Is it possible to bury drops of Sofradex in the nose of a child? Manufacturers do not recommend using this medication to treat newborns. This is due to the fact that it can have a toxic effect on their body. Moreover, Sofradex (drops) is intended for the treatment of eye and ear diseases. Although often doctors prescribe it and with a prolonged runny nose or sinusitis.
Description, composition, packaging
In what form can I buy Sofradex solution? Reviews of experts report that this medication goes on sale in the form of ear and eye drops. They are available in the form of a transparent and almost colorless liquid with the smell of phenylethyl alcohol.
The active components of this tool are framycetin sulfate, dexamethasone (sodium metasulfobenzoate) and gramicidin.
Also, the composition of the drops includes auxiliary ingredients such as lithium chloride, citric acid monohydrate, sodium citrate, phenylethanol, polysorbate 80, denatured 95% ethanol (or industrial methylated alcohol) and distilled water.
You can buy Sofradex medicinal solution (drops) in dark glass bottles (5 ml) with a dropper dispenser (placed in cardboard packaging).
Pharmacological characteristics
The effective effect of the medication in question is due to its composition.
Framycetin sulfate is an antibiotic substance belonging to the aminoglycoside group. It has bactericidal properties and has a fairly wide spectrum of antibacterial action. Also, this element is active against gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, and most gram-negative microorganisms (including E. coli, Proteus, Dysentery bacillus, etc.).
It is impossible not to say that Sofradex drops (ear and eye) are ineffective in case of steptococcus. Also, they do not act against pathogenic fungi, viruses and anaerobic flora.
The resistance of bacteria to framycetin sulfate develops very slowly.
Dexamethasone is called GCS, which has a pronounced desensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect.
This component is able to suppress inflammatory processes. It inhibits the migration of mast cells and the release of inflammatory mediators, and also reduces the permeability of capillaries.
After instillation of the drug into the eyes, dexamethasone reduces pain, lacrimation, a burning sensation, and photophobia. When instilled in the ears, this component eliminates all symptoms of otitis externa (including redness of the skin, a feeling of stuffiness in the ear, pain, burning in the external auditory canal and itching).
What role does gramicidin play in Sofradex? Reviews of experts report that this ingredient is able to have bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. Due to its activity against staphylococci, it significantly expands the spectrum of antimicrobial effects of framycetin.
Pharmacokinetic indicators
Are Sofradex drops absorbed? Reviews of doctors say that with local use, the systemic absorption of this drug is very low. However, in the presence of inflamed skin or open wounds, this medication can still be absorbed into the bloodstream. In this case, it is rapidly excreted (unchanged) by the kidneys. The half-life of framycetin sulfate is 120-180 minutes.
When taking dexamethasone inside, it is immediately absorbed from the digestive tract. In this case, the half-life of the drug is 3 hours.
Indications
According to the instructions, Sofradex drops for otitis externa help very well. They are also used for:
- blepharitis;
- keratitis (without damage to the epithelium);
- conjunctivitis;
- scleritis, episcleritis;
- iridocyclitis;
- infected eczema of the skin of the eyelids.
Contraindications
Sofradex ear and eye drops, the price of which is indicated below, should not be used for:
- viral or fungal infections, tuberculosis, purulent inflammation of the eyes, trachoma;
- hypersensitivity to any of the substances in the solution;
- herpetic keratitis (a tree-like corneal ulcer), since there is a risk of an increase in the size of the ulcer and significant visual impairment;
- glaucoma
- thinning of the sclera and violation of the integrity of the corneal epithelium;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- perforation of the tympanic membrane, since the penetration of drugs into it can lead to an ototoxic effect;
- babies.
We can not say that with caution this medication is prescribed for young children (especially in large doses and for a long time), since there is a risk of suppressing adrenal function and the development of systemic side effects.
Application methods
How should I use Sofradex Drops? Reviews of experts say that only a doctor should prescribe this solution.
For eye diseases with a mild infection, the drug is instilled into the conjunctival sac , 2 drops every 4 hours. In case of severe infection, the medication is used every 60 minutes. As inflammatory reactions decrease, the frequency of instillations is reduced.
In case of ear diseases, the medicine is instilled into the external auditory meatus 3 drops four times a day. In some cases, a gauze swab previously moistened in solution is placed in the ear.
The duration of use of this drug should not be more than a week, except in cases of pronounced positive dynamics of the disease. It should be borne in mind that GCS can mask ongoing infections, and long-term use of antimicrobial drugs can contribute to the emergence of a flora resistant to them.
Drops of Sofradex in the nose of a child
Despite the fact that the medication in question is intended for the treatment of eye and ear diseases, it is often prescribed for children with prolonged runny nose in order to prevent the development of otitis media. In addition, nasal drops can be used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The solution is also used in the complex treatment of otitis media.
For proper use of the drug, the child is placed on his back and his head is thrown back. In this position, 2-5 drops are introduced into each nostril and the patient is left for several minutes so that the medication penetrates the localization of the inflammatory process.
In the treatment of otitis media, drops are previously diluted with saline (1: 1) and injected into the nose.
For the treatment of prolonged runny nose, the drug can be used both in pure and diluted form. In this case, 3 drops are prescribed in each nostril three times a day for a week.
It is forbidden to introduce more than 5 drops into the nose at the same time.
Reviews and price
You can buy the drug in question at a price of 140-190 rubles per bottle. The difference in the cost of drops is caused not by their quality or by different manufacturers, but by the margin of pharmacy chains.
Otolaryngologists claim that Sofradex drops are a very effective drug that can be prescribed for various diseases of the ears and eyes. Patients agree with this opinion. They report that Sofradex really has a good anti-inflammatory effect. However, with an advanced disease, this medication is ineffective. Therefore, doctors recommend using it immediately after the first signs of a pathological condition appear.