Sofradex is a topical preparation for the elimination of otolaryngological diseases. The medication has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
Structure
According to the instructions, Sofradex is made in the form of drops, which are intended for instillation of the eyes and ears. The solution is limited to a bottle of dark glass with a volume of five milliliters; a dropper and dropper are included.
The main active components of Sofradex are:
- Framycetin sulfate.
- Gramicidin.
- Dexamethasone.
As additional trace elements of the drug are:
- lithium chloride;
- sodium citrate;
- citric acid monohydrate;
- ethanol;
- water.
Indications
According to the instructions to Sofradeks, drops in the ears and eyes must be used to eliminate the following conditions and diseases:
- Blepharitis (bilateral recurrent inflammation of the ciliary edge of the eyelids).
- Conjunctivitis (inflammatory lesion of the conjunctiva - mucous membrane).
- Iridocyclitis or anterior uveitis (inflammation of the iris and ciliary body of the eyeball).
- Keratitis (an inflammatory process of the cornea of the eye, manifested mainly by its clouding, ulceration, pain and redness of the protein).
- Scleritis (an inflammatory process that affects the entire thickness of the outer connective tissue membrane of the eyeball).
- Eyelid skin eczema (an inflammatory disease that affects the skin of the eyelids).
- Otitis of infectious etiology (acute or chronic inflammation in various parts of the ear).
Contraindications
Before starting therapy, it is important to thoroughly study the instructions for Sofradex (ear drops), since the drug has several limitations for use:
- Individual intolerance to the substances of the drug.
- Damage to the eyes and ear of viral and fungal origin.
- Tuberculosis (an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria).
- Trachoma (a chronic infectious disease of the eye caused by chlamydia and characterized by lesions of the conjunctiva and cornea with the result in scarring of the conjunctiva, cartilage of the eyelids and complete blindness).
- Damage to the mucous membrane of the visual organ.
- Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eye, which provokes mainly its clouding, pain and redness).
- Glaucoma (a disease of the visual organ that is characterized by a periodic or constant increase in intraocular pressure).
- Perforation of the tympanic membrane (a condition in which there is a violation of the integrity of the membrane).
- Pregnancy.
- Lactation.
- Kids up to two years old.
According to the instructions, Sofradex can be used for children of younger preschool age, but only with extreme caution, since prolonged and uncontrolled use of the medication can provoke the appearance of various negative reactions, in particular, from the adrenal glands.
Sofradex: instruction
Eye drops for lesions of the visual organ are used for topically. The dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor in a strictly individual order for each patient.
According to the instructions, it is known that with the inflammatory process and eye infection, the drug is instilled one or two drops into the cavity, which is located between the eyeball and the back of the eyelid (four times a day with an interval of six hours).
In the inflammatory process, Sofradex is dripped into the external auditory meatus two drops four times a day in the hearing organs. If necessary, you can moisten a cotton swab with a solution and insert into the affected ear canal for fifteen minutes.
According to the instructions for Sofradex drops, it is known that the duration of therapy is about one week, but if during this time a person has not noticed the healing process, then you need to contact a medical specialist again, maybe the diagnosis was made incorrectly.
Can Sofradex be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Since the drug is used topically, a small part of Sofradex is still absorbed into the bloodstream and can have a general effect on the patient’s body, especially if the drug is used for a long time. Women in an “interesting position” should not be given Sofradex therapy because there is no reliable information on the use of drops during pregnancy.
Since the main trace elements of the drug enter the bloodstream, they are also able to excrete with breast milk. As a result, Sofradex treatment is not recommended for lactation. If there is an urgent need for therapy with this medicine, then the nursing mother must stop breastfeeding.
Can I use drops for children with a cold? According to the instructions "Sofradeks" in the child’s nose is forbidden to drip. Some pediatric otolaryngologists have long known that the medicine copes well with a runny nose. Despite the fact that drops are recommended to be used only for the eyes and ears, in most situations you can bury them in a small patient in the nasal passages.
Side effects
As a rule, Sofradex is well tolerated by people. After applying the drops, patients with increased sensitivity may develop local negative reactions, for example:
- burning;
- irritation;
- pain syndrome;
- blurred vision.
These side effects are not hazardous to health and do not require termination of therapy, in most cases they disappear after fifteen minutes.
With prolonged use of the drug in patients, systemic side effects may occur:
- dullness of hearing;
- glaucoma;
- inflammation of the optic nerve;
- deterioration in visual acuity.
With the development of such reactions, a person must immediately consult a medical specialist.
