eye Drops Sofradex
Otolaryngologists and ophthalmologists positively characterized this drug. Experts in their reviews pay great attention not only to the high effectiveness of the medication, but also to the absence of a large number of adverse reactions.
The advantage of this tool is the possibility of its appointment to younger patients, however, the course of treatment will require increased attention from parents and doctors, since it is very important to monitor the condition of the child during therapy.
The disadvantage, according to consumers, is the fact that during the course of drug treatment by Sofradex it is required to exclude transport management, since this requires increased visual control. The fact is that this medicine can reduce visual acuity.
In general, patients respond positively to the presented antibiotic. People note its affordability along with ease of use and quick relief of the negative symptoms of the disease.
The article describes the instructions for use and the price of Sofradex.