Weakened immunity can lead to many unpleasant health problems. For example, the appearance of frequent colds. As a rule, it is recommended to carry out many preventive measures to strengthen it - taking vitamins, hardening, etc. However, sometimes medications are also prescribed to maintain health. For example, as an immunostimulating agent, specialists often prescribe tablets or syrup "Isoprinosine". The instructions, reviews and opinions of doctors about this medicine, as well as its analogues, we will consider in this article.
Indications for use
As a rule, doctors prescribe this drug as part of complex therapy for the treatment of infectious and viral diseases. Once in the body, it helps to restore the function of lymphocytes, which also support human health. Instructions for use "Isoprinosine" indicates that specialists can prescribe this drug for the following diseases:
- frequent or constantly recurring colds and SARS;
- sexually transmitted infections, such as genital herpes or other types of the disease that cause all types of Herpes simplex virus;
- measles, if it proceeds in an extremely severe form and can endanger the life of the patient;
- chicken pox or shingles - serious diseases, accompanied by abscesses on the skin, which bring severe pain;
- papilloma virus, especially if they appear on the larynx, vocal cords or genitals of the patient;
- warts on the skin - prescribed as a prophylaxis of their appearance after removal;
- molluscum contagiosum is another serious viral disease most commonly found in children under 10 years old.
Release form and composition
Instructions "Isoprinosine" indicates that the drug may be in the form of tablets or syrup, which is most often used for use by young children. The pills are intended for use by adults. The tablets do not differ in their original appearance. These are biconvex pills having a slightly oblong shape. They are painted white, although sometimes they can have a slightly different shade. Each pill has a risk dividing it into two parts. Patients note that they emit a light, but unpleasant amine smell, reminiscent of the smell of stale fish.
The instructions for use of Isoprinosine also indicate that the main active ingredient of the drug is inosine pranobex. In this case, one tablet contains 500 mg of this component. To improve its action, wheat starch, magnesium stearate, povidol, and also mannitol are added to the composition of the drug. They act as auxiliary components and are contained in small amounts in a tablet.
According to the instructions, Izoprinosin tablets are available in cardboard packs. Pills are packed in convenient blisters of 10 pieces. In one pack can be 2, 3 and 5 of these blisters. The shelf life of this drug is 5 years, but it must be stored exclusively in a dry and cool place. The drug is manufactured by an Israeli pharmaceutical company. You can buy it at a pharmacy only with a prescription from your doctor.
Who should not be prescribed the drug?
Like any other medicine, this drug should be taken under the strict supervision of a specialist. However, doctors note that the drug does not have a very large number of contraindications, so it can be prescribed to a wide range of patients. Nevertheless, the Isoprinosine instruction (500 mg) recommends refusing treatment with this medication if the patient has the following diseases:
- urolithiasis of any severity, especially if the stones are of pronounced size;
- individual intolerance to any component of the drug;
- chronic kidney diseases, including renal failure, since the drug is excreted from the body with the help of this organ;
- heart rhythm disturbances, i.e. arrhythmia diagnosed by a doctor;
- gout or any other pathology of the body associated with a serious metabolic disorder.
Feasible side effects
Instructions for use "Isoprinosine" (500 mg) indicates that the drug has a large number of side effects, but in practice they occur only in a small percentage of patients taking the drug. However, before you start taking it, it is still recommended to familiarize yourself with them, so that if you detect suspicious symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. In this case, the specialist will either change the dosage, or even advise you to refuse treatment with the drug.
So, the following possible side effects are listed in the Isoprinosin Instruction:
- Nausea, passing into vomiting, and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Quite often, pain appears in the left side under the ribs. Symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation are much less commonly diagnosed.
- Headache and slight dizziness, onset of weakness. Sometimes patients may complain of too much drowsiness, or of prolonged insomnia.
- Severe itching - often occurs in practice (up to 10% of patients). Some of the people who used the product comb their skin, which only worsens their condition.