Overdose
Poisoning with the drug, possibly when using Sofradex for longer than one week, as addiction to dexamethasone occurs. In this situation, one can observe an increase in the severity of negative reactions.
If these signs occur, the drug therapy is stopped and consulted by a medical specialist.
Interaction with other medicines
Sofradex is not recommended for use by patients at the same time as Monomycin, Gentamicin, and Streptomycin, since such an interaction has a bright toxic and nephrotoxic effect.
If drops are prescribed to a person in conjunction with other approved drugs (in the form of a solution) in the eyes or ears, it is important to maintain a gap between the procedures of at least ten minutes.
Features
When using Sofradex for more than ten days, the patient is more likely to experience superinfection as a result of the body getting used to the active trace elements of the drops.
Prolonged use of the drug in the organs of vision can provoke thinning of the cornea of the eye, which in most cases is the reason for its perforation. In addition, the use of a medicine in medical practice (ophthalmology) for more than ten days contributes to the formation of glaucoma.
With severe redness of the mucous cavity of the visual organ of unknown origin, it is not recommended to use drops until certain studies are carried out.
The structure of the medication includes the main active trace element, which belongs to the group of substances that cause toxic effects on the auditory organ and kidneys. The likelihood of using a negative lesion increases if the drug is instilled into open wounds.
When instilling drops of Sofradex, you should not touch the pipette with your fingers, as this leads to the multiplication of bacteria inside the bottle.
People who use the drug Sofradex to eliminate diseases of the visual organ need to refrain from driving, because after instillation of the medicine, blurred vision may occur for some time.
Medical experts consider the drug one of the most effective means in the treatment of otitis media. According to patients, it is Sofradex that contributes to the rapid elimination of the disease. People noted that ear drops began to work after the first instillation.
Storage conditions
Sofradex can be purchased at a pharmacy only with a doctor’s prescription. The medicine should be stored in a cool place, away from children. The shelf life of Sofradex is two years.
An open drug can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than twenty-eight days from the moment the bottle is opened. After this time, the droplets must be discarded.
When a precipitate is formed in solution, Sofradex is categorically not recommended for use, even if their shelf life is still in order.
Analogs
According to the instructions, Sofradex drops have the following substitute drugs, for example:
- Aurisan.
- "Garazon".
- Otipaks.
- Tsipromed.
- Otisol.
- Dexon.
- Galazolin.
- Otinum.
- Neladex.
Before changing the Sofradex analogue, the patient needs to consult a doctor. The cost of drops is 350 rubles.
Otipaks
Ear drops contain several active ingredients:
- lidocaine hydrochloride;
- phenazone.
The drug "Otipax" has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Lidocaine has a local anesthetic effect.
Otipax is used topically, instilling three to four drops in the external auditory canal two to three times a day. The bottle must be warmed in hands before use. The duration of therapy should be no longer than ten days, after which it is necessary to review the treatment (in the absence of positive dynamics).
The drug is dispensed from pharmacy points without a prescription. The cost of drops is 200 rubles.
Tsipromed
Eye and ear drops belong to the therapeutic group of antibacterial medicines for local use in ophthalmology. The drug is used to eliminate an infectious lesion of the visual organ, which is caused by bacteria sensitive to the main substance.
In its structure, Tsipromed contains ciprofloxacin, which belongs to the antibacterial medicines of the fluoroquinolone group. The medicine has a bactericidal effect.
After applying eye drops, the active trace element spreads to their mucous membranes, where it has a pharmacological effect. Ear drops are practically not absorbed.
The main medical contraindication for the use of Zipromed is pregnancy. In addition, the drug is not recommended for use during lactation. Before using Tsipromed, make sure that there are no prohibitions on the use.
Eye drops are for local topical use. They are buried in the cavity formed by the eyeball and the back of the eyelid of the affected eye. The regimen of instillation and dosing depend on the severity of the inflammatory process.
Use the medication exclusively to eliminate external lesions of the auditory or visual organ. Inside, taking drops is strictly prohibited. According to the instructions, you can drip drops in the nose with rhinitis. The standard dosage is two drops in the nose two to three times a day. In case of ear and eye diseases, the dosage of the solution depends on the type of disease and the patient's individual response to therapy. The cost of the drug is 160 rubles.
Otinum
The drug belongs to the therapeutic group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for external use. Otinum drops is used as a symptomatic treatment in otolaryngology.
After instillation of drops into the ear, the main active trace element has a local effect and is not absorbed into the bloodstream.
The use of ear drops is allowed to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process with damage to the middle and outer ear, eardrum. In addition, the drug is used to soften sulfur plugs before washing the ear canal. The cost of the medicine is 200 rubles.