A common symptom of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is heartburn, which can accompany ulcers, chronic gastritis, a hernia of the esophagus and other pathologies. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the abdomen and larynx. It is possible to get rid of unpleasant symptoms in a short time with the help of drug therapy. One of the best drugs in this case is considered "Festal". Does this medicine help or not with heartburn, what is its principle of action, contraindications and dosage - about all this further.
Heartburn sensation
Heartburn occurs when gastric juices enter the mucous membrane of the esophagus. This is possible only if the motility of the duodenum, esophagus and stomach is impaired, or when the lower sphincter of the esophagus is inadequately functioning. Irritation and burning of the mucous membrane occurs due to gastric juice, which contains acid, which provokes inflammatory processes. As a result of this, erosion and ulcers may form, bleeding may open. In severe cases, a rupture of the walls of the esophagus occurs. The sensation of heartburn in the throat can not only bring discomfort to everyday life, but also lead to the development of many gastrointestinal diseases.
Features of the appearance of heartburn
Heartburn is a chemical burn of the esophagus. According to medical statistics, 20-50% of the population of European countries suffer from this condition, 10-20% of them experience heartburn more than once a week. There is a predominant burning sensation in 15-20 minutes after eating, and sometimes it appears at night. This condition indicates that serious diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract develop in the body. Heartburn not only reduces the quality of life, but can also lead to serious consequences, for example, narrowing of the esophagus due to scarring of the tissue.
Causes of Heartburn
The main causes of this condition are:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, ulcer, gallstone disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease);
- eating too oily and spicy foods, coffee drinks, tea, fresh pastries and even chocolate;
- non-compliance with the diet;
- bad habits - alcohol abuse, smoking or frequent stressful situations;
- pregnancy period;
- overweight;
- frequent wearing of restrained movement of clothes.
Description of the drug
Today, "Festal" is considered a common broad-based drug. With heartburn, “Festal” will help to improve digestion, reduce gas production in the intestines, contribute to better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, E, K and fats, and also stimulates the formation of lipase by the pancreas.
"Festal" can be used in the complex treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in order to prepare the patient for various diagnostic procedures, as well as during the rehabilitation period after surgery. The most common reasons for using Festal are overeating, heartburn, food poisoning, and dyspepsia.
Mechanism of action
The drug begins to act in the small intestine. The enzymes contained in the "Festal" eliminate stagnation of food, while quickly and effectively breaking down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. All active substances restore the production of their own pancreatic enzymes. Please note that “Festal” has two important functions: it enhances the production of its own enzymes and replaces the lack of available ones.
With enzyme deficiency, disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract can occur, namely:
- pain after meals;
- stool disorder: constipation or diarrhea;
- gas production is significantly increased.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to take "Festal" for heartburn for those who have discovered an individual intolerance to the components of the drug. The drug is prohibited in cases where there is:
- tendency to diarrhea;
- hepatitis;
- cholelithiasis;
- acute pancreatitis;
- obstructive jaundice;
- hyperbilirubinemia;
- empyema of the gallbladder;
- intestinal obstruction;
- liver failure;
- hepatic coma.
Caution should be taken "Festal" for heartburn, pregnant women and women during lactation. This drug is contraindicated in children under the age of three years.
Side effects
With an overdose or with prolonged use of Festal, heartburn can cause an allergic reaction, which manifests itself in the form of sneezing, lacrimation and skin rashes. With severe allergies to the "Festal" anaphylactic shock, urticaria, or angioedema occurs. Also, when using the drug in high doses, in rare cases, such side effects may occur:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- pain in the abdomen;
- vomiting
- constipation;
- irritation of the oral mucosa.
If at least one of the above signs of an overdose is detected, it is worth stopping the drug. If necessary, consult your doctor.
Dosage and route of administration
"Festal" with heartburn is taken orally, without chewing, drinking a tablet with a small amount of water. Doctors advise taking the medicine immediately after eating. How much "Festal" with heartburn can I drink in one case or another? It is independently allowed to take the drug no more than three times a day for 1-2 tablets. In the event that a large dosage is needed, you should consult a doctor. If you plan to conduct an ultrasound examination, then it is allowed two days before the procedure to take two tablets 2-3 times a day. The duration of the course of taking "Festal" can be from several days to several months. This directly depends on the condition of the patient's gastrointestinal tract, nutritional errors and the need for continuous drug therapy.
