Colds are a generic name for a large group of acute respiratory infections, which are manifested by the catarrhal inflammatory process of the mucous cavities of the upper respiratory organs.
If a person has strong immunity, then he practically does not get sick. And an organism with weakened protective functions is considered a constant source of infection with pathogens. To combat colds, as a rule, prescribe antiviral drugs, for example - "Rimantadine".
The medication is available in tablets, which are intended for the etiotropic treatment of viral infections, in particular, influenza. Rimantadine hydrochloride has the trade name Rimantadine.
Causes of the common cold
The common cold is a very contagious infection that is easily transmitted from one person to another, even with a minimal number of pathogens that penetrate the mucous membranes of the respiratory system.
This route of transmission of infection is due to the virus tropism to the tissues of the human body. Once on the epithelial tissue of the nose, the strains penetrate the cell nucleus, where they are embedded in its structure. Further, viruses feed on the body, actively spread, provoking a huge number of violations.
Today, there are more than two hundred varieties of viruses that belong to the respiratory group that can affect the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and cause symptoms that are known to every person as a cold.
Antiviral drugs
The main influence that modern antiviral medicines against SARS and influenza have is aimed at suppressing enzymes that are involved in the division of viruses. They are used for preventive purposes to eliminate the first signs of the disease, as well as with delayed therapy.
With their help, the number of complications is reduced by ninety percent. The most effective antiviral drugs for influenza and acute respiratory viral infections contribute to the effective destruction of viruses. As a result, well-being improves.
What is included in the medication?
The main active trace element of the drug is rimantadine hydrochloride. Its concentration in one tablet is 50 milligrams. In addition, Rimantadine has additional substances.
What are the properties of the medication?
After taking the medicine, the active substance is slowly but completely absorbed from the intestine into the general bloodstream.
Then it evenly moves along all the membranes, the active substance is excreted in the urine. The period of elimination of the drug from the body takes about thirty-six hours.
"Rimantadine": indications for use and contraindications
The drug is intended for oral administration with etiotropic treatment and prevention of influenza in adult patients and children from seven years.
In addition, the drug is recommended for use with tick-borne viral encephalitis.
According to the instructions for use, Rimantadine tablets have certain limitations, for example:
- Acute liver damage.
- Kidney disease.
- The "interesting position" of a woman.
- Breast-feeding.
- Up to seven years.
Rimantadine is advised to be given to children who attend an educational institution during flu outbreaks. With a large crowd of people, there is a high probability of catching a viral infection, moreover, in children's groups they are transmitted from child to child quite quickly.
Even in a situation where a child has been given a flu vaccine, the medication will help the body react more actively to the disease and transfer it in a milder form. If the child has not been vaccinated, then taking the drug will be appropriate.
Another purpose for the use of "Rimantadine" in young patients is tick-borne encephalitis. This disease is called by the vector - a tick that lives in forests, fields, as well as throughout the Russian Federation. What helps Rimantadin?
As a rule, a child is given immunoglobulin and is prescribed Rimantadine. Even if a blood test for tick-borne encephalitis is negative, then these insects cause other diseases, including Lyme disease, and the use of a drug will help increase the body's protective functions.
Therefore, before using the drug, it is recommended to consult a doctor to avoid health problems.
"Rimantadine": method of administration and dosage
Tablets are taken after meals. With influenza, adults and adolescents are advised by doctors to take 2 tablets 3 times a day on the first day of therapy, then two days, up to 4 tablets a day. On the fourth day, two tablets are prescribed for use.
For children from eleven to fourteen years old, the concentration of the active substance is reduced by half (up to three per day), and for small patients from seven to ten years old, “Rimantadine” is recommended to take 1 tablet twice a day. The duration of treatment is 5 days.
According to the instructions for use with Rimantadine tablets, it is known that the drug can be used for prophylactic purposes to prevent influenza. In this case, the drug is prescribed - for patients from seven years of age, one tablet per day, adults need to take the medicine in the same dosage, the duration of treatment is fifteen days.
To prevent tick-borne encephalitis, patients from eighteen years old and over are prescribed up to 4 tablets (daily). The duration of therapy is three days. The procedure begins after a tick bite.
Are there any negative consequences from taking the medicine?
