The drug "Diacarb" with intracranial pressure is usually used for hydrocephalus, as well as hypertension-hydrocephalic syndrome. Such diseases are accompanied by severe headaches, excessive growth in the size of the skull or the divergence of its sutures due to an increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid. It is this medicine that helps to cope with such a mismatch in the body.
Composition, release form and analogues
The main active substance of the drug "Diacarb" is acetazolamide. Additionally, the following components are included in the preparation:
potato starch;
sodium starch glycolate;
talc.
Diakarb medicine is usually made in the form of white flat round tablets.
Pharmacological properties
The main effects of the drug are diuretic and decongestant. Being a diuretic, Diakarb medicine has a diuretic effect at intracranial pressure due to a process called carbonic anhydrase inhibition, which is involved in the exchange of carbonic acid. In the tissues of the kidneys, this enzyme is suppressed by reducing the absorption of sodium and bicarbonate ions into the blood from urine. Along with the use of Diakarb tablets in cases of excessive intracranial pressure, it is advisable to prescribe them for some lung diseases when pulmonary heart failure is observed. The main function of the drug as a whole is to retain water and sodium in the body, to prevent edema of various origins. Normalizing water-salt metabolism, the active substances of the drug do not lead to a violation of the acid-base balance.
The period of action of the tablets is 12 hours, while the drug reaches its maximum plasma concentration 2 hours after its oral administration. Penetrating through the placental barrier, due to the high degree of binding to blood proteins, the active substance is excreted through the kidneys during the day.
Indications for use of the drug
This drug is most often used in the treatment of increased intracranial