A common companion of any common cold is a runny nose. At first, it is manifested by a flow of transparent mucus from the nose. Then, after a couple of days, the mucus becomes thick. This means that the serous phase of the disease has begun. As a rule, a bacterial infection joins at this stage and the snot becomes yellow or green. In this case, a strong nasal congestion is characteristic. In this case, just washing with saline to cope with these symptoms will not work. This requires treatment with drugs that can locally affect pathogenic microorganisms, destroy them and restore free breathing.
An excellent option is the French nasal spray called Isofra, produced by the pharmaceutical company Laboratoires BOUCHARA-RECORDATI. The instruction "Isofra" indicates that the active substance of the spray is framycetin sulfate. It is an antibiotic of the aminoglycoside group.
The Isofra instructions detail the spectrum of action of framycetin sulfate. It is highly effective against the vast majority of bacteria that can cause infection in the upper respiratory tract: it is able to destroy both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Due to its composition, Isofra has a bactericidal effect, that is, it prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms and quickly returns the patient to good health.
Structure
The instruction of Isofra spray indicates that 1 ml of the drug contains:
- Framycetin sulfate in an amount of 12.5 mg.
- Methyl parahydroxybenzoate, which acts as a preservative.
- Sodium chloride and distilled water are the basis for dissolving the remaining components.
- Lemon acid. Added to the drug in order to fulfill the role of an antioxidant that prevents oxidation processes.
Indications for use
The instruction "Isofra" indicates that the spray is used as an aid in inflammatory processes in:
- Nasal cavity (provided there is no damage to the nasal septum).
- The paranasal sinuses.
In addition, the spray is officially approved for use in the prevention of complications after any surgical interventions in the nasal cavity.
Contraindications
This drug has a small list of contraindications, which can be found in the instructions for use "Isofra".
The main contraindication is the patient is allergic to framycetin sulfate or any other antibiotic of the aminoglycoside group (streptomycin, neomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin and others). This is stated in the instructions for use of Isofra.
For children, it is possible to use the spray without age restrictions. The main thing is to use the drug as prescribed by the doctor and strictly follow the dosage regimen.
Use during pregnancy and during breastfeeding
Instructions for use "Isofra" contains information that in humans due research, proving the safety of use in pregnant and lactating women, has not been conducted. Therefore, the manufacturer of the spray does not give an exact answer to the question about the possibility of using the drug by this group of people. However, given that framycetin acts only locally and practically does not have a systemic effect, in some cases, doctors are forced to prescribe Isofroy treatment to women in such a critical period.
Unwanted side effects
Like any other drug, the drug can cause a number of undesirable side reactions, which are indicated in the instructions for use of the Isofra spray.
All side effects are temporary, go away on their own and completely disappear when you stop using the spray.
These include:
- Possible occurrence of allergies in the form of urticaria and itching on the skin.
- Since Isofra is used, there is a possibility of adverse reactions in the nasal cavity, such as burning, dry mucous membranes.
Overdose
There are no cases of overdose at the moment. In general, the occurrence of such a situation is hardly possible, because Isofra is practically not absorbed into the systemic circulation.
Dosage and administration
The release form of Isofra is a nasal spray, which provides ease of administration. There is no need to throw your head back, you can just keep it straight. The bottle must be placed in an upright position by clicking on it. Before dripping the drug into the nose, the instructions for use of Isofra recommends that you first clean the nasal cavity of mucus and crusts. So the healing effect of Isofra will be stronger. When you click on the bottle, the therapeutic substance is injected.
For adults, 1 click in each nasal passage is necessary. Repeat this action is necessary from four to six times a day, as indicated in the instructions for use "Isofra". For children, the scheme is different and is a threefold use of the spray per day.
The duration of the course of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and is determined by the attending physician. Most often, doctors prescribe a seven-day course of treatment. According to the information in the Isofra manual, a shorter course of treatment can be given for children.