Release form and composition
"Festal" is available in the form of dragees, which are coated with a milky shell. The shell consists of such natural components as:
- gelatin;
- Castor oil;
- talc;
- calcium carbonate;
- glycerol and others
One dragee contains in its composition such active substances: pancreatin, hemicellulose, bovine bile extract. In pharmacies in free sale you can find the drug for 20, 40, 60 and 100 tablets, which are packed in strips of aluminum foil for 10 tablets.
Important! Before buying a drug, it is mandatory to pay attention to its expiration date, which is indicated on the cardboard packaging. To purchase "Festal" should only be in certified pharmacies.
Pancreatin is a complex substance that is extracted from the pancreas of farm animals. Pancreatin contains enzymes such as lipase, protease, amylase. All of them in combination with each other are responsible for the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
Hemicellulase in the “Festal” for heartburn will help to ease the breakdown of plant fiber, which significantly reduces the emission of gases. Due to the content of bile in the preparation, the lipase reserves in the patient's gastrointestinal tract are replenished, fats are emulsified, which improves their absorption along with fat-soluble vitamins.
Storage conditions
The drug is recommended to be stored in a dry place inaccessible to children. The ambient temperature should not exceed +25 degrees. Shelf life - up to three years from the date of manufacture. After the expiration of the storage period "Festal" is forbidden to use.
Interaction with other drugs
In the case of drug therapy, you should know in advance how Festal interacts with other drugs. It is also necessary to remember that when used together with Festal of other drugs, there is an accelerated absorption of antibiotics, PASK and sulfonamides. It is also possible to reduce the absorption of iron preparations.
Note! Reducing the positive effects of Festal on the body can take medications based on calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide at the same time.
Festal and spirits
In the instructions for use, there is no clear indication that the drug should not be consumed with alcohol during feasts. However, doctors still do not recommend taking alcohol during treatment before or after taking the drug.
Please note that the drug contains a large amount of bile acid, which is inherently the strongest solvent. When combined with alcohol, a violation of the bile outflow begins to occur, which leads to the destruction of liver cells, that is, its corrosion by acids. A negative prognosis of this situation is inflammation of the tissues of the organ, after which hepatitis can form. In addition, allergic reactions to the enzyme medication are significantly exacerbated.
Doctors recommend taking "Festal" when using small doses of strong drinks only 6-9 hours after or 2-4 hours before the feast. With severe intoxication, the drug is not recommended for use.
"Festal" during pregnancy
Digestive system disorders quite often cause a lot of inconvenience in pregnant women. This is due to the constant desire to eat something sweet, salty, which can increase gas formation and heaviness in the digestive tract. To avoid this, doctors often prescribe a Festal.
What helps “Festal”, the instructions for use of which must be carefully studied before taking the drug, a qualified doctor will tell pregnant and lactating women. To avoid the appearance of an allergic reaction and increased gas exchange, it is worth restricting the use of the drug, as well as excluding from the diet:
- coffee drinks and tea;
- chocolate;
- fig.
With drug therapy based on Festal, foods rich in crude fiber, such as vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes, can be added to daily nutrition. Pregnants are allowed to take the drug no more than one dragee per day in case of severe flatulence.
Analogs
The following pharmacological effects and indications for use are the following drugs: Mezim, Panolez, Panzenorm, Gastenorm, Pancreatin, Biofestal. Many drugs may differ in composition, therefore, before replacing "Festal" for heartburn, you should consult your doctor.
Reviews
According to reviews, “Festal” is dispensed in pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. It is recommended before taking the drug, study the instructions, especially the effect of "Festal" and its contraindications. Patients note that the tool helps with overeating and in cases where there is heaviness in the stomach with an unbalanced diet.
According to reviews of Festal, heartburn is not the only indication for its use. The drug is prescribed by doctors with frequent bloating (flatulence), improves digestion, has a choleretic effect and contains much more enzymes than analogues.
Cost
To find out how much Festal costs, you can contact literally any pharmacy in the city for help. The price of a medicinal product ranges from 123 rubles for 20 pieces, from 230 rubles for 40 pieces and from 600 rubles for 100 pieces.
Does "Festal" help with heartburn? Of course, it helps, but provided that the dosage of the drug is agreed with the doctor in advance, because pain in the gastrointestinal tract, heartburn and severity may appear as symptoms of certain serious diseases. It is not recommended to conduct self-diagnosis and self-medication in case of heartburn and pain in the gastrointestinal tract. Of course, you can take “Festal” for heartburn, but remember that with an incorrect dosage of the drug, pathologies arise that will be difficult to cure.