In the article, we consider the instructions for use for children and adults for the Kagocel preparation.
It is considered a medication that has antiviral, radioprotective, antimicrobial, immunostimulating effects and refers to synthetic medical products created on the basis of the latest pharmacological technologies.
Russian scientists from the Research Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology managed to create an effective new-generation antiviral medication by combining a molecule of a medicinal substance of plant origin with nanopolymers, which significantly increased the therapeutic effect of the drug. Thus, Kagocel has been produced in Russia since 2004, and the manufacturer is the pharmaceutical company Niarmedik Plus. The medication has a wide scope for the prevention and treatment of viral infections both in our country and in countries abroad.
This medication not only affects the viruses of herpes and influenza, preventing their growth and penetration into healthy cells of the body, but also stimulates the immune defense, increasing the production of endogenous interferons. The use of the Kagocel medicine in many cases can prevent the development of the pathological process and significantly reduce the duration of therapy. This drug during pregnancy, as well as lactating women, can be used only after consulting a specialist and in the presence of certain medical and clinical indications.
According to the instructions, “Kagocel” for children is prescribed starting from the age of 6, directly on the recommendation of a pediatrician. The drug is not antibacterial, therefore, in case of some infectious complications in the form of sinusitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, etc., the use of antibacterial drugs in combination with those that have anti-inflammatory effects is recommended.
Pharmacological properties
As the instruction indicates, Kagocel exerts a pronounced antiviral effect on the influenza virus and herpes, and also stimulates the production of endogenous interferons in the body, which are responsible for the formation of an adequate immune response. Unlike exogenous interferons, administered in the form of medications that do not have side effects, they provoke an immune response faster when the virus is introduced into the human body. Exogenous interferons can cause various adverse reactions in the form of headache, dizziness, increased anxiety, and depressive disorders. Epigastric pain, dyspepsia, and liver dysfunction may also be noted.
Endogenous interferon is a non-specific immunity factor that affects the proteins of viruses and their RNA.
According to the instructions, Kagocel tablets stimulate the production of beta, alpha and gamma interferon and help the body cope with viral and bacterial diseases, preventing the penetration of infectious agents into the cells, significantly limiting their subsequent reproduction.
The composition of the drug includes molecules of plant origin and a nanopolymer. The size of the molecule does not allow the drug to penetrate in a significant amount through the natural barriers of the circulatory system, as a result of which the level of concentration of the main blood components does not exceed 20% of the therapeutic dose.
The composition of the drug
In accordance with the instructions for "Kagocel", the composition of the product includes the main substance in a volume of 12 mg, as well as some auxiliary elements:
- starch;
- lactose monohydrate;
- povidone;
- calcium stearate.
Pharmacokinetics
A day after the introduction into the body, the drug accumulates, as a rule, in the liver, in a small amount - in the lungs, spleen, thymus, kidneys and lymph nodes. A small concentration of the active substance is observed in adipose tissues, muscles, heart, testes, blood and brain. Their small content in the brain is explained by the increased molecular weight of the drug, which makes it difficult to penetrate the encephalic barriers. In the blood, the medicine is in a bound form.
With repeated daily administration of the drug into the body, the volume of distribution varies widely in all organs. A particularly pronounced accumulation of the drug is observed in the spleen and lymph nodes. About 20% of the administered dosage of the drug enters the general bloodstream, the elements of which circulate in the blood in the form associated with macromolecules: with lipids - 45%, with proteins - 34%. An unrelated proportion of the drug is approximately 18%.
The medicine is removed from the body directly through the intestines: after 7 days after administration, 87% of the dose is excreted, 90% of which is delivered through the intestines and about 10% through the kidneys.
This is confirmed by the instructions for "Kagocel".
Indications for use
A medication is prescribed for therapeutic purposes to eliminate viral infections (with the exception of pathological conditions caused by the human immunodeficiency virus):
- herpetic diseases;
- chlamydia (respiratory or urogenital);
- cytomegalovirus and rotavirus infections.
In addition, the drug is often prescribed for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza.
Instructions for use for the children's "Kagocel" will be presented below.
Contraindications
It is recommended to refrain from taking this pharmacological agent in the following categories of patients:
- pregnant women (throughout the gestational period);
- children under three years old;
- lactating women;
- people with a deficiency of the lactase enzyme;
- patients with galactose malabsorption;
- patients with lactose intolerance;
- patients who are hypersensitive to the elements of the drug (the likelihood of allergic symptoms).
Special instructions for the use of antiviral agents
According to the instructions for "Kagocel", to achieve the intended therapeutic effect, treatment should be started no later than the third day of infection with viral agents or contact with a sick person.
It should be noted that the use of medicines with an expired shelf life is very dangerous and can be harmful to health, therefore, before use, make sure that the medication is suitable.
Before therapy, it is recommended to study in detail the leaflet with instructions for "Kagocel" for children and adults.
There were no cases describing an overdose of an antiviral drug. If the dosage is exceeded, it is necessary to drink a large amount of liquid and induce vomiting.
Dosage and administration
Means "Kagocel" is available in tablets and is taken orally (inside) after a meal. Drink the medication with a copious amount of water.