It should be noted that in the absence of improvement after a few days of treatment, it is necessary to stop taking the medicine and seek medical advice.
Pharmacy Vacation Terms
According to the information that contains the instruction "Isofra", this drug contains an antibiotic. Therefore, like any other antimicrobial substance, it must be prescription. This prescription can be obtained from a physician, pediatrician, or ENT specialist.
Reviews
Reviews about this drug in the vast majority of cases are positive. Moms note that when using and following the instructions of the Isofra instruction for children, they began to feel better after a couple of days after the treatment began. They noted a decrease in nasal discharge after several receptions and the cessation of any symptoms at the end of the course.
Adults who used this spray are also pleased with its result. Some patients complain of a burning sensation in the nose, however, it disappears a couple of minutes after application.
However, in children's and adult practice, there are negative reviews about the drug. Such people did not notice any improvement in the treatment of Isofroy. This is mainly due to non-compliance with the rules of the Isofra spray instruction and is caused by a number of reasons. Such as:
- Inappropriate use of the medicine. For example, at the first signs of a runny nose in children, mothers begin to drip them this spray. This cannot be done. The fact is that in most cases, a runny nose is a viral phenomenon, and Isofra is effective against bacteria that join the common cold from far from the first days.
- The second reason for the sad experience of Isofroy treatment is its improper use. Some do not read the instructions and drip the solution like drops, not a spray. With this use, the entire therapeutic substance is in the nasopharynx. And for the effect, it is necessary that the substance is evenly distributed on the walls of the nasal cavity, where it could exert its effect.
- The third reason is self-medication. Runny nose has the most diverse etiology, and Isofra acts only with a runny nose caused by bacteria. Therefore, in other cases, its use is irrational and can only do harm.
- There are also reviews of the occurrence of severe side effects. Most often this happens if the course of treatment is longer than 10 days and the nasal mucosa simply dries up after prolonged exposure to an antibiotic. Therefore, before using the medicine, you must carefully read the instructions for "Isofra".
Price
The price of a drug in the pharmaceutical market is in the range of 250-350 rubles. The final figure indicating how much one spray bottle will cost the buyer depends on the region, city and specific pharmacy organization.
Analogs
It must be said right away that there is currently no complete analogue of Isofra on the pharmaceutical market. Isofra is the only spray containing framycetin sulfate. Therefore, if it is necessary to replace the drug, only a spray similar in effect can be selected. Here are some suitable options.
The popular Polydex spray is produced at the same plant as Isofra and has antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, it is very different from Isofra. The fact is that Polydex has a different, more diverse composition. It includes:
- Polymyxin B and neomycin are two antibiotics.
- Phenylephrine hydrochloride.
- Dexamethasone sodium metasulfobenzoate is a glucocorticoid.
As you can see, Polydex has a more powerful composition and a wider list of indications for use. Because of this composition, it is approved for use from only 2.5 years old.
Another option for replacing Isofra is the Italian Rinofluimucil spray. However, this replacement is rather doubtful, since these two drugs have completely different components and mechanisms of action. Their common feature is the use of the common cold. The active ingredients of “Rinofluimucil” are acetylcysteine and toaminoheptane sulfate acetylcysteine. They thin the thick exudate in the nasal cavity and bring it out, so that the congestion and swelling of the mucosa disappear, and breathing is restored.
Rinofluimucil has been prescribed since a year, but the instructions for its use encourage caution in using this spray in children up to three years of age.
Conclusion
Isofra is a unique drug that has no analogues. Quickly and effectively allows you to get rid of a bad cold. The most important thing when using it is use only after prescribing by a doctor, strictly in the indicated dosages, not exceeding the duration of the course of treatment. And then the therapeutic effect of Isofra will not take long. To do this, just study the Isofra instructions in detail. The price of the drug is rather big. But, despite this, "Isofra" is an optimal ratio of price and quality.