Like any other drug, "Rimantadine" is able to cause certain undesirable reactions when the dosage of the tablets is incorrect.
From the digestive organs, vomiting, pain in the stomach, loss of appetite can occur. From the side of the central nervous system, the following unpleasant symptoms can be noted - dizziness, tremor, gait disturbance, sleep loss, cramps, irritability, and depressive disorders.
On the part of the heart and blood vessels, as a rule, negative symptoms also appear - increased blood pressure, impaired heart rate, ischemia, stroke. In addition to these side effects, Rimantadine tablets may also cause the following negative reactions:
- Cough.
- Dyspnea.
- Bronchospasm.
- Skin rashes.
- Itching
- Nettle rash.
- Noise in ears.
If negative effects occur, the use of "Rimantadine" must be stopped and consult a doctor.
Given the fact that patients showed allergic reactions to the medication, it is necessary to conduct an intolerance test before using it, and with increased sensitivity, you should stop using it. If side effects occur, you should contact a medical specialist.
An overdose condition manifests itself in an increase in negative effects, as a result of which the doctor prescribes a gastric lavage to the patient.
Features
After purchasing the drug, you should carefully read the instructions for use of "Rimantadine". To get the maximum therapeutic effect, it is important to pay attention to some nuances.
To obtain the maximum therapeutic effect in the treatment of influenza, the drug should be started as soon as possible when the first signs of an infectious process appear.
Rimantadine hydrochloride has no effect on influenza B viruses, but its use helps to reduce intoxication. For preventive purposes, the drug is most effective in spring and autumn.
It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol during treatment with Rimantadine. The drug affects psychomotor functions and attention, so you should postpone trips while driving a car and work that is associated with increased concentration.
The drug can be freely purchased at the pharmacy, as it is sold without a prescription. But you must remember that before buying the drug, it is better to consult a medical specialist, and not to self-medicate in order to eliminate contraindications and not harm your body.
In people of retirement age, the drug "Rimantadine" may accumulate in toxic dosages if the concentration of the drug is not adjusted in proportion to a decrease in creatinine clearance. In this category of patients with arterial hypertension, the use of the drug increases the likelihood of hemorrhagic stroke.
Generics
The following medicines are structural analogues of rimantadine hydrochloride:
- "Orvirem."
- "Polirem".
- Algirem.
- "Remantadine."
The following are considered drugs with similar therapeutic effects:
- "Acyclovir."
- Viferon.
- Gaviran.
- "Cyclovir."
- Gaviran.
- Oscillococcinum.
- "Kagocel".
- "Famvir".
- "Valtrex".
- "Panavir".
- Ingavirin.
- Arbidol.
The shelf life of Rimantadine is thirty-six months. The drug should be stored at room temperature. The price of the drug varies from 50 to 300 rubles.
Recommendations of medical specialists
The use of the drug "Rimantadine" should be carried out only as prescribed by the doctor and in those concentrations at which he prescribed. This takes into account not only the patient’s well-being, but also other medicines that he still uses. For example, "Rimantadine" reduces the effectiveness of drugs against epileptic seizures, and enterosorbents reduce the absorption of the antiviral agent.
In addition, medical experts do not allow the use of Rimantadine and alcohol at the same time - such a combination increases the likelihood of adverse reactions, namely nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If alcohol was nevertheless taken, then the tablet can be used no earlier than six hours later. If the drug was first taken, then "strong" drinks can be consumed no earlier than twelve hours.
Patient opinions
Patient reviews on the drug "Rimantadine" are mostly positive. Patients note the fact that this drug, when used correctly, really helps to cope with a cold.
After a couple of days of therapy, people feel better, the symptoms of the disease disappear, migraine and temperature go away. In their reviews of Rimantadine, patients leave some recommendations, for example, follow the instructions for use, and then the disease will go away very quickly and without problems.
In addition, a huge number of responses are left by people who used this drug for prophylactic purposes to prevent viral diseases. Especially patients noted a noticeable effect of "Rimantadine" in the cold, when the population begins to get the flu.
In this case, it is this antiviral drug that helps the human body to catch the virus to help the patients. Another main advantage of Rimantadin is its low price. And you do not need to buy expensive foreign generics, which may not help at all.