What is the purpose of prescribing the drug "Elkar" for infants? You can find reviews on the effectiveness and indications of this drug in this article. It also provides information about what properties the medication mentioned has, in what dose it is taken, and whether it has side effects.
Description, composition, form, packaging
The drug "Elkar" for infants, reviews of which are ambiguous, is available in the form of a solution for oral administration. The active element of this tool is levocarnitine. Also, the composition of the medicine includes such additional ingredients as propyl parahydroxybenzoate, citric acid monohydrate, purified water and methyl parahydroxybenzoate.
Elkar Medication (solution for infants) is available in the form of a clear, colorless or slightly colored liquid with a specific odor. You can buy it in dark dropper bottles made of glass, which, together with the instructions, a measuring spoon or a glass, are contained in cardboard boxes.
Pharmacology
What is Elkar solution for infants? The instruction says that this tool belongs to the category of drugs that have a positive effect on the course of metabolic processes and the digestive tract.
"Elkar" is a synthetic analogue of the amino acid L-carnitine, which is produced in the human body.
Being a universal corrector and stimulator of energy metabolism, this medication improves not only the functioning of the nervous system, but also the structure of the brain as a whole.
Taking the drug "Elkar" accelerates the body's regenerative processes after surgery and serious illnesses. Also, the drug improves the condition of internal organs and systems, provides the ability of a person to tolerate high loads.
Features of the medication
What properties are inherent in the solution "Elkar" for infants? Reviews report that the medication is very effective, it is well tolerated by children. The active ingredient of this medication (L-carnitine) is a natural substance that is very similar in structure to the B vitamins.
The mentioned amino acid is involved in all metabolic processes. It plays the role of a carrier of aliphatic acids in mitochondria, where they undergo beta oxidation with the formation of ATP and acetyl coenzyme A.
According to the instructions and expert reviews, the action of L-carnitine is aimed at:
- increase physical endurance of a person;
- normalization of lipid and protein metabolism;
- increased enzymatic activity and secretion of digestive juices;
- inhibition of the synthesis of oxocarboxylic acids;
- improved absorption of food;
- decrease in excess fat mass;
- decrease in hyperlactacidemia;
- providing tissues with energy;
- inhibition of anaerobic glycolysis.
It should also be canceled that due to L-carnitine glycogen is efficiently and economically consumed, and its reserves in muscle tissue and liver increase significantly.
Among other things, growth vitamin is able to stimulate the production of proteins and provide lipid breakdown, significantly reducing the percentage of fat contained in the body.
After taking the medication, the patient normalizes increased metabolism with hyperthyroidism. This effect is explained by the fact that L-carnitine is an indirect antagonist of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland.
Kinetic characteristics
L-carnitine is fairly well absorbed from the intestinal tract. Its maximum concentration is reached after 180 minutes and remains in therapeutic values for another nine hours.
The drug easily penetrates the heart and liver, and somewhat slower into the skeletal muscles. It is excreted through the kidneys.
Indications in pediatric practice
What is the purpose of “Elkar” solution for infants? Reviews of pediatricians and instructions indicate the following indications of this drug:
- decreased muscle tissue tone, malnutrition, the effects of birth trauma, a sharp breakdown in newborns, the effects of oxygen starvation;
- weakening of the sucking reflex;
- slow growth;
- recovery period after surgery and serious illness.
Also, this drug is prescribed for insufficient body weight in children under 16 years of age.
General indications of the drug
Now you know in what conditions the Elkar medication is prescribed for infants. Reviews of neurologists, other specialists, instructions report that this drug has other indications. These include:
- anorexia nervosa ;
- encephalopathy (as an additional medicine);
- inflammation of the pancreas of a chronic nature;
- chronic gastritis;
- mild forms of hyperthyroidism;
- levocarnitine deficiency;
- high physical activity;
- organic aciduria;
- skin pathologies (as an additional medicine);
- mitochondrial pathologies;
- hereditary diseases.
Solution "Elkar" for babies: instructions
For newborns, this drug is prescribed 30 minutes before breastfeeding.
Before using the drug, 3 ml of a 20% solution is mixed with 200 ml of a 5% glucose solution. The finished mixture is used in an amount of 10-20 ml.
According to pediatricians and instructions, this medication can be given to babies from the first day of life. It is also prescribed for newborn children with birth trauma or undergoing oxygen starvation, but only from the fifth day of life.
The duration of therapy with this solution is 15-40 days.
Method of application for children
Now you know how to appoint "Elkar" for infants. The dosage of this drug for children under one year is 0.075 g three times a day, and for children 1-6 years old - 0.1 g twice a day.
The medicine in question is allowed to be mixed with such sweet drinks as jelly and juices.
Older children (6-12 years) are given the drug in an amount of 0.2-0.3 g three times a day for a month.
Side effects
Does the drug "Elkar" cause undesirable effects? For babies (reviews of mothers about this remedy will be presented below), this medication is prescribed without any fear, since it rarely contributes to the appearance of adverse reactions.
In some cases, while taking this solution, patients experience epigastric pain, develop allergic manifestations and dyspeptic symptoms. People with kidney uremia may have muscle weakness.
When observing such effects, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Reviews about the drug
Reviews of experts on the drug "Elkar" indicate that it positively affects the metabolism and normalizes the digestive tract.
The great advantage of this medication is that it can be prescribed even to infants who have suffered a birth injury.
Mothers of young children claim that the medicine in question is highly effective, especially in relation to babies with weak muscle tone and low body weight. The drug significantly improves the condition of a child who refuses to eat and gains weight poorly.
As a result of taking this drug in children, appetite and motor activity are restored.
It should also be noted that often about the drug "Elkar" there are also negative reviews. Most of them are associated with the appearance of adverse allergic reactions in children.