"Remantadine" is a synthetic antiviral drug derived from adamantane. Able to have a pronounced anti-toxic effect. In accordance with the instructions for use, "Remantadine" can be used as a preventive and therapeutic agent for influenza, tick-borne encephalitis, which has a viral etymology. Use of the drug is allowed in children from 7 years.
Reviews about "Remantadine" are abundant.
Composition, pharmacological forms
As reviews and instructions confirm, “Remantadine” is an antiviral drug, a derivative of adamantane. The active component is a white crystalline powder, which has the ability to dissolve well in alcohol. It is practically insoluble in water.
Auxiliary components used in the production of "Remantadine" may vary depending on the pharmacological form of the drug.
The manufacturer produces the drug in three pharmacological forms - in tablet and capsule forms, as well as in the form of a syrup intended for children.
The main active substance in the drug is remantadine. The following ingredients are used as additional ingredients in the manufacture of Remantadine tablets: colloidal anhydrous silicon dioxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and corn starch.
The tabletted “Remantadine” has a dosage of the active ingredient of 50 mg. Tablets are packaged in blisters, each of which holds 10 pieces. In a cardboard bundle there are 2 blisters.
The capsule medication has a dosage of 100 mg. Capsules of the drug are gelatinous, hard, size 0, have a white color. Capsules are packed in cell blisters, each of which contains 10 pieces. A pack of cardboard can contain 1 or 3 contour blisters.
It also contains instructions for use. Reviews about Remantadine are mostly positive.
Pharmacological effects
The drug is absorbed in the intestine, absorption takes quite a long time. The active component is metabolized in the tissues of the liver, excreted by the kidneys. The maximum concentration can be found in nasal secretions.
With the parallel use of acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol, the maximum concentration of remantadine in the blood decreases.
The half-life of the drug takes about 36 hours. If the patient has renal impairment, the elimination half-life is somewhat lengthened.
"Remantadine" has activity against tick-borne encephalitis virus and influenza A. The medication has an immunomodulating and antitoxic effect on the human body.
The highest activity can be observed in the initial stages of infection. Constantly conducted research and improvement of the properties of the drug allow making the fight against the virus more successful.
"Remantadine" when ingested acts according to the following principle:
- It prevents the penetration of viral cells into healthy cells of the body. In connection with this ability, Remantadine is considered a very effective preventive measure.
- It blocks the virus inside the cell and does not allow it to leave it. Thus, the number of viral agents present in the body is significantly reduced.
Reviews of doctors and specialists about Remantadine will be presented at the end of the article.
Indications for use
"Remantadine" is an antiviral drug that can inhibit the early stages of reproduction of viruses after it enters the cell, block the transfer of the genetic materials of the virus into the cell cytoplasm.
Against the background of the use of the drug as a prophylactic, the likelihood of developing influenza is significantly reduced. If the infection has already occurred, then Remantadine promotes a speedy recovery. In addition, the drug can be used as a prophylactic against tick-borne encephalitis.
The main indications for the use of Remantadine are:
- The need for the prevention of viral encephalitis.
- The need for the prevention of colds in the cold periods of the year and during epidemics. "Remantadine" allows you to strengthen the immune system.
- The need for preventive and therapeutic measures for influenza A.
The use of the drug in contact with an infected person will also be effective. However, it is important to understand that “Remantadine” will not help with infection with viruses that are resistant to the active component of the drug.
Drug use
The use of "Remantadine" should be determined by the doctor. It may depend on the age of the patient, the individual characteristics of his body, the presence of other pathological conditions.
Take the medicine orally. It is important to swallow the tablet or capsule of Remantadine whole, not allowing it to be crushed or chewed. It is necessary to drink plenty of water with water.
The drug should be taken before meals.
In the first two days after infection, Remantadine has the most pronounced effect. In this regard, it is recommended to start taking the medicine when the primary signs of the disease appear.
Before starting therapy with Remantadine, it is important to consult a doctor.
Adults of the patient are prescribed the use of “Remantadine” for two weeks to prevent influenza. Tablets should be swallowed whole, washed down with plenty of water. In order to treat the early stages of the flu, 6 tablets should be taken on the first day. Moreover, they can be taken at the same time, or you can divide them into three methods. Further, on the second and third day, the daily dosage should be reduced to 4 tablets, divided into two doses. In the following days, you need to take 2 tablets once a day.
In order to prevent viral encephalitis, two tablets are taken twice daily for three days from the moment of the bite.
According to reviews, Remantadin is ideal for children.
