Antiviral formulations are becoming increasingly popular among patients. Medicines are available in various forms: ointments, creams, suspensions, tablets, and so on. Greater demand is for drugs that can fight influenza viruses and respiratory diseases. Many of the drugs increase immunity. Today's article will tell you about an antiviral medicine in a different direction. Its trade name is Gaviran. Tablets for use recommends using only as directed by a doctor. After all, only after consulting a doctor, you can be sure of the safety and effectiveness of a particular composition. From the article you will learn about the features of treatment with an antiviral agent and some of its substitutes.
Composition, form of production of the drug and its cost
A medication is produced in the form of an ointment for external use. But more often in pharmacies and medical recommendations you can find another form of the “Geviran” drug - tablets. The instruction positions them as an antiviral medicine. The drug is a prescription. In other words, it is sold in pharmacies only as directed by a doctor.
Each tablet contains the active substance acyclovir. Its amount is 200, 400 or 800 milligrams per pill. As additional compounds, the manufacturer uses hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide, macrogol and triethyl citrate. Buying a drug in Russia is quite difficult. But it is quite possible to order. The instruction is attached to each package of the medicine "Geviran" (tablets). The price of a medicine in Russia is about 300-400 rubles per pack of 30 pills of 200 milligrams. A large dosage is, accordingly, more expensive.
Indications for use
The drug "Geviran" (tablets), the instructions for use recommend taking in the acute phase of viral diseases. The medication is effective for herpes type 1 and 2, herpes zoster. Tablets are also prescribed for chickenpox. Doctors recommend a comprehensive treatment, including Geviran tablets, for recurrent genital herpes. The drug effectively copes with the Epstein-Barr virus and eliminates the cytomegalovirus infection. The medication is used for prophylactic purposes in immunodeficiency conditions.
How does the drug work?
After oral administration, the active substance is rapidly distributed in the patient's body. The instruction allows you to use the medicine "Geviran" (tablets), regardless of the food. If you take pills with food, their effect will not decrease. The drug shows the maximum concentration in the patient’s body after 2-3 hours. Acyclovir (the active substance of the drug) is able to penetrate various barriers and remain in the tissues and body fluids. The drug is metabolized mainly in the liver. The active substance is excreted by the kidneys. A decrease in the concentration of the drug by half is observed after 4-6 hours. If the patient has renal pathologies, then this period may be extended.
Restrictions on the application that you need to pay attention to
Like any medication, you should not use an antiviral agent with hypersensitivity to its composition. If you previously had an allergy to acyclovir, then it is worth replacing the medication with a similar one in action, but with a different structure. It is not recommended to independently use the “Geviran” remedy (tablets); instructions for:
- Children.
- Pregnant women.
- Nursing mothers.
In these three cases, it is necessary to coordinate the possibility of therapy with the doctor. The drug is prescribed for expectant mothers only if the expected benefit is higher than the risks. During the period of treatment of nursing mothers, the question is raised about the temporary cessation of lactation. For children, the medicine is prescribed after two years. At an earlier age, therapy is carried out only under the close supervision of a doctor. The annotation stipulates that the drug is prescribed with extreme caution to patients with renal and hepatic pathologies. Also during the period of therapy, it is worth avoiding dangerous activities and driving vehicles.
"Gaviran" (tablets): instruction
Depending on the age and nature of the disease, in each case, a separate dosage of the medication is selected. That is why it is not recommended to self-medicate. To choose the right scheme, you should contact your doctor.
- For the treatment of chickenpox (chickenpox), adult patients are advised to take "Geviran 800". Pills instruction recommends drinking up to 4 times a day. Children from two years of age are prescribed medicine in the amount of 20 milligrams per kilogram. For example, if a child weighs 20 kilograms, then 400 mg of the drug is prescribed 4 times a day. Therapy lasts from 5 to 7 days, depending on the prognosis.
- With shingles, treatment continues for a week. The adult dosage of the medicine "Geviran" is 800. The tablet recommends taking the tablets 5 times a day. Take the drug every 4 hours. So the concentration of the active substance will be maximum.
- "Geviran 200" (tablets), the instruction advises taking in the treatment of herpes infection on the skin and mucous membranes. The use of the drug is carried out 5 times a day (every 4 hours). It is permissible to increase the night break by 2 times: up to 8 hours. The duration of therapy is 5 days. If the patient has reduced immunity, then it is permissible to increase a single serving of the drug to 400 milligrams.
- In the treatment of genital herpes, a daily dose of 1000 milligrams is prescribed, divided into 5 doses. The duration of therapy is from 5 to 10 days.
The medicine "Gaviran" is prescribed for preventive purposes for a course lasting up to a year. In such cases, the medicine is taken 200 mg twice a day. A break in the course of treatment is carried out every 6 months. This is necessary to assess the condition of the patient.
Adverse reactions and overdose arising from taking the medication
If you use high doses of the drug, then it can cause various neurological disorders. There is no antidote in this case. The patient requires complex therapy: gastric lavage, the use of sorbents. When using slightly high doses (for example, for children under two years of age, “Geviran 400" (tablets)), the instruction recommends hemodialysis.
In most cases (subject to prescribed doses), the drug is well tolerated by patients. But still, isolated cases of a negative reaction may occur. These include digestive disorders (diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain) or allergies. Clinical studies have also shown that side effects include fatigue, distraction and other disorders in the central nervous system. If these occur, consult a doctor immediately.
Antiviral drug analogues
If we are talking about substitutes for a medication that have the same effect on the human body and have similar indications, then these are Herpevir, Acyclovir, Zovirax, and Acyc. These medicines can be purchased in domestic pharmacies without difficulty, you do not even need a prescription. But you should not choose an analogue of the drug yourself. If you have circumstances in which you cannot use the “Geviran” prescribed by the doctor, then be sure to ask the medical professional to find an alternative. Do not self-medicate. This can not only provoke adverse reactions, but also aggravate your well-being by the lack of effect.
What users say
The medication has many positive reviews. It is known that it can be taken for a long time without unpleasant consequences. Consumers say that such therapy shows good results. Recurrent herpes appears less and less and eventually disappears altogether.
Negative opinions are formed about the drug in some users due to its adverse reactions. The instruction warns that during treatment, the concentration of attention decreases. During this period, you should not drive a car or engage in hazardous work. Not all patients can fulfill this restriction. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the prescribed "Geviran" with similar medicines.
Consumers talk about the treatment of viral infections in children. More often, medication is necessary with the Epstein-Barr virus or chickenpox. To facilitate the administration of the medication, it is necessary to grind the tablet. Parents grind the pill into powder and mix with water. Since the drug can be taken with food, the medicine is added to soups, cereals. Therapy in children shows good results in a few days.
Summarize
From the article, you learned how and in which situations you need to take Gaviran 400 (tablets). Instructions, reviews and analogues of the drug are presented to your attention. Please note that this antiviral agent does not cure flu and respiratory infections. Often this misconception arises among consumers. Before using the drug, read the instructions.