There are situations during which you can not do without antidepressants. One of them is the drug "Elicea". The article will consider useful information about the tool and its analogues ("Cipralex", "Selectra"): instructions for use, price, reviews.
Basic information about the drug "Elicea"
As mentioned above, the medication belongs to the group of antidepressants. It is available in the form of tablets, which can be round or oval.
The main active ingredient of the drug is escitalopram. As auxiliary components, it contains lactose monohydrate, crospovidone, povidone K30, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose.
The product must be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. Shelf life is 2 years.
In pharmacies "Elicea", the price of which is about 1400 rubles, dispensed with a prescription.
Indications for use
In what cases can an Elice be appointed? The indications described in the instructions indicate that the tool is used for:
- Depression
- panic disorders (including those accompanied by agoraphobia).
Only a doctor can prescribe the use of the drug!
Contraindications
There are situations during which treatment with the antidepressant "Elicea" is prohibited. Instructions for use indicate the impossibility of taking the drug if the patient has:
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- carbohydrate metabolism disorders;
- lactase deficiency, galactosemia, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.
In addition, the drug cannot be used in combination with drugs containing pimozide, as well as in the treatment of MAO inhibitors.
The antidepressant "Elicea" is strictly prohibited for use during pregnancy, lactation, as well as in childhood.
special instructions
Treatment with this agent should be carried out with the utmost care if the patient has:
- diabetes mellitus;
- uncontrolled epilepsy medications;
- chronic renal failure;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- disorders of the heart;
- Depression with suicide attempts
- tendency to bleeding;
- a history of hypomania and mania.
Another important point: "Elice" and alcohol are incompatible! Therefore, it is worthwhile to refrain from its use, as well as from treatment with alcohol-containing drugs.
In addition, it is recommended to avoid performing work that requires a high concentration of attention, and driving, as the "Elice" (reviews of the host - proof of this) can cause dizziness, confusion, hallucinations and other side effects, which we will talk about later .
Application rules
Next, it’s worth talking about how to take the drug “Elicea” correctly and in what dosages. Instructions for use highlight several possible options.
In depressive episodes, the initial dose is 10 mg per day, but if necessary, it can be increased to 20 mg. The effect is usually achieved within a period of 2 to 4 weeks from the start of therapy. After the final disappearance of the symptoms of the disease, it is recommended to continue the therapy for at least another six months to consolidate the achieved result. Stop treatment with the drug for about 1-2 weeks, gradually reducing the dose. This is necessary in order to avoid the possible occurrence of withdrawal syndrome.
In the treatment of panic disorders, the initial dose is 5 mg per day, and from the second week of treatment increases to 10-20 mg. As a rule, the maximum effect can be achieved after three months of treatment.
For patients over 65 years of age, the maximum permitted daily dose is 5 mg.
For kidney disease, dosage adjustment is not required.
For liver diseases, treatment begins with 5 mg, and after 2 weeks the dose may increase to 10 mg per day.
Overdose
The use of the drug in doses that exceed the recommended ones can cause seizures, drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, agitation, depression of consciousness, lowering blood pressure, arrhythmia, hypokalemia, respiratory depression, metabolic acidosis, nausea, and vomiting.
In this case, gastric lavage, monitoring of cardiovascular function and other symptomatic therapy are performed.
Side effects
Almost any drug can provoke the appearance of any negative reactions of the body. Pills "Elicea" were no exception. Side effects from taking the drug may be as follows:
- Nervous system: dizziness, tremors, drowsiness or insomnia, anxiety, anxiety, paresthesia, the appearance of nightmares. Fainting, sleep disturbances, psychomotor agitation, panic disorders, taste disturbances, confusion, gnashing of teeth, suicidal thoughts and behavior, manic and convulsive disorders, aggressiveness, hallucinations, depersonalization, serotonin syndrome can be observed less often .
- Digestive system: decreased or increased appetite, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting. In rare cases, the occurrence of gastrointestinal (including rectal) bleeding, hepatitis.
- Hematopoietic and cardiovascular systems: tachycardia, bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, thrombocytopenia.
- On the part of the respiratory system: sinusitis, yawning, nosebleeds.
- Genitourinary system: anorgasmia (in women), impotence, decreased libido, ejaculation disorders. Menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, priapism, and urinary retention are much less common.
- From the sensory organs: tinnitus, visual disturbances, mydriasis.
- Endocrine system: in rare cases, inadequate production of antidiuretic hormone is possible .