- A significant increase in urine formation in the body, which in practice is manifested by frequent trips to the toilet.
- Joint pain, which appears if the patient still takes the drug if he has gout.
Also, the instruction "Isoprinosine" indicates possible manifestations of malfunctions in the liver, which causes the use of the drug. In practice, patients can’t feel this side effect, but it can be detected by passing tests. An increase in the amount of urea and alkaline phosphatase in blood plasma is noted. However, after stopping the medication, the indicators quickly return to normal.
"Isoprinosine": instructions for use
To achieve the maximum positive effect from the use of the drug, you need to use it, strictly following the instructions of your doctor. Do not reduce or increase the dosage of your own free will. The drug is recommended to be taken strictly after a meal with a tablet or syrup with a small amount of drinking water. In this case, you can not drink pills with juice, tea or coffee, as well as carbonated drinks.
As a rule, doctors prescribe a standard dosage for both children and adults. The instructions for use of Isoprinosine indicate that patients over 18 years of age should take tablets 3-4 times a day. In this case, the exact amount of the drug depends on the weight of the patient (50 mg of active substance per 1 kg), that is, approximately 6-8 tablets per day. The dosage may be increased if the patient suffers from a serious infectious disease. In this case, the dose is doubled (100 mg of active substance per 1 kg), and tablets are taken 4-6 times a day. However, taking such a large amount of the drug should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician.
For adults, "Isoprinosine" instruction recommends using until the clinical symptoms of the disease completely disappear, as well as two more days for additional prevention. It is worth noting that the doctor, at her discretion, can extend the appointment if she considers it appropriate.
For the treatment of recurrent infectious or chronic diseases, the dosage is reduced to 500 mg per day, that is, the patient takes only 1-2 tablets per day. However, the course of admission is increased to one month. Dosage may also depend on the specific type of pathology. So, with the papilloma virus and cervical dysplasia, you can prescribe the drug in ten-day courses. The patient should take 2-3 tablets per day. In total, such courses should be held at least 2-3 times in a row.
At the same time, for both adults and children, the instructions for the use of Isoprinosine recommends conducting routine examinations with constant use of the drug. For example, after two weeks of using the drug, the patient is sent to take a urine and blood test in order to detect an increase in the concentration of uric acid in time. With continuous use for several months every 30 days, it is recommended to examine the liver.
Consequences of an overdose
As mentioned above, you need to take the drug, strictly following the dosage prescribed by your doctor. If you use an insufficient number of tablets, then there will be no positive effect from its intake. At the same time, the instructions for use of Isoprinosine say that there have been no cases of overdose in practice. However, this does not mean that the number of tablets used can be arbitrarily increased. If you still think that you have significantly increased the dosage, then you should consult a doctor before any symptoms appear. When they appear, all the more it is not worth putting off a trip to a specialist, especially if a small child or a pregnant woman suffers from malaise.
Taking the drug in young children
Often this medicine is prescribed for young children suffering from frequent colds. What do parents need to know before taking the medicine? Firstly, the children are advised to take Isoprinosine in a reduced dosage. So, babies are prescribed half a tablet for every 5 kg of weight per day. Secondly, children under three years of age do not prescribe the drug in pills, because it will be difficult for them to swallow them whole. Instead, a syrup of similar composition is prescribed. It is also not recommended to take pills if the weight of the child does not exceed 15-20 kg. In this case, the drug should be prescribed only by a pediatrician, it is strictly forbidden to take it voluntarily, since it can harm the kidneys of the child.
Can pregnant women use the drug?
Pregnancy is an extremely important stage in the life of any woman, during which close attention is paid to taking medications, because they can seriously affect the development of the fetus and even cause a miscarriage. Instructions for use "Isoprinosine" does not recommend taking the drug during this period. Experts have not yet fully studied the effect that tablets refuse on a baby developing in the womb. Therefore, if treatment is necessary, doctors usually prescribe a more gentle means. The safety of using the medicine during lactation has not been proven, so during this period, you should also refuse to take it.
