Ospamox is an antimicrobial drug whose active substance is amoxicillin, a representative of a number of aminopenicillins. Synthesized in the mid-20th century, amoxicillin has become one of the most popular antimicrobial agents. Due to the small number of side and harmful effects, as well as due to the bactericidal action, he firmly established himself in the clinic. The drug "Amoxicillin" went on sale in 1972, and so far it is the main antibiotic in the treatment of mild bacterial respiratory diseases and auxiliary in their severe and moderate course.
Systemic characteristics of the drug
The drug "Ospamox" has widespread use, which is associated with the key features of the drug - amoxicillin. In the classification of drugs, it is presented as a beta-lactam antibiotic of semisynthetic origin. This is aminopenicillin, which has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, is safe in relation to a macroorganism.
Ospamox has a group of class analogues that belong to the category of inhibitor-protected aminopenicillins. These are more effective antibiotics, the names of which are: "Amoxicillin clavulanate", "Ampicillin sulbactam." They are also widely available, but are used much more widely. Using the main advantage of amoxicillin, they exclude its most important drawback - sensitivity to penicillinases.
Antibacterial activity of the drug
The drug "Ospamox" (for children and adults) disrupts the synthesis of structural molecules of the bacterial cell wall (peptidoglycan), having a bactericidal effect on the microbial cell. As a result, the drug Amoxicillin kills bacteria. Moreover, the medicine is active mainly in relation to gram-positive microbes: pneumococcus, enterococcus, listeria. Also, the drug "Ospamox 1000" is active against anaerobes - sporogenous clostridia and peptostreptococcus.
Due to the bactericidal action and disruption of the synthesis of peptidoglycan, Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum drug. Since peptidoglycan is also a structural element of the underdeveloped cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, the drug is also active against them. Helicobacter pylori, neisseria that cause meningitis, and spore-forming salmonella are most susceptible to the bactericidal effect of Ospamox. Hemophils, Proteus, Escherichia coli, spore-forming Shigella, cholera vibrio and Neisseria, causing gonorrhea, are slightly less sensitive to amoxicillin.
The main category of diseases treated with Ospamox is a group of respiratory infections of bacterial origin. Also, bacteria that cause acute otitis media, bacterial lung pneumonia and sinusitis require the appointment of "Amoxicillin." This drug is also included in the three-component eradication scheme of Helicobacter pylori and is used for intestinal infections, bacterial diseases of the genitourinary system.
Indications for use
The instruction attached to the Ospamox 500 preparation contains information on prophylactic use. In particular, to prevent bacterial complications after performing invasive diagnostic procedures, the medicine can be taken in adults 500 mg 3 times a day for 5-7 days. A similar period of prophylaxis has been established to prevent bacteremia after tooth extraction. In general, the range of indications looks like this:
- ARI: bacterial pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia of the lung;
- pustular skin infections: boils, carbuncles, pyoderma, streptoderma;
- bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis);
- chlamydial infection during pregnancy;
- gonorrhea;
- typhoid fever, Lyme disease.
Pharmacodynamic limitations of use
The above indications are limited, and in most cases, due to antibacterial resistance, the drug has a weak effect. It cannot be used for the isolated treatment of pneumonia, pyelonephritis, purulent infections of the skin, soft tissues. At the moment, all drugs of the aminopenicillin group, which are destroyed by beta-lactamases of bacteria, are being actively replaced by combined protected penicillins: Amoxicillin clavulanate and its generics.
For Amoxicillin and, accordingly, for the drug Ospamox, the instruction leaves only a few areas of application. It is a first-line drug in pregnant children with the above infections. Also, Amoxicillin and its generics, including Ospamox, can be used at any age in children according to indications. Use outside an infectious disease as a prophylactic in children does not have practical value and is contraindicated.
Forms of release and dosage
The main dosage form of Ospamox is tablets containing 500 and 1000 mg of the active substance. This is the most commonly used antibiotic option, optimal for an adult. From tablets, the active substance is dispersed in the stomach and absorbed into the blood. Entering inflamed tissues and penetrating into the interstitial space, it directly destroys bacteria, accelerating the healing process for infectious diseases. Powdered preparations for pediatric use are also available (below).
Ospamox powder for suspension
Also, due to the safety of the use of aminopenicillins in children, a pediatric dosage form of the drug “Ospamox” is available. Suspension for children is a good way to use a medicinal substance that does not require swallowing capsules or tablets. At the age of 5, and sometimes even up to 8 years, children experience problems with swallowing solid dosage forms. The suspension in this case is the most successful way of enteral administration of an antimicrobial drug.
A suspension is prepared from standard powder dosage forms containing 125, 250 and 500 mg per 5 ml of the prepared mixture. A standard 60 ml bottle (or 100 ml for a dosage of 500 mg / 5 ml) with a measuring spoon with a capacity of 5 ml is also supplied in a standard package of the drug.
