The ability of the body to withstand infections, pathogenic viruses and bacteria depends on the strength of the immune system. You can increase immunity in a natural way by adding vegetables and fruits to the diet, doing sports and hardening. But in situations where you need to maintain the immune system in the season of colds or infectious pathologies, you can use pharmacological drugs. One of these is the medicine Immunorix. Next, we consider the indications for use, possible side effects and patient reviews about the effectiveness of such therapy.
What is the drug
Imunorix, the instructions for use of which will be discussed later, is included in the group of immunostimulating agents. The use of the drug enhances cellular and humoral immunity.
The active substance enhances phagocytosis and the activity of natural killers, increases the production of cytokines.
The composition of the drug
Reviews about the Imunorix are most often positive. The manufacturer releases the product in the form of a solution for internal use. The liquid has a reddish color and aroma of wild berries.
As the main active substance, pidotimod acts in an amount of 400 mg.
Additional ingredients:
- Disodium edetate.
- Propyl parahydroxybenzonate sodium.
- Sodium methyl parahydroxybenzonate.
- Sorbitol.
- Sodium saccharinate.
- Trometamol.
- Sodium chloride.
- Water.
- Crimson dye.
- Fruit flavoring.
The unique composition of the drug and provides its effect on the body.
Pharmacological properties
The active substance of the drug increases cellular immunity. With a weak immune system, there is a lack of their own T-lymphocytes, which are the coordinators of specific immunity. Imunorix (read reviews on the drug below) promotes the maturation and formation of these cells.
Pidotimod stimulates macrophages that capture antigens. The body's ability to defend itself against infectious agents depends on the strength of cellular, immune and antigen-antibody responses. Treatment with this drug can significantly strengthen them.
The therapeutic effect of the drug lies in the stimulating effect on innate and cellular immunity, the production of cytokines and antibodies. The drug increases the activity of its own immune cells, the functionality of T and B lymphocytes is enhanced.
Operating principle
The effective effect of Imunorix (confirmation of this) is explained by the following effects:
- Under the influence of the drug, an increase in the rate of maturation of T-lymphocytes occurs.
- The ability of macrophages to capture foreign agents is enhanced.
- Natural killers are activated.
The composition of the drug also contributes to the development of certain factors that help protect the body from the introduction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The release form of Imunorix is a solution. After oral administration, the active substance is absorbed into the bloodstream in the gastrointestinal tract in a short time and begins to exert its therapeutic effect. The half-life of the body is about 4 hours. Disposal occurs through the organs of the excretory system.
The Imunorix. Indications for use
Most often, doctors prescribe a drug to their patients as part of the complex treatment of the following diseases:
- Infections of any origin in the upper and lower respiratory tract.
- To correct and increase the immune response in the development of bacterial, fungal or viral diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.
- For the treatment of infectious pathologies of the intestine and gastrointestinal tract.
- To enhance immunity.
Before using the medicine, it is important to read the instructions or consult your doctor about the duration and treatment regimen.
How to take the drug
"Imunorix" for adults is usually prescribed according to the following scheme:
- In the acute phase of the disease, the drug is taken at 800 mg (2 bottles) twice a day for two weeks.
- Maintenance therapy involves taking 800 mg once a day for two months.
- As a prophylactic, Imunorix is also taken 60 days, one bottle per day.
The medicine can be taken regardless of food intake, but it is best done 2 hours before or two hours after a meal. The course of treatment with Imunorix and the dosage in each case can be changed by the doctor, taking into account the severity of the symptoms and the course of the disease. But usually the therapy lasts no more than three months.
Treating children
Imunorix for children is allowed to be taken only from the age of three. The treatment regimen is as follows:
- To stop the acute phase of the disease, the child is prescribed 400 mg of the drug twice a day for two weeks, regardless of the meal.
- Before treatment, take the medicine in 1 bottle once a day.
- For the purpose of prevention, take Imunorix 400 mg once a day for two months, but not more than 60 days.
Treatment of children should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician. It is important to carefully monitor the child in order to assess the reaction of the child's body to the drug and not to miss the allergic response or the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.
Negative manifestations of therapy
The drug is often well tolerated, but we must not forget about the side effects of Imunoriks. Among the negative symptoms, the following can be noted:
- Allergic reactions of the body in the form of redness of the skin, rashes.
- Gastrointestinal tract rarely causes nausea.
- Abdominal pain.
- Digestive upset.
- Decreased appetite.
- Bronchospasm.
Experts say that some side effects may be associated with a combination of Imunoriks with the use of antibacterial agents. Before starting drug therapy, it is necessary to inform the doctor what medicines are taken in a given period of time.
Overdose
The instructions for the use of Imunoriks say that there are no cases of drug overdose. If during the course of therapy the medicine is taken in a higher dosage and unpleasant symptoms appear, then it is necessary to inform the attending doctor about this. If therapy is carried out according to medical recommendations, then the possibility of an overdose is excluded.