For therapeutic purposes against SARS, an antiviral agent is taken according to the following schemes:
- in the first two days they drink two tablets three times a day;
- in the following days, one tablet three times a day.
The course of therapy involves taking 18 tablets, and its duration is usually four days.
For preventive purposes, “Kagocel” should be used according to the seven-day course scheme. For the first two days of the development of the disease, two tablets are drunk once, then a break is made - five days. A similar cycle can be repeated for two months.
For therapeutic purposes, against herpes and cytomegalovirus infections, the following scheme should be followed: within 5 days, 2 tablets of the medicine are taken three times a day. In total, 30 tablets of the drug are obtained for the period of the course of infectious pathology.
Consider the instructions for "Kagocel" for children.
Features of therapy for children
In the treatment of influenza and respiratory infections in children, the following scheme is used:
- From 3-6 years - one tablet twice a day on the first two days of the disease, then 1 tablet once. According to the instructions for "Kagocel" for children from 3 years, the duration of such treatment is 4 days, only 6 tablets for the entire course.
- From 6 years and older, one tablet is prescribed three times a day on the first two days of the disease, then two tablets two times. The therapeutic cycle should be 4 days, a total of 10 tablets "Kagocel."
For preventive purposes, in children 3-6 years old, one tablet is taken once a day, after which a five-day break should be taken. The entire preventive course should be at least seven days.
Instructions for use with Kagocel tablets for adults and children are very detailed.
Drug interaction
Based on the research tests, it was proved that the medication "Kagocel" well complements the treatment with other antiviral drugs, which allows it to be used in combination therapy. In addition, the antiviral agent increases the effectiveness of antibiotics and immunostimulants, exhibiting additive activity.
In the case of taking several medications at the same time, it is possible to enhance or reduce the therapeutic effect of a particular drug. This is a high risk, because with increased exposure to a particular drug, there may be cases of the development of negative side reactions, overdose and even death.
Especially if you use the children's "Kagocel". The instruction must be strictly followed.
Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Clinical data indicate that the use of the drug "Kagocel" in pregnant and lactating women is unsafe. Therefore, this category of patients is strongly recommended to refuse to take this antiviral drug.
In cases where during pregnancy a woman has a severe course of acute respiratory viral infections, those medications prescribed by a specialist should be preferred. At the present stage, there are many diverse homeopathic medicines that are not harmful to the health of the child.
Side effect
In accordance with the instructions for the adult "Kagocel", people with a predisposition to the development of various allergic reactions, when treated with an antiviral agent, have a high probability of their occurrence. However, side effects most often occur due to an overdose of the drug or with its incorrect use.
This is confirmed by the Kagocel tablets, instructions for use and reviews.
If there are any pathological disorders during therapy with this medication, it is recommended to stop treatment.
Analogs
According to the composition of similar drugs, Kagocel does not exist, however, there are other medicines on the domestic pharmaceutical market that have a similar therapeutic effect. Their list includes:
- "Arbidol" - refers to the antiviral category of drugs with immunomodulatory properties. As a result of its use, the likelihood of developing negative consequences after viral or bacterial diseases is reduced. With the therapeutic use of the Arbidol medication, the intensity of the symptoms of the disease decreases, and the period of the inflammatory process decreases.
- "Anaferon" - a drug that has an antiviral property, has an immunostimulating effect, promotes an increase in the number of antibodies and the production of natural interferon. The use of this medication helps to get rid of the symptoms of infection and reduce the duration of the disease. The medicine also has an additional effect, preventing the development of purulent processes.
- Cyclferon is a popular Russian-made antiviral drug. The effect of it is designed to increase the natural protective functions of viral infections, as well as to activate the production of interferons. Unlike many other antiviral agents, this drug has a wider list of indications.
- "Antigrippin" - its mechanism of action is designed to eliminate the symptoms of colds. The medicine does not have the properties of a wide spectrum.
- "Remantandin" is a cheap analogue of the drug "Kagocel". In addition to the immunomodulatory effect, it has a pronounced antitoxic effect and reduces the likelihood of infection with influenza viruses. If you take this tool in the early days of the disease, recovery comes faster. The drug is one of the few medicines that are used to prevent encephalitis.
- Amiksin is an effective medication with antiviral properties and a wide spectrum of action.
Reviews
There are many positive reviews about this drug. In most cases, this medication has established itself as a highly effective remedy for the fight against herpetic and other viral infections, and patients treated with this medicine observed that the symptoms of the disease were reduced and the disease itself was more mild than usual. Some of them argue that if you start taking pills when the very first pathological manifestations occur, you can eliminate the disease at the very beginning. So it is written in the instructions.
"Kagocel" for children, according to reviews, is great.
Experts widely prescribe this medication, especially during the peak of colds. They say that this medication is very effective for preventing influenza, as well as for eliminating the herpes virus, which often affects the upper respiratory tract, causing pharyngitis and other pathologies of the nasopharynx. Therefore, it is recommended for people with weakened immune systems, children, as well as elderly patients.
With regard to adverse reactions from the drug, the reviews describe its good tolerance, and only in rare cases - the occurrence of a minor headache, digestive disorders and allergic reactions.
We reviewed the instructions for use for "Kagocel" for children and adults.