Features of dosing and use
The instruction attached to the Ospamox preparation implies several dosage regimens that depend on the age and function of the kidneys in patients with nephrotic diseases. Adult dosage (over 16 years) is 1.5-2 g per day. Dispersible tablets of 500 mg are taken three times a day, 1000 mg - 2 times a day for 5-7 days.
At the age of 12 to 16 years, a dosage of 1000 mg per day is recommended, that is, a four-time intake of the drug in a single dose of 250 mg, or two-time 500 mg Given the characteristics of absorption of the drug and the likelihood of its decrease when consumed with food, it is recommended to take a single dose 30 minutes before meals.
The use of the drug in pediatrics
Children's dosages depend on age. Newborns and infants up to a year are allowed to bring the daily dosage to 250 mg. Release form - powder for suspensions of 125 mg / 5 ml. It should be taken on a measuring spoon 2 times a day. A child from the age of one to 6 years old is allowed to take a suspension prepared from the standard Ospamox drug. The daily dosage is 375-500 mg: the suspension is taken orally in a measuring spoon twice a day.
From 6 to 10 years old, the child is able to independently take Ospamox tablets. The instruction implies the intake in a daily dose of 750 mg. 250 mg tablets are taken three times a day according to medical recommendations for the duration of treatment. If, due to the presence of other diseases associated with swallowing disorders, a suspension in the same dosage is used. Moreover, at any age, control of therapy, evaluation of the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent and determination of adverse reactions are necessary.
Features of the side effects of the drug
The penicillin group of antibiotics is characterized by record low toxicity, but it is prone to cause allergic reactions. Due to toxic safety, for the drug "Ospamox" the instruction allows pediatric use from the neonatal period. Moreover, in adults and infants, the drug substance “Amoxicillin” causes some adverse reactions. In particular:
- allergies in the form of urticaria, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, Quincke's edema, fever, eosinophilia, extremely rare anaphylactic shock;
- common side effects: headaches, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea with prolonged use (over 15 days with a number of diseases);
- crystalluria, interstitial nephritis, developing mainly when used together with metronidazole;
- against the background of antibiotic therapy, the development of superinfection from the number of strains having complete or relative resistance to Amoxicillin is possible;
- When used in infancy, the development of diarrhea of fungal origin is possible.
Contraindications
A contraindication is a previously specified case of an allergy to aminopenicillins, infectious mononucleosis, diarrhea and infections of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug is not used in the presence of bronchial asthma, severe viral infections without bacterial complications, if allergies to cephalosporins are detected. The last contraindication is relative and carefully checked, since cross allergy to aminopenicillins occurs only in 5-20% of cases.
Features of use in pregnant and lactating women
An important point in the use of antibiotics during pregnancy is their potential and actual toxicity. Preparations of a number of penicillins are practically not metabolized and are excreted in their original form. This means that they do not cause any toxic effects. Ospamox is also specific for bacterial cells and has no effect on human cells.
Due to these features, it is allowed to use Amoxicillin during pregnancy at any time for the treatment of diseases according to the above indications. It is important that about 30% of the dose received in the blood diffuses through the placenta and is in contact with the fetus. In experiments and in controlled clinical trials involving humans, the toxic and teratogenic effects of Ospamox have not been proven.
Also, the development of teratogenic effects in animal studies during pregnancy has not been proven. However, during lactation it is important to limit the intake of the antibiotic. Ospamox easily passes into breast milk and is absorbed into the bloodstream from the baby’s stomach. Due to the risk of developing allergies, diarrhea and fungal intestinal dysbiosis in children, it is recommended that you stop breast-feeding during antibiotic treatment.
Class analogues and generics of the drug
In the domestic market, the modern and safe drug “Ospamox 250” has about a dozen full-fledged analogs with different prices. They are produced by several companies and differ little from Amoxicillin from other manufacturers. Strictly speaking, Ospamox 1000 is a generic, like many of its other analogues in composition and form of release.
For Ospamox tablets, the price is about 2/3 higher than for domestic counterparts produced by Synthesis OJSC. Its cost in pharmacies is approximately about 200 rubles. With the same efficiency, the selection factor is the price factor. Due to market conditions, in this case, many give priority to the domestic drug, which can be purchased for only 30 rubles (20 pcs.).
Protected aminopenicillins
The pediatric analogues of Ospamox, Augmentin, and Hikontsil in the form of powders for the preparation of a medicinal suspension are characterized by the same effectiveness as the more affordable Russian analogues. Moreover, the widespread use of the latter, including domestic ones, is limited by microbial resistance to amoxicillin. Therefore, aminopenicillins protected by clavulanate are most often used now. These antibiotics, (see the names above) have a stronger effect and a wide antimicrobial spectrum.