Viral diseases can reach the state of the epidemic, leading to increased morbidity of the population, as well as missed work and classes in different educational institutions. Specialists are trying to create and put on sale the most safe and effective drugs to eliminate viruses that could defeat the disease and significantly ease its course. One of these drugs is Arbidol. How to take medication for prevention, so as not to harm, we will tell in the article.
This medicine has an antiviral and immunostimulating effect, the effect of which is due to the simultaneous launch of several mechanisms. The drug prevents the fusion of the virus and the cell membrane, activates the production of interferon, stimulates the humoral and cellular immunity of the body, enhances the process in which solid particles specially designed for this purpose, the blood cells and tissues of the body capture and digest.
As a result of taking the medicine, you can observe:
- Antiviral and immunostimulating effect.
- Reduction of symptoms of toxic effects and clinical manifestations in the event of an ailment.
- Reducing the frequency of manifestations of complications in the form of bronchitis or pneumonia during viral infection.
- Reducing recovery time with regular exacerbations of chronic diseases of bacterial origin.
Numerous studies have confirmed the justification for the use of umifenovir (the active substance "Arbidol") for preventive and therapeutic purposes to eliminate influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. Prophylactic use significantly reduces the likelihood of infection, and when a disease occurs, it helps its milder course and faster remission.
The use of "Arbidol" to eliminate viral diseases is considered the most effective with early admission (in the first forty-eight hours).
The medicine is practically non-toxic; when taken orally without exceeding the dosage, it does not have a negative effect. You need to know that "Arbidol" is not an antibiotic, the drug has an antiviral and immunostimulating effect.
Release form
"Arbidol" is made in the form of capsules and tablets for oral administration in a dosage of 50 and 100 milligrams. There are 10, 20 or 40 pieces in total. In addition, the drug is available in powder form for the manufacture of a suspension.
The active component of the drug is umifenovir in an amount of 50 or 100 mg. In addition to it, additional substances are included in the structure of the medication.
Indications
The drug is used in the presence of the following conditions and diseases:
- Viral enteritis (acute infectious disease caused by enterotropic viruses, which can occur in the form of an isolated lesion of the small intestine or involving other organs and systems).
- In acute respiratory infections of the upper and lower respiratory organs, which are accompanied by pneumonia, as well as exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.
- Influenza A and B.
- As a preventive measure to prevent and eliminate secondary immunodeficiencies.
- Chronic bronchitis (diffuse progressive inflammatory process in the bronchi, leading to morphological rearrangement of the bronchial wall and peribronchial tissue).
- Pneumonia (acute infection of the lungs of an infectious-inflammatory nature, which involves all the structural elements of the lung tissue, mainly alveoli and interstitial lung tissue).
- Herpes (a viral disease with a characteristic rash of grouped vesicles on the skin and mucous membranes).
- For preventive purposes to eliminate postoperative infectious complications and restore immunity.
Bans
The medicine has certain limitations, it is not recommended:
- In reactions of increased sensitivity to active or additional components that make up the drug.
- Children under three years old.
The use of the drug during lactation can only be prescribed by a doctor, since there is no reliable information about the safety of the drug during this period of time.
During pregnancy
The instructions for the use of information on the use of "Arbidol" during the waiting period for the baby are not provided. Therefore, for preventive purposes during pregnancy, the medicine is not prescribed.
For therapy at this time, "Arbidol" can only be prescribed by a medical specialist. With breastfeeding, treatment with this drug is not practiced.
Mode of application
How to take "Arbidol" for prevention? For children and adults, the drug must be taken orally before meals, without chewing and drinking with water. A single dosage for each age is assigned individually:
- Giving the drug to children under three years of age is prohibited.
- For children from three to six years, a single dose of the drug is one capsule with a concentration of 50 milligrams.
- Children from six years to twelve are prescribed one capsule of 100 mg of active substance or two of 50 milligrams.
- For adolescents from twelve years of age and adult patients, the concentration of the active component is - 200 mg.
How to drink "Arbidol" for the prevention of influenza? The drug is prescribed to prevent diseases in contact with an already sick person. To do this, take one capsule per day for at least two weeks.
In the autumn-winter time, which is characterized by regular epidemics of acute respiratory ailments, one capsule should also be used for three to four days three weeks in a row.