For children, a tablet medication can be prescribed from 7 years old, capsule - from 14. Children 7-10 years old are shown to take 1 tablet twice a day. Children 11-14 years old are shown taking 3 tablets three times a day.
Therapy can last up to 5 days. Therapy should be started immediately after the onset of the initial symptoms of the disease. The greatest effectiveness from the use of "Remantadine" in the treatment of children can be achieved if you start taking it in the first two days.
"Remantadine" in the form of syrup is allowed for use for children from a year. Children 1-3 years old should be prescribed three times a day 20 mg of the drug during the first day, twice a day 20 mg during the second and third days, on the following days - a single dose of 20 mg per day.
When treating children 3-7 years old, Remantadine is used three times a day for 30 mg during the first day of illness, twice for 30 mg on the second and third days, once 30 mg on the following days.
The syrup has a thick mucous texture, sweet taste, scarlet or pink. Packed in 100 ml in bottles made of dark glass. Every 5 ml of syrup contains 10 mg of the active ingredient.
According to expert reviews, Remantadine is well tolerated by patients.
Contraindications
Remantadine should not be used in the following cases:
- In the presence of individual susceptibility to the active or any auxiliary substance in the composition of the drug.
- Age up to a year for syrup, up to 7 years for a tablet form, up to 14 years for a capsule form.
- Pregnancy.
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Pathological conditions of the kidneys in acute or chronic forms.
- Pathological conditions of the liver in acute forms.
Caution should be exercised when prescribing tablets to patients suffering from arterial hypertension and epilepsy, as well as elderly patients.
Use during pregnancy and lactation
The use of "Remantadine" at any stage of pregnancy and in the lactation period is categorically unacceptable. This is due to the fact that the drug is able to provoke the occurrence of negative reactions associated with stomach pain, vomiting and nausea, which can significantly aggravate the state of toxicosis.
Negative impact
According to reviews of Remantadine, against the background of its use, some negative effects may develop. Among them:
- Itching
- Redness of the dermis.
- Dermatological rashes.
- Dyspepsia.
- Xerostomia.
- Loss of appetite.
- Pain in the epigastric region.
- Flatulence.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Malaise.
- Fainting condition.
- Headaches.
- Sleep disorders.
If the patient develops any of these negative effects, the drug should be stopped and consulted with a doctor.
Overdose
In case of overdose with Remantadine, severe nausea occurs, a metallic taste appears in the mouth, and the urge to vomit develops. The appearance of a psychedelic trip is not ruled out, which is accompanied by an intensified thought process, hallucinations, delirium, panic, and fear. This is confirmed by reviews.
The instructions to Remantadin also describe in detail which drugs are not recommended to be taken with.
Interaction with other medicines
With simultaneous administration, the therapeutic effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs decreases.
The absorption of remantadine is reduced if taken in parallel with sorbents, astringents and enveloping drugs.
The effectiveness of the drug decreases with the simultaneous use of ascorbic acid and ammonium chloride. This is due to the fact that these substances contribute to enhanced excretion of remantadine by the kidneys.
Analogues of Remantadin and reviews about it will be presented below.
Analogs
If it becomes necessary to replace "Remantadin" with one of its following analogues, it is important to consult a doctor.
The following drugs are considered the most popular: Rimantadine-STI, Rimantadine Actitab, Rimantadine, Orvirem, Kagocel, Ingavirin, Arbidol, Amiksin, Algirim, Tamiflu, Polirem ”,“ Remavir ”.
Cost
"Remantadine", in comparison with similar drugs, has the most affordable cost. In Russian pharmacies, it is about 70 rubles for a package that holds 10 tablets.
Reviews about "Remantadine"
Reviews are mostly positive. Patients report that when taking the drug in the first days of the disease, its effectiveness is maximum. The effectiveness of Remantadin as a prophylactic in the development of epidemics in closed collectives is separately noted.
The undoubted advantage of the drug is its affordable price, as well as the possibility of use in children.
What other reviews are there about Remantadine? The disadvantages of patients include the ability of the drug to provoke unpleasant side effects, inadmissibility in pregnant women.
Responses of doctors about "Remantadin"
Specialists about this tool respond mostly positively. It is effective when used to prevent viral infections. Side effects are, but extremely rare.
The disadvantage of the drug is that it should not be used by pregnant women.
It is important to remember that the appointment of a medication should be carried out by a doctor who will determine the feasibility of its use in a particular patient.
We examined the drug "Remantadine" instructions for use, reviews and analogues.