What is the drug "Albarel"? Instructions for use and a description of this medication will be discussed below. We will also tell you about the form in which this drug is produced, how it is remarkable, how patients respond about it.
Composition, description, form
In what form is the medication in question made? What does the instructions for use say about this? "Albarel" is a round, biconvex tablet of white color, which have the same engraving on both sides in the form of the "H" sign.
The medicine is packaged in blisters of 10 pieces and a cardboard pack, respectively.
What is included in the drug "Albarel"? Instructions for use informs that the active element of this tool is rilmenidine. It also consists of inactive auxiliary ingredients in the form of sodium carboxymethyl starch, MCC, solid paraffin, lactose, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silicon dioxide, talc and beeswax.
Pharmacology
What is the mentioned drug? What does the instructions for use say about this? "Albarel" is an antihypertensive agent, as well as a derivative of oxazoline.
After use, the medication interacts with the imidazoline receptors of peripheral and cortical vasomotor centers, including renal centers. The interaction of rilmenidine with these elements contributes to the inhibition of the sympathomimetic activity of peripheral and cortical centers, which ultimately leads to a decrease in blood pressure.
Drug features
The drug "Albarel", analogues, the instructions for use of which are presented below, has a hypotensive effect (depending on the dosage taken) on diastolic and systolic blood pressure in a standing or lying position. It has been proven that the administration of this medicine in therapeutic doses (i.e. 1 or 2 mg per day) is effective in the treatment of moderate and mild arterial hypertension.
According to experts, the effect of this tool persists throughout the day. Moreover, it is especially effective during physical exertion.
Prolonged use of the drug is not addictive.
Drug properties
What is remarkable for such a tool as Albarel? Instructions for use, reviews of specialists say that taking this medicine in therapeutic doses does not affect the functioning of the heart, nor does it cause water and sodium retention in the body and does not upset the metabolic balance.
This drug reduces OPSS without any changes in cardiac output. It should also be noted that electrophysiological indices and myocardial contractility while taking this medication remain unchanged.
The antihypertensive drug in question does not cause orthostatic hypotension (including the elderly), does not affect the renal blood flow, does not interfere with the physiological (compensatory) heart rate response to physical activity, and also does not affect fat and carbohydrate metabolism, filtration fraction and glomerular filtration.
Kinetics
Are Albarel tablets absorbed? The instructions for use states that the drug is completely and very quickly absorbed from the intestine. After taking a single dose of the drug, its highest plasma concentration is observed after 2 hours.
The absolute bioavailability of the drug is 100%. It should also be noted that it does not undergo the first passage through the liver.
The patient's equilibrium state is established only from the 3rd day of regular intake of tablets. In people with arterial hypertension who have been treated for several years, the plasma concentration of the drug remains stable.
This medication is excreted in breast milk. Its metabolites are found in urine only in trace amounts. The half-life of the drug is about 8 hours. This period does not change even with repeated prescription of tablets.
Indications
In what cases is the drug in question prescribed to patients? What does the instructions for use say about this? "Albarel" is an antihypertensive drug that is actively used for arterial hypertension.
Prohibitions for appointment
The use of the drug "Albarel" is prohibited when:
- pregnancy
- severe depression;
- renal failure (severe);
- breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity to rilmenidine or other components of the drug.
It should also be noted that this medicine is not used in pediatric practice.
Tablets "Albarel": instructions for use
Treatment with this drug should only begin after consulting a doctor. If the patient does not have the opportunity to consult a doctor, then carefully take the instructions carefully before taking the medicine. According to her, to achieve the desired effect, the patient just needs to take one tablet before breakfast. If such a dosage of "Albarel" did not improve the patient's condition, then it is increased to 2 tablets per day (taken on the eve of breakfast and dinner).
The treatment under consideration is a long one.
Despite the fact that the withdrawal of this medication usually does not cause side effects, discontinuation of therapy should occur gradually, with a smooth dose reduction.
Side effects
What adverse reactions does the antihypertensive agent in question cause? What does the instructions for use state about this? "Albarel" can provoke such undesirable effects as:
- palpitations, orthostatic hypotension, the effect of cold limbs (in isolated cases);
- asthenia, increased fatigue when performing physical exercises, drowsiness, anxiety, insomnia or depression, convulsions (in isolated cases);
- nausea, epigastric pain, constipation, dry mouth, diarrhea;
- itching, skin rash.
It should be noted that while taking this medicine, some patients had peripheral edema, hot flashes and sexual dysfunction.
Overdose
What will happen with the use of a large number of tablets "Albarel"? Instructions for use, doses of this agent were presented above. If the latter is exceeded, the patient may develop severe arterial hypotension and various mental disorders. In this case, the victim is prescribed gastric lavage and sympathomimetic therapy is performed.
Interaction with other drugs
It is highly recommended not to take Albarel tablets with alcoholic beverages and MAO inhibitors. Also, experts revealed the following manifestations of the drug interaction of the drug in question:
- with diuretics, vasodilators and antihistamines, the effect of the drug is potentiated;
- with tricyclic antidepressants, a decrease in the antihypertensive effect of the drug is noted;
- with drugs that inhibit the action of the central nervous system, increased drowsiness is observed.
Special information
If the drug is used by people who have recently suffered a stroke or myocardial infarction, they need constant medical supervision.
Due to the good tolerance of the Albarel tablets, they can be prescribed to elderly patients, as well as patients with diabetes mellitus.
If you want to stop treatment, then the dosage of the drug must be reduced gradually. It should be remembered that in most cases, the abolition of the medication is not accompanied by any side effects.
It is forbidden to prescribe "Albarel" simultaneously with MAO inhibitors and alcohol-containing products.
Clinical information about the effectiveness and safety of the drug in children and minors is not enough. In this regard, this drug should not be prescribed in this category of patients.
In therapeutic doses, "Albarel" has no effect on the psychomotor reactions of a person. If the drug was taken in large quantities or together with drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, then in this case the patient is forbidden to drive a car, as well as engage in other dangerous activities.
Analogs and reviews
There are not very many analogues in this drug. Among the most accessible and most popular can be noted "Tenaxum". This medication is also an antihypertensive agent belonging to the group of oxazolines. It has a similar list of contraindications and adverse reactions, but is more expensive.
As for patient reviews about this drug, they are not numerous. Like doctors, consumers argue that this is a very effective tool designed to eliminate hypertension. Also, the advantages of the medication include its long-term therapeutic effect, including during physical exertion.