Treatment while carrying a baby and breastfeeding
Human studies have not been conducted, but animal experiments have proven the safety of the drug for the developing fetus. In the case of a person, doctors nevertheless recommend not to use the drug in the first trimester, when all the important organs are active.
As for the second and third trimester, the Imunorix therapy is recommended for pregnant women if the benefits for the future mother outweigh the risk for the developing baby. Treatment should be accompanied by constant monitoring by the doctor of the state of the mother and child. Do not self-medicate during this important period for a woman.
There is no exact information about the effect of the drug on the baby if breastfeeding is carried out, so a woman should either postpone therapy or stop breastfeeding for the duration of treatment.
Contraindications to treatment
The drug has practically no contraindications, but it is important to consider two points:
- Do not use the drug in the treatment of children under the age of three.
- Choose another remedy if there is an increased sensitivity to the main components of the drug.
Neglect of contraindications is fraught with the development of side effects.
Special instructions for the use of the drug
If there are indications for the use of Imunorix for the treatment of diseases, it is important to prescribe it with extreme caution in the presence of hyperimmunoglobulinemia E. It is also better to use another drug if the previous dose was accompanied by allergic reactions from the body.
The drug does not affect the ability to concentrate, so there is no prohibition during therapy on driving a car or performing other activities that require increased concentration and attention.
Interaction with other drugs
Given that the active substance of Imunorix does not interact with plasma proteins, pharmacokinetic interaction with other drugs is not expected.
But the drug can affect the effectiveness of drug therapy, which affect the activity of the immune system.
Animal studies were conducted on the question of the interaction of Imunorix with the following groups of drugs:
- Diuretics.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Anticoagulants.
- Drugs to lower blood pressure.
- Antipyretic drugs.
- Analgesics.
- Antiepileptic drugs.
No negative interactions were detected during the studies.
How to store the drug
You can buy a medicine in a pharmacy by prescription. Storage of Imunorix should be carried out in a cool place without access to direct sunlight. Exclude access to the drug for children.
Analogs of Imunorix
All analogues for any drug can be divided into two groups:
- Preparations with the same active substance.
- Medicines with a similar therapeutic effect.
As for Imunorix, analogues with the same active substance are not available. But you can choose a medication that will have a similar effect on immunity.
You can replace the drug with drugs of the following groups:
- Interferon-based medicines: Griferon, Infagel, Viferon.
- Means with the content of the natural immunostimulant echinacea: "Immunal", "Echinacea HEXAL", "Immunorm."
- Preparations made on the basis of lysates of microorganisms: Broncho-munal, IRS-19, Imudon, Ismigen, Ribomunil.
- Homeopathic medicines: Anaferon, Ergoferon, Agri, Aflubin.
- Preparations with antiviral properties: Arbidol, Kagocel, Amiksin, Orvirem.
However, it is necessary to purchase an analogue of Imunorix on the recommendation of a doctor, especially when treatment concerns a child. The preparations contain various active substances that may not provide assistance in a particular situation or adversely affect the condition of the baby.
Patient reviews about the drug
Reviews about the “Imunorix" of those who used the drug to treat adults and children are rather controversial, but most often positive. To claim with 100% certainty that the drug helps to quickly defeat the disease is quite difficult, given that it is most often part of complex therapy.
But many mothers claim that the child recovers faster after taking the drug, less likely to get colds. If infectious diseases do occur, the body can tolerate them more easily, and the likelihood of developing complications is reduced.
But some note the negative aspects of the drug. Treatment with Imunorix provokes allergic rashes on the child’s skin, a small rash, redness appears, but these symptoms quickly disappear after stopping the medication. Most often, such symptoms appear if the baby has a tendency to allergic manifestations.
There is dissatisfaction with the cost of the drug, because the bottle of Imunorix lasts for only 5 days of full treatment, and it usually lasts longer, or for 10 days of maintenance therapy or prevention.
There are good reviews among medical workers about the drug. Doctors believe that the drug among its analogues is most effective. After a course of therapy, the body's immune response and resistance to pathological fungi, microorganisms and viral particles increase. The drug proved to be effective in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system. Only doctors warn that it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommended dosage and treatment regimen.
However, some experts believe that for strong immunity it is necessary not to take packs of medicines, but to lead an active lifestyle, engage in sports, hardening, eat properly and rationally. That is, to increase immunity in a natural way. Especially when it comes to children. It’s not worth stuffing the baby’s body with medicines; it’s better to strengthen your health in other ways.
If the immune system is weak or there is a need to support the body during the disease, then the Immunorix will come to the rescue. To increase effectiveness, therapy should always be prescribed only by the attending physician. It is important to carry it to the end, and not toss it as soon as the unpleasant symptoms subside. In other cases, it is better to increase immunity using proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.