Fever (fever) is most often observed when an inflammatory process occurs in the body. The symptom is accompanied by a number of unpleasant sensations: body aches, chills, headache. To eliminate them, you first need to bring the temperature indicators back to normal. That is why every home medicine cabinet should always have an effective antipyretic. One of the safest drugs is considered "Efferalgan." The instruction positions it as a pain reliever and fever-reducing medicine. Let's consider in more detail who this medicine is suitable for, in what forms it is released and how to use it correctly.
Description of the drug
When pathogenic pathogens enter the body, which can cause an inflammatory process, the body temperature rises. This is a kind of protective reaction of the immune system to a stimulus. In this case, interferon begins to be produced. The substance is a protein molecule that can fight bacteria and viruses. This process starts only when the body temperature rises to 38 ° C. If the numbers on the thermometer continue to grow, it is necessary to resort to the help of antipyretic drugs.
Efferalgan will help eliminate the symptoms of fever and relieve the condition. The instruction describes in detail the mechanism of action of this medication and the features of its use for the treatment of patients of all age categories. The drug is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb in France. The cost of Efferalgan depends on the form of release and ranges from 70-150 rubles.
In what forms is it produced?
The manufacturer made sure that everyone could choose a convenient form of medication for use. On sale you can find the drug "Efferalgan" in syrup, suppositories and in the form of effervescent tablets.
In pediatric practice, an antipyretic agent in the form of a syrup is often used. The manufacturer prepares it in 90 ml bottles. The liquid has a yellow-brown color and a viscous consistency.
Candles "Efferalgan" are intended for rectal administration. Suppositories are white in color, smooth to the touch. On blisters they are placed in 5 or 10 pieces.
The effervescent tablets are round in shape, have a white color, beveled edges and a notch on one side. When it enters water, gas bubbles are actively released.
Structure
In all forms of release, paracetamol is used as the active ingredient. This substance belongs to antipyretic analgesics and has pronounced antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. After ingestion, paracetamol begins to be rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract and distributed to the tissues and fluids of the system.
One tablet contains 500 mg of active substance. Suppositories are available in doses of 80, 150 and 300 mg of paracetamol. 100 g of syrup accounts for 3 g of the active antipyretic component. Various auxiliary components complement the composition of Efferalgan: macrogol 6000, povidone, sodium benzoate and saccharinate, anhydrous sodium carbonate, anhydrous citric acid, flavorings. In the composition of suppositories, in addition to paracetamol, there are semi-synthetic acylglycerols.
How does it work?
The mechanism of action of the drug is due to its composition. The active substance, paracetamol, blocks cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (enzymes) in the central nervous system, and affects the centers of heat regulation and pain. The active substance does not affect the formation of prostaglandins in peripheral tissues. This explains the inability of paracetamol to affect the water-electrolyte balance, the mucous surface of the digestive tract.
The instruction of "Efferalgan" suggests that the medication has analgesic, antipyretic and less pronounced anti-inflammatory properties (in rectal suppositories).
Indications for appointment
It should be remembered that experts recommend starting antipyretic medications only in cases where the temperature has risen to 38.5 degrees in children and 39 degrees in adult patients.
Use the drug "Efferalgan" in the following cases:
- at high temperature against a cold and acute respiratory ailments;
- with teething in babies of the first year of life;
- with infectious and inflammatory pathologies accompanied by fever, headache, chills;
- with a pain syndrome of a neurological nature;
- with an increase in temperature after vaccination;
- for pain caused by injuries and burns.
Syrup for babies
Children suffer from respiratory ailments more often than adults. Almost always, the pathological condition in babies is accompanied by a change in the normal indicators of body temperature in a big way. You should not worry about this, because this is a normal reaction of the body. It is only necessary to start taking Efferalgan by temperature only when the thermometer shows 38.5 ° C.
The drug is considered one of the safest for children and can be used from the first month of a child's life. For infants, the medicine is often recommended to be given during teething in order to reduce the severity of pain.