What does the Isoprinosine instruction say about interacting with other drugs?
As a rule, before prescribing any drug, the attending physician is always interested in what other means the patient is taking. After all, the simultaneous use of incompatible medications can not only reduce the positive effect of treatment, but also seriously harm the body. Therefore, it is important to tell your therapist about all drugs used.
However, both the tablets and the syrup "Isoprinosine" the instructions for use are called a completely loyal remedy. Since they can be taken with many types of drugs. The exception, perhaps, is only immunosuppressants, due to the fact that they have the exact opposite effect, suppressing the immune system, and not improving it. Accordingly, with the simultaneous administration, the effectiveness of both drugs will be reduced to zero. With caution, you need to use the medicine along with diuretics and other uricosuric agents, since they will further increase the formation of urine in the body. Because of this, a double load will be applied to the kidneys.
Otherwise, the drug does not affect the body in any way, including it does not inhibit the patient’s nervous system. Therefore, even with prolonged admission, a person can freely engage in intellectual activity, drive a vehicle.
The main analogues of the drug
Any immunostimulating drug should be used under the strict supervision of a doctor and it is forbidden to replace it at will with a similar remedy. This is reminded by the instruction. There are many analogues of Isoprinosine with a similar effect. However, only one drug has in its composition the same active substance - Groprinosin. This remedy is also available in tablets, which contain 500 mg of inosine pranobex each. It has similar contraindications and almost similar side effects. It is also forbidden to take pregnant and lactating women, as well as patients suffering from acute liver failure. However, there is a high probability of unpleasant symptoms in case of an overdose. In this case, doctors prescribe a comprehensive treatment, including gastric lavage. Sometimes patients complained of the appearance of headaches and dizziness while driving a vehicle.
And although both drugs have an almost identical composition, side effects, contraindications and instructions for use, the analogue of Isoprinosine has a lower cost and a shorter shelf life. Both drugs are sold only on prescription, so replacing one remedy with another without notifying the doctor will fail.
Positive pills reviews
"Isoprinosine" is a rather expensive and potent drug, so many patients are in a hurry to get acquainted with reviews of other people who have already been treated with this drug before taking it. They help to find out how this tool in practice corresponds to the description provided in the instructions for use. It is worth noting that the reviews "Isoprinosine" often receives positive, although patients note that he also has shortcomings. However, in general, the drug has a very effective effect on the body, helps to fight viruses and infections in a short time.
Patients note that pills are especially good at papilloma virus. Already 14 days after the start of administration, these unpleasant rashes disappear, leaving no scars and scars. Its multifunctionality is also indicated as an advantage: with the help of the drug, completely different infections and viruses can be cured at the same time. Parents also note that the drug is well tolerated by young children. It is sometimes prescribed to strengthen the immunity of the child, and after the course of admission, the child really gets sick much less often.
Negative patient feedback
Of course, Isoprinosine cannot be called an ideal medicine. Patients say that with all its effectiveness, they found many shortcomings. Because of them, treatment with the drug can hardly be called pleasant. Firstly, they note a very uncomfortable form of tablets, which some patients found it difficult to swallow without chewing. For young children, this completely became an impossible task, so the parents broke the pills, despite the instructions of the attending physician. The unpleasant odor emanating from the tablets and their bitter taste are two other serious shortcomings that patients note. After taking the drug, in their opinion, an unpleasant aftertaste remains in the mouth for a long time.
Of course, patients are sure to mention the high cost of pills. Packaging (20 pieces) will cost about 600-700 rubles. The course of admission can last several weeks, while sometimes you need to take 3-4 tablets per day. That is, you will have to purchase several packs at once, which can seriously hit the patient’s budget.
Quite rarely there are reviews about the occurrence of adverse or allergic reactions. This indicates the safety of the product, but it is impossible to exclude their possibility. Thus, we examined in detail the drug "Isoprinosine", instructions and reviews. For children and adults, it is an effective remedy for infectious diseases, but it should only be used under the strict supervision of your doctor.