What helps Gastal, many people know. After all, problems with the gastrointestinal tract in patients occur very often. If such a medicine is unfamiliar to you, then we will tell you about it a little lower.
Composition, form, packaging, description
What helps Gastal? Before answering this question, you should find out in what form this drug goes on sale.
According to the instructions, the mentioned medication is available in the form of lozenges. They have cherry and mint flavors, as well as white or cream color, a round shape with a chamfer and a smooth surface.
The active substances of this agent are magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide-magnesium carbonate gel. In addition, the composition of the medicine includes auxiliary ingredients such as sodium cyclamate, lactose monohydrate, mannitol, sorbitol, sodium saccharin, corn starch, peppermint flavoring, magnesium stearate and talc.
The drug in question goes on sale in blisters and cardboard boxes.
Features of the drug
All patients should know about what Gastal helps. This medication belongs to the group of buffered antacids. It increases the pH of the juice of the stomach, and also eliminates the discomfort caused by increased acidity in the main digestive organ (heartburn and abdominal pain).
The antacid properties of this agent are manifested due to the rapid and prolonged neutralization of the acid (hydrochloric) of the stomach. Taking one tablet can neutralize hydrochloric acid.
Drug properties
The drug "Gastal" from heartburn helps very well. This effect is due to its composition.
The gel of aluminum hydroxide -magnesium carbonate is a buffered antacid substance that lowers the acidity of the stomach juice to a normal level and normalizes digestion processes. It should also be noted that aluminum hydroxide is able to inactivate pepsin, which is contained in gastric juice.
As for magnesium hydroxide, this is a non-buffered antacid. It is not absorbed in the intestine, but it very quickly neutralizes acidity and also has a laxative effect.
According to the instructions, the complex of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide activates the antacid effect and reduces the risk of side effects that are characteristic of each ingredient separately (for example, diarrhea after applying magnesium compounds and constipation after aluminum).
The antacid effect of the drug in question appears almost immediately after taking the medicine and lasts for two hours. In this case, the medication inactivates pepsin, lysolecithin and bile acids.
It should also be noted that aluminum hydroxide enhances the protective and regenerative processes in the stomach.
What helps Gastal?
By asking this question to your doctor, you will get the answer that the drug in question relieves indigestion, as well as pain and discomfort in the stomach.
Will Gastal help with heartburn? And in this condition, the medication in question acts very effectively.
So, indications for taking the mentioned tablets are:
- diseases that are characterized by increased acid formation (for example, peptic ulcer, gastritis or reflux esophagitis);
- dyspeptic manifestations such as heartburn, epigastric pain, sour belching, discomfort after drinking coffee, alcohol, nicotine, dietary errors and taking a number of drugs.
Does Gastal help with nausea? This condition eliminates this condition only if it is associated with diseases of the digestive tract.
Contraindications
Now you know that Gastal helps with nausea only in special cases. However, before taking this drug, you should know that it has a number of the following contraindications:
- renal failure (severe forms);
- hypersensitivity to compounds of aluminum, magnesium or other constituent components;
- children's age up to six years;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- hypophosphatemia;
- diseases associated with impaired lactose metabolism.
It should also be noted that this remedy is prescribed with caution in case of chronic kidney failure, children 6-12 years old, adults and adolescents from 12 years old weighing less than 50 kg.
The drug "Gastal": instructions for use
What helps this medication, we told above.
According to the instructions, the product in question is intended for resorption in the amount of 1-2 tablets 4 or 5 times a day 60 minutes after the meal and before bedtime. The highest dosage of this drug per day is 8 tablets, and the duration of administration is no more than two weeks.
With heartburn, this medication must be taken regardless of the meal in similar doses.
For children aged 6-12 years, as well as adults and toddlers from 12 years old with a weight of less than 50 kg, this medicine must be consumed in half the dose (from the standard). In this case, the course of therapy should also not be more than two weeks.
In people with chronic kidney disease, dose and dose adjustment are not required.
Negative consequences
When taking Gastal resorption tablets, patients may experience:
- constipation, discoloration of feces;
- nausea, urticaria;
- diarrhea, itching, vomiting, dermatitis;
- anaphylaxis and Quincke's edema.
As a rule, the use of the medication in recommended dosages does not cause the mentioned side effects.
With prolonged administration of the drug in high doses, the concentration of phosphorus in the body may decrease, osteomalacia, decalcification processes in bone tissues may increase, and hyperaluminemia and hypermagnesemia may occur.
In people with kidney disease, with the use of this drug, plasma concentrations of magnesium and aluminum increase. Often this leads to the development of dementia and encephalopathy.
Special recommendations
The use of this drug in large doses can cause intestinal obstruction. If, after treatment, the patient's body weight decreases, there is constant discomfort in the abdomen and the swallowing process is difficult, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is highly recommended not to use the medication in question for more than two consecutive weeks without a doctor's prescription.
Reviews about the drug
The overwhelming majority of reviews on Gastal tablets are positive. Consumers claim that this medicine is good at eliminating heartburn and other unpleasant problems that are associated with diseases of the digestive system. The main advantages of this drug are speed of action, pleasant taste and long-lasting effect.