Whatever the causes of liver dysfunction, hepatoprotectors come to the rescue. This is a class of drugs that can restore the cells of an organ and prevent its fat degeneration. Essliver Forte is an inexpensive and effective hepatoprotector. Restores liver cells due to the content of phospholipids. From this article you will learn information from the instructions for use and reviews about Essliver Fort, about analogues of this drug.
Product release form
Hard gelatin capsules of red color. Finely dispersed pinkish powder inside, small brown particles come across.
The drug is not produced either in the form of a solution for intramuscular administration, or in the form of an aerosol or tablets.
Capsules are the optimal form of release for a preparation containing essential phospholipids, since the gelatin shell dissolves gradually. This allows us to predict that the assimilation of the drug will not begin immediately after entering the stomach cavity, but a little later. Such assimilation provides the greatest benefit to the liver and allows all components to fully demonstrate their healing properties.
The drug can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
Active ingredient and pharmacokinetics
Essliver Forte instructions for use in capsules informs that the main active ingredient, due to which the hepatoprotective effect becomes possible, is essential phospholipids. There is still a lot of controversy surrounding this ingredient in the medical world. Not all hepatologists recognize the effectiveness of this component.
Laboratory studies have shown that essential phospholipids can strengthen the walls of liver cells. And in the instructions for hepatoprotectors based on this substance it is written that drugs restore liver cells. There is a huge difference between these concepts.
Indeed: when taking phospholipids, the energy expenditure of the liver decreases, the enzyme activity increases, and the physicochemical properties of bile are improved. But, as such, the restoration of liver cells does not occur.
Instructions for use with Essliver Forte reports that in addition to phospholipids, the following vitamins are included:
- nicotinamide;
- thiamine;
- pyridoxine;
- riboflavin;
- cyanocobalamin.
Indications for use
The rhythm of modern life dictates its own conditions: malnutrition and bad habits have become the norm for every adult. As a result of many years of violation of simple nutritional rules and alcohol abuse, chronic liver diseases develop. Sometimes the liver can suffer due to viral infection.
Instructions for use with Essliver Forte reports that the medicine is used in the treatment of the following diseases and conditions:
- cirrhosis of the liver (as adjuvant therapy);
- fatty liver disease;
- toxic hepatitis;
- liver pathology due to exposure to radiation.
Contraindications and side effects
Instructions for use with Essliver Forte reports that the medicine may cause the following side effects (especially in the first week of administration):
- discomfort in the abdominal region (pain, pulling sensation);
- digestive upset;
- itching of the skin;
- urticaria, small rashes of red color.
Most often, the drug is well tolerated and does not cause any discomfort to the patient.
Instructions for use with Essliver Forte reports that the drug has no contraindications (with the exception of individual intolerance to the components). It can be used for liver diseases in pregnant women and children (after consultation with a doctor).
Recommended Dosages
In most cases, gastroenterologist hepatologists prescribe two capsules on an empty stomach, fifteen minutes before a meal, two to three times a day. The total duration of admission can be quite lengthy - from two months to six months of continuous use. Then rest for a month and a second course after examination and assessment of liver function.
If the drug is used to treat children and adolescents, the dosage is lower. At the discretion of the attending physician, this is one or two capsules per day, one in the morning and in the evening.
Instructions for use with Essliver Forte N warns that only a specialist should prescribe the dosage and duration of treatment for children under the age of twelve.
Special instructions for admission
In some cases, the drug may act more effectively or almost completely lose its properties.
When combined with alcoholic beverages, Essliver Forte tablets (the instructions for use do not mention this) reduce the toxic load on the liver, preserving the organ and preventing fatty degeneration. But at the same time, the choleretic effect is almost completely lost, since intoxication is a real shock for the body, and it throws all its resources to prevent the consequences.
While taking Essliver Forte with drugs toxic to the body, it helps the liver withstand poisoning and neutralize the metabolites of dangerous substances.
Consumer reviews about treatment
Reviews about Essliver Fort (instructions for use confirm that the drug is effective and safe) are mostly positive.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians have already tried the effects of the medicine on themselves. For some, the drug became an assistant in the prevention of fatty degeneration of the liver and cirrhosis, someone helped to cure hepatitis.
For complex liver diseases, Essliver Forte is not used independently. As part of complex therapy with Heptral and choleretic drugs, its effect is more effective.
Hepatologist Tips for Use
It is worth noting simple, but very important rules that will help make capsule administration much more effective:
- During treatment, alcohol should be completely excluded from the diet. If there is such an opportunity - you need to refuse even the symbolic use of small doses.
- It is necessary to adhere to nutrition on medical diet No. 5 - this nutrition system is designed specifically to normalize liver function and establish the outflow of bile. Nutrition plays a very important role, the success of therapy 70% depends on the diet of a sick person.
- You should stop smoking, occasional use of drugs. Antidepressants and tranquilizers are very toxic to the liver - if possible, you should refuse to take them. If the patient’s condition does not allow abandoning psychotropic drugs, additional hepatoprotectors should be added to the Essliver Forte therapy.
- During periods of exacerbation of chronic liver diseases, physical activity should be minimized. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, hypothermia, chronic overwork.
Analogs of Essliver Forte
Instructions for use informs that the main active ingredient, due to which the hepatoprotective effect occurs, are essential phospholipids. This component is present in other medicines.
Here is a list of them:
- Essential N is the most popular counterpart to Essliver Forte. At a cost of about twice as much. If the cost of Essliver Forte is about four hundred rubles, then the price of Essential N fluctuates around a thousand rubles. There are reasons for this: in one capsule of the analogue there is a greater amount of phospholipids, therefore the action of Essential N is stronger, but it does not contain B vitamins that are in Essliver Forte capsules.
- "Doppelherz Asset Essential Phospholipids" is a vitamin-mineral complex that not only saturates the body with useful substances, but also supports the liver. With regular use, it has a mild hepatoprotective effect. In one pack of 60 tablets, the cost is about five hundred rubles. Not a drug.
- "Eslidine" is a little-known hepatoprotector. The main active ingredients are essential phospholipids and methionine. Indications: liver and gall bladder diseases, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis.
- Ursofalk, Ursosan do not contain phospholipids. Nevertheless, they are effective hepatoprotectors and have a choleretic effect. Hepatologists often prescribe these drugs, since their help during acute liver diseases is much more noticeable than when using phospholipid drugs.
- Heptral is a new generation hepatoprotector with antidepressant effect. It has a mild choleretic effect.