Many drugs are available in a special (pediatric) form. Such drugs always have a lower dosage, they differ in the way they are used. Medicines intended for children undergo more thorough research before entering the pharmacological market. Therefore, they are approved for use in children when the adult form of the drug is prohibited. In today's article we will talk about one of those. You will learn what “Galazolin" (for children) is. How to take the drug, how it helps, and in which cases it should not be used - everything will be described later. You will learn the features of the medicine and be able to read reviews about it.
Description of the drug and its release form: preliminary description
"Galazolin" for children is a vasoconstrictor medicine used to treat and prevent ENT diseases. The medication is available in various forms: for adult patients and children. Such preparations are distinguished only by the dosage of the active substance, which is xylometazoline. In the product for children, the concentration of this component is 0.05%. The children's form of the medicine, in turn, is divided into two more types: drops and gel. Both drugs have nasal use.
The composition of the drops includes additional substances: sodium hydrogen phosphate and dihydrogen phosphate, disodium edetate, sodium chloride, sorbitol, benzalkonium chloride and water. The medicine is produced in a plastic bottle of 10 milliliters. The price of such a medicine is not more than 50 rubles per package. Agree, inexpensive? The gel has other characteristics. It contains the same additional ingredients as in the drops, but glycerol and hyetellose are also present. You can buy 10 grams of medication at a price of about 150 rubles. The drug "Galazolin" (for children) in any form is sold without a prescription.
Drug action
The medicine "Galazolin" (for children) is described by the instructions as a vasoconstrictor, antiallergic and decongestant. The drug owes its action to the main component: xylometazoline. The medication refers to alpha-adrenergic agonists. It begins to act immediately after administration and remains effective for several hours (usually from 4 to 12).
Drops and gel contribute to the narrowing of blood vessels, thereby eliminating swelling of the nasal mucosa. Also, the medication reduces the amount of secretion secreted. Due to this, breathing is facilitated, and the patient feels much better. The medication with nasal use is able to have the same effect on the auditory canals, Eustachian tubes.
The need for use in pediatrics: what helps the medication from?
In what situations does the drug “Galazolin” (for children) recommend use? The annotation says that the medicine is used for treatment and prevention in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Indications for the use of the drug in children are the following situations:
- viral and bacterial rhinitis (for symptomatic therapy);
- allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (for the purpose of emergency relief of symptoms);
- sinusitis and sinusitis;
- otitis media and eustachitis.
A vasoconstrictor may be prescribed to prepare for diagnostic and surgical interventions when it is necessary to remove the natural swelling of the nasal cavity. In adult patients, the tool "Galazolin" is used for the same reasons.
Contraindications for children
It is forbidden to use the medicine “Galazolin” (for children or adults - it doesn’t matter) with increased sensitivity to its components. The medicine is also not used (in any form) for children under two years of age. Infants nasal gel and drops are strictly contraindicated. In the child’s form (considered), the medicine is prescribed from 2 years old, and an adult medication is permissible only after 6. The following situations will be contraindications to treatment:
- glaucoma and intraocular pressure;
- hypertension or a high probability of its occurrence;
- atrophic and drug rhinitis;
- atherosclerosis;
- tachycardia and hyperthyroidism;
- diabetes.
How to use drops
How to use "Galazolin" (for children)? The description of the drug indicates that the medication has a hole through which drops come. To enter the solution into the nose, you need to turn the vial over and lightly press it. Be sure to monitor the amount of drug released so that there is no overdose.
- For children aged 2 to 6 years, the drug is prescribed 1 dose in each nostril. It is permissible to repeat the manipulation no more than twice a day.
- For children from 6 years old, “Galazolin" for children is administered two drops three times. At this age, you can replace the drug with an adult form and use one drop three times a day.
The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor individually. In many ways, it depends on the symptoms. Instructions for use do not recommend the use of children's "Galazolin" for more than three consecutive days.
Gel application
How to use "Galazolin" (children's gel)? This medicine is also administered nasally. He is not assigned to children under three years of age. From this age to 12 years, the drug is used in one dose. You can repeat the manipulation every 8-10 hours. No more than three administrations are allowed per day. One dose is in the strip of gel that appears after a single click on the tube.
Children from 12 years old can use the drug in adult form or double the amount of children's medicine. The duration of therapy with this medication is 3-5 days. If necessary, the doctor can extend this period, but it is forbidden to use the medicine for more than two weeks without a break.
Children's "Galazolin" during pregnancy: pros and cons
Can expectant mothers use this form of medication? It is definitely impossible to answer this question. Doctors are considering two options for action. We learn about them in more detail.
Do not use the described medicine during pregnancy, as it can have a negative effect on the condition of the expectant mother. The medication increases pressure, due to which edema appears, tachycardia occurs. All this is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous during pregnancy. Doctors strongly do not recommend expectant mothers to use the medicine "Galazolin" also because it is quickly addictive. The medication, according to the instructions, is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
Despite all the limitations, in some cases the described drug cannot be dispensed with. If the condition of the pregnant woman is such that nasal breathing is completely blocked, she is forced to breathe through her mouth, then the medication is prescribed. Doctors say that in such cases, the risk of fetal hypoxia is increased, since the expectant mother lacks oxygen. Doctors prefer to prescribe a medicine in the form of a gel (for children) for no more than three days. Drops are less commonly prescribed. It is worthwhile to carefully monitor the patient's condition during the treatment period.
Side effects resulting from the use of the drug
It is known that the drug "Galazolin" (drops) can be addictive. Children's medicine was no exception. If you use the medicine in large volumes and more than five days, then drug rhinitis develops. In this case, the drops will continue to be effective. With their use, the nasal mucosa returns to normal. If you abandon the medicine, then the edema persists. Subsequently, the patient's condition worsens, atrophic rhinitis develops . All this is very dangerous, and in especially severe cases a person needs surgical treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly observe the doses and terms of use established by the doctor or instruction.
Side effects can also include a feeling of dryness and burning in the nose. These symptoms resolve on their own within a few seconds. The drug can cause allergies, tachycardia, hypertension, headache. In these cases, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Galazolin (for children): reviews
Opinions forming about this medicine vary. Most consumers who use the medicine according to the instructions are satisfied. They say that the medication effectively eliminates nasal congestion, reduces the number of snot. If you urgently need to get in shape with a bad cold, then Galazolin will be an indispensable medicine. It is important to remember that drops in the nose and gel are intended for symptomatic therapy. They facilitate the course of the disease, but do not affect its cause.
Negative reviews of drops of "Galazolin" is also there. They are often supported by the presence of an allergic reaction. If you have one, then you should remember the following: in the future, any means based on xylometazoline are contraindicated for you. Not a single patient reports on the ineffectiveness of the drug. The medicine always works, but in some cases it can cause unpleasant reactions. Side effects that occur during treatment are already known to you.
Summarize
From the article you could learn about an effective nasal medication that relieves the symptoms of rhinitis. The medicine is also used for inflammation of the auditory canals as an additional tool. Before using the drug, be sure to read the instructions. Do not blindly trust positive reviews, because the body of each person is individual. The use of a child's form of the drug reduces the likelihood of adverse reactions, since in such a tool is half the active substance. Before starting therapy, be sure to consult your doctor. Breathe freely and do not hurt!