"Arbidol" for prophylaxis for adult patients is prescribed one capsule or tablet. To prevent complications in the rehabilitation time after surgery, one capsule is prescribed forty-eight hours before surgery. An antiviral agent is also prescribed for therapy:
- Viral diseases and as part of the combined treatment of rotavirus enteritis. In this situation, four capsules per day are recommended. The duration of therapy is five days.
- Viral ailments with complications, which manifest as exacerbation of bronchitis or the appearance of signs of pneumonia. In this case, four capsules are also prescribed per day for five days. After this, the drug is used once a week for one month.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), provoked by coronavirus, from the age of twelve it is recommended to use 200 milligrams twice a day. The duration of therapy is from eight to ten days.
- Recurrent chronic diseases in combination with other Arbidol drugs are used with a frequency of six hours, one capsule for seven days, after which its use is reduced to two times a week for one month.
For the prevention of "Arbidol", children are prescribed to small patients from two years in the form of a suspension.
Adverse reactions
Of the negative phenomena, only allergic effects can occur on the constituent components of the drug, since the drug is very well tolerated by patients and does not have a detrimental effect on the human body.
"Arbidol" does not affect the central nervous system. It can be used for therapy and for prophylactic purposes to prevent diseases in people whose profession requires increased attention.
Storage conditions
Shelf life is three years. After this time, the drug must be disposed of. Keep the medication away from children at a temperature not exceeding twenty-five degrees.
Analogs
Medicines with a similar active substance:
- Arpetolid.
- "Kagocel".
- Anaferon.
- Aflubin.
- Ingavirin.
- "Remantadine."
- Cycloferon.
- Aflubin.
Before buying a substitute, you need to make sure that it will definitely work, so it is recommended that you consult with your doctor initially.
Choose Cycloferon or Arbidol
Both drugs are known for eliminating viral infections. To understand what is more effective in a particular case, you need to study the annotations for both drugs.
Cycloferon has a more extensive list of indications, unlike Arbidol. This is due to the different effects of drugs on the human body. Cycloferon is more active, as well as more effective in composition. Doctors often use it in the complex treatment of serious diseases.
"Arbidol" is more suitable for the elimination of influenza, SARS in the initial stages of emergence. In severe cases of the disease, Cycloferon can be used together with Arbidol.
Arbidol or Ingavirin
Both medicines are antiviral and have a definite effect on the same pathogens. They are characterized by increased pharmacological action, have low toxicity. The maximum saturation in the blood is achieved in a short time (approximately one hour).
Drugs are prescribed both for preventive purposes and for eliminating diseases. "Arbidol" and "Ingavirin" have different dosages. Suitable for children and adult patients. Of the negative effects after the use of both medicines, only an allergy to the active component can occur. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, both medicines are not used.
That "Arbidol", that "Ingavirin" reduce the risk of complications and repetitions of diseases, as well as reduce the severity and duration of the disease.
Differences of drugs are as follows:
- "Ingavirin" must be taken once for seven days. "Arbidol" must be consumed twice a day for ten days. In this case, the dosage of the first medication is much lower.
- "Arbidol" can be taken to children from two years old, but "Ingavirin" only from eighteen years old.
- Use "Ingavirin" should begin in the first two days after the manifestation of unpleasant signs of the disease. Later, its effectiveness decreases or does not appear at all. "Arbidol" "works" at any stage of the disease.
Opinions
On the Web, reviews about Arbidol for prevention are different, both positive and not very. The advantages of the drug are the absence of serious negative effects after taking the drug, as well as the effectiveness when using an antiviral agent for prophylactic purposes to prevent viral diseases during the epidemic.
But the parents who gave their children Arbidol often talk about the fact that the desired effect was not observed after treating the babies with this medicine. Doctors' opinions indicate that during treatment it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommended treatment regimen.
Positive responses, as a rule, were left by patients who took Arbidol at the very beginning of an acute respiratory viral infection or who were ill quite seriously. In the reviews they narrate that when consumed at the very beginning of the onset of the ailment, it is possible to shorten the recovery time.
And people who have had the flu, SARS, acute respiratory infections, or colds, note that when taking Arbidol, the severity of unpleasant signs of the disease decreases, with the help of which there is an improvement in well-being. In addition, those patients who used it for preventive purposes, in seasonal epidemics or after contact with a sick person were satisfied with the effect of the medication.
Negative responses are usually left by people who have not noticed any positive change in recovery from taking Arbidol. Many reviews indicate that the medication was used more than once, but each time the result was poor - the duration of the disease did not decrease, and health did not get better.