- Musculoskeletal system: myalgia, arthralgia.
- From the skin: alopecia, excessive sweating, and in very rare cases - ecchymosis.
- Allergic reactions in the form of rash, itching, urticaria. In some cases, anaphylactic shock or Quincke edema may occur.
- General: the appearance of weakness, swelling, fever.
As for laboratory indicators, "Elicea" (tablets) can provoke an increase in body weight, in rarer cases - its decrease.
With a sharp cessation of drug treatment, withdrawal syndrome may occur.
As you can see, the antidepressant "Elicea", whose price is quite high, has a number of side effects. And some are quite common.
Reviews about the drug
What do patients say about the antidepressant Elice? Reviews of the host tell both about the advantages and disadvantages of the drug. Let's consider each group separately.
It’s worth starting with the advantages that Elicea tablets have. Reviews of the host say that the drug has a quick action, as a result of which the positive effect of therapy occurs already in a short time. In addition, there is convenience in the use of the drug and its relatively low cost compared to other antidepressants.
But there are some disadvantages. The drug "Elicea" (reviews of those taking this repeatedly confirm) has a number of side effects that become even more noticeable with an improperly selected dose. Most often, they manifested in the form of a rash and severe itching. In addition, in some cases, the tool did not show absolutely no result, and had to look for another medication. Some patients complain of an increase in appetite after discontinuation of the drug, which contributed to the rapid weight gain.
Analogues of the drug
As you know, almost all pharmaceuticals can be replaced with any other medication. “Elicea” was no exception. Analogues of the drug are endowed with a similar type of action, but differ from it in their composition and some other characteristics. Consider the two most famous tools: "Selectra" and "Cipralex". Instructions for use, price, reviews and side effects - these are the issues that will be given special attention. For greater convenience, each of the drugs will be considered in a separate section.
"Selectra": instructions for use, price, reviews
Like "Elicea", "Selectra" refers to a group of antidepressants. The drug is available in the form of white oval tablets.
The main active substance of the drug is escitalopram. As an auxiliary component, "Selectra" contains microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, silicon dioxide and talc.
The drug is used to treat depression of varying severity, as well as during panic disorders, including those accompanied by a fear of open space.
The use of "Selectra" is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, under the age of 15 years, in the presence of hypersensitivity to the components of the tablets. In addition, the drug is not used in combination with MAO inhibitors.
With extreme caution, an antidepressant is used if the patient has diabetes mellitus, kidney, heart and liver diseases, as well as with a tendency to bleed.
The required daily amount of the drug depends on the type and nature of the course of the disease. As a rule, the initial dose is 10 mg, but if necessary, it can be increased to 20 mg.
Exceeding the dose of an antidepressant provokes the appearance of drowsiness, clouding, motor excitement, seizures, tachycardia, arrhythmias, renal failure, hypokalemia.
The development of side effects after the use of "Selectra" is usually observed within the first two weeks after the start of therapy. They can occur in the form of weakness, dizziness, movement disorders, cramps, tremors, fever, drowsiness, or insomnia.
Less commonly, taking this antidepressant can trigger panic attacks, hallucinations, confusion, increased irritability, manic disorders, taste disturbances, diarrhea or constipation, itching and skin rashes, decreased appetite and libido.
A sharp cessation of the use of the drug can cause the withdrawal syndrome, which is characterized by nausea, headaches, dizziness.
The cost of the product is within 1000 rubles. Reviews about it are most often positive, although in some cases patients complain of some side effects: irritability, the occurrence of insomnia and impaired appetite. But in the end, and they are satisfied with the result.
"Cipralex": instructions for use, price, reviews
Cipralex tablets also contain escitalopram as the active substance. As auxiliary components, it includes magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, anhydrous colloidal silicon, MCC and talc.
As for the indications for use, the necessary dose, contraindications, side effects and special instructions - they are completely similar to those that the main drug has ("Elicea"). Therefore, we will not repeat.
The main difference is the cost of medicines. The price of Cipralex is in the range of 1000 rubles per pack, in which there are 14 tablets, and 1800 rubles for 28 pills.
As for the reviews about the drug, they are mostly positive. Patients note the high effectiveness of Cipralex and the very rapid onset of its effect on the body. That is why it is considered one of the best among antidepressants.
Conclusion
As you can see, depression and other panic disorders can be dealt with with the help of special drugs. Despite the fact that in some pharmacies you can buy them without a prescription, you should still consult your doctor before using such drugs.
Be healthy!