Syrup "Efferalgan" has a pleasant taste and aroma. Such a medicine the baby will take with pleasure. In the kit, a small measuring spoon is attached to each bottle, with which you can measure the required amount of the drug with high accuracy.
The syrup manufacturer recommends using as an anesthetic and antipyretic medicine for influenza, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute respiratory ailments. It will be effective for muscle pain, neuralgia.
How to apply?
With oral administration of an antipyretic medicine, it is extremely important to observe the dosage indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions. "Efferalgan" should be given to the child every 4-6 hours. The dose is calculated depending on the weight of the baby. For every kilogram, 10 mg of the active substance. The maximum daily dose is 60 mg per 1 kg of weight.
Candles
“Efferalgan” for children in suppositories should be used for severe pain and high body temperature against the background of the inflammatory process in the body. According to the instructions, suppositories with paracetamol in the composition are prescribed in the complex treatment of symptoms of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, and infectious diseases. Antipyretic suppositories are often used in cases where the child cannot take the syrup or has a tendency to allergic reactions. Candles begin to act within half an hour after insertion into the rectum.
The huge advantage of the drug in this form is that the substances in the composition do not adversely affect the sensitive digestive system and do not irritate the mucous membrane. The therapeutic effect of suppositories lasts longer than after taking the drug in liquid form.
Method of application, dosage
The dosage of candles "Efferalgan" is also calculated according to the age of the baby. A single dose for children from 1 to 6 months is 30-60 mg. Children from 6 to 12 months are prescribed 60-120 mg of paracetamol. 120-250 mg - from 1 to 5 years. At an older age (from six years), a single dose is 250-500 mg.
Infants of the first year of life better tolerate the process of introducing suppositories from temperature. In order for the child to safely tolerate the manipulation, parents need to adhere to certain recommendations:
- Wash your hands before the procedure.
- The anus of the baby should be lubricated with baby oil.
- Carefully opening the cell with the candle, you need to slightly heat it in your hands.
- The child is laid on his back, slightly lifted legs and hold them with one hand.
- With their free hand they introduce a candle. In this case, you can feel a slight resistance to the baby.
- After the introduction of the candle, you need to briefly squeeze the buttocks.
Efferalgan for children in candles can be used no more than four times a day. The duration of treatment with the drug at high temperature against the background of infectious and inflammatory ailments is 3 days.
Recommendations for the use of effervescent tablets
With mild to moderate pain, fever, migraine, the drug in the form of tablets intended for dissolution in water will help to relieve the condition significantly. According to the annotation Efferalgan effervescent tablets can be used by patients older than 15 years.
The antipyretic tablet is dissolved in 200 ml of pure water before use. The interval between doses of paracetamol-based products should be at least 4 hours. You can take 1-2 tablets at a time. The maximum number of pills per day is 8 pieces.
Patients suffering from impaired renal function, the dosage of the drug must be reduced. You can take Efferalgan (effervescent tablets) for five days to relieve pain, and no more than 3 consecutive days at elevated temperatures.
Contraindications and side effects
In the form of a syrup, the medication is not prescribed for severe pathologies of the liver, kidneys and circulatory system, with a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (for any form of the drug). The medicine will not work for babies under 1 month old and those who have intolerance to its components.
Effervescent tablets are not used to treat people suffering from chronic alcoholism, pregnant women (1 and 3 trimester) and lactating women, adolescents under 15 years of age.
Instructions "Efferalgana" warns of the risk of side effects in the form of diarrhea, abdominal pain, itching, rashes, anemia, thrombocytopenia.
Does the drug help?
Antipyretic and analgesic medication based on paracetamol completely copes with the task and really helps to quickly normalize body temperature. At the same time, it should be remembered that such a medication can only affect some symptoms of the inflammatory process and does not affect the causes of its development.
Reviews "Efferalgan" from parents of babies receives only positive. The tool in the form of suppositories and syrup effectively reduces the fever in various colds and viral pathologies.