The drug "Rimantadine" is presented in the form of tablets for oral administration. It belongs to the pharmacological category of antiviral drugs and is prescribed for the etiotropic treatment of viral infections, mainly influenza.
In the article we will consider the side effect of "Remantadine."
In order to find out what side effects may occur when taking a medicine, you need to study the instructions for it and the main characteristics of the drug. This will help you understand how to quickly eliminate such negative symptoms and not harm your health.
Contraindications and side effects of Remantadine must be taken into account.
Release form and composition
The medicine is made in tablets, which have a light yellow or white color, a cylindrical round shape. On one side they have a dividing risk.
The main active element of this medical product is the substance rimantadine, the dosage of which is 50 mg in each tablet. Also included are some auxiliary compounds:
- magnesium stearate;
- corn starch;
- lactose monohydrate;
- anhydrous silica colloidal.
The medication is packaged in blisters of 10 pieces. A cardboard pack contains 2 blisters, as well as instructions for the use of a pharmacological product.
Side effects of the drug "Remantadine" consider below.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
The main active ingredient of the tablets is an adamantane derivative. It inhibits the early degree of reproduction of the genetic material of a viral cell from the moment it enters a healthy cell until the start of ribonucleic acid transcription processes. The medicine has maximum effectiveness against influenza A virus (the most sensitive to it are A 2 viruses) and pathogens of such a disease as tick-borne encephalitis (arboviruses from the flavivirus family).
The medication "Remantadine", after oral administration of the pill, is slowly but almost completely absorbed from the intestinal lumen into the general bloodstream, where the process of its partial binding to plasma proteins occurs. It is evenly distributed in the tissues of the body, metabolized in the structures of the liver before being converted into inactive decay products and excreted from the body primarily through the urinary system. The half-life is approximately 24-38 hours (in case of impaired renal function, this time interval for the drug increases).
Indications for appointment
The main medical indication for the use of antiviral tablets "Remantadine" is the etiotropic treatment and prevention of influenza in people of all age categories (older than 7 years). Also, the tool is used to prevent tick-borne viral encephalitis.
Contraindications
There is a list of the main conditions in which the use of this pharmacological drug is contraindicated. It includes:
- age up to 7 years;
- lactase deficiency;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- glucose galactose malabsorption;
- pregnancy, lactation;
- lactose intolerance,
- hypersensitivity to the drug.
Careful reception
In some cases, the drug should be used carefully. We are talking about the following diseases:
- epilepsy, including a history of epilepsy;
- arterial hypertension;
- digestive tract diseases;
- liver failure;
- chronic renal failure;
- cerebral arteriosclerosis.
Side effects of Remantadine
Against the background of taking the antiviral drug “Rimantadine”, side effects from certain organs and systems may occur. Among them are:
- Digestive system: nausea, periodic bouts of vomiting, soreness in the abdomen, dry mouth, anorexia, lack of appetite. Another side effect of Remantadin is heartburn.
- Nervous system: headaches, periodic episodes of dizziness, trembling hands, ataxia (gait disturbance), skeletal striated muscle spasms, sleep disturbance in the form of drowsiness, confusion, depression (quite a long and pronounced decrease in mood), excessive irritability, nervous irritability . What other side effects does Remantadin have?
- Cardiovascular system: increased blood pressure (hypertension), a change in the frequency and rhythm of heart contractions (arrhythmia), the occurrence of heart failure, cerebrovascular disorders (cerebral stroke, ischemic transient attack).
- Respiratory system: shortness of breath, the appearance of cough, bronchospasm (decreased lumen of the bronchi).
- Sense organs: violation of taste sensations, the occurrence of tinnitus.
- Allergic phenomena: skin rash, itching.
What to do with side effects from "Remantadin" of this kind?
Taking this medication can also lead to an exacerbation of concomitant somatic chronic pathologies. In case of side effects from "Remantadine" it is recommended to stop taking.
What to do with the development of negative reactions?
If side effects of the body, such as skin reactions in the form of itching and rashes, occur while taking Rimantalin, the first thing to do is to stop taking the medication. This is followed by symptomatic therapy with local and systemic medications. As a rule, such conditions occur during the development of an allergy to the components of the drug, therefore it is recommended to take an antihistamine (Zodak, Cetirizine, Zirtek).
Itching - a side effect from Remantadin is quite common. As a local treatment, specialists most often prescribe ointments and creams for allergies, for example, Fenistil. This product is applied to the surface of the skin twice a day.
Symptomatic treatment
If the patient has other side effects, then in this case they are also eliminated through symptomatic treatment. For severe nausea, injections or Cerucal tablets may be used. With severe heartburn, as well as symptoms of intestinal irritation, the administration of such drugs as “Maalox”, “Almagel”, etc. is prescribed.
The remaining systemic reactions provoked by the use of the antiviral drug "Rimantadine", usually pass on their own after stopping treatment with this drug.
Instruction for use
This medication is intended for oral administration after meals. Chews are not recommended. Dosage and administration depend on clinical symptoms and indications:
- In the treatment of influenza, for adults and children over 14 years of age, 2 tablets of the drug are prescribed 3 times a day on the first day, the same dose of the drug 2 times a day for the next 2 days, and from 4 days of treatment, this dosage is taken 1 time per day .
- In order to prevent influenza - for adults and children after 7 years, 1 tablet is prescribed per day for 15 days (prevention is carried out during the seasonal increase in the incidence).
- In the prevention of tick-borne viral encephalitis, adults are prescribed 2 tablets 2 times a day for 3 days (if necessary, the medication is allowed for 6 days). Prevention is recommended to begin immediately after contact with the tick.
Special recommendations
Before using the pharmacological agent, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the annotation for use. To obtain the best therapeutic effect, you need to pay attention to several special recommendations, which include the following:
- The medicine is used with caution with concomitant epilepsy and hypertension.
- The treatment of elderly patients with concomitant hypertension with this medication significantly increases the risk of brain stroke.
- To achieve the maximum therapeutic effect in the treatment of influenza, the use of such a drug should be started as soon as possible with the development of the first manifestations of such an infection process.
- The medicine does not have a direct effect on the class B influenza virus, however, its use helps to significantly reduce the severity of intoxication.
- Prevention of viral diseases is advisable to carry out during the period of seasonal exacerbation.
- In some cases, the formation of resistance of viruses to the main substance of the drug is possible.
- Some anti-inflammatory non-steroidal pharmacological agents (Paracetamol, Acetylsalicylic Acid) reduce the effectiveness of the drug in question.
- The drug "Rimantadine" weakens the therapeutic effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs.
- During the treatment period, it is recommended to refuse to take alcoholic beverages and refrain from driving hazardous mechanisms and vehicles.
Reviews about "Remantadine" and side effects
Side effects caused by taking the described medication are extremely rare. This medication has been produced by domestic drug manufacturers for several decades and occupies a worthy place among the leaders of antiviral drugs. In the reviews there is a lot of positive information about him, despite the fact that many people consider the medication an outdated medium of effectiveness.
There are few reviews about the side effects of Remantadine, which is due to their rare occurrence in patients. Among the most common reactions to taking "Rimantadine" can be identified violations of the digestive tract. Patients claim that when they developed itchy skin and were allergic to this medication, such symptoms were quickly eliminated by taking antihistamines.
The effectiveness of this pharmacological drug has been known for a long time. For several generations of people have been successfully using it not only in the treatment of influenza and tick-borne encephalitis, but also for the prevention of these dangerous diseases. Patients say that the medication helps well in the acute course of the disease and significantly alleviates the symptoms. If you apply it at the first manifestations of the disease, then you can completely avoid the height of the viral disease. This fact is confirmed not only by personal experience of the patients themselves, but also by specialists who often prescribe Rimantadine for such purposes. Moreover, it is effective not only for adults, but also for children.
We examined the side effects and instructions of "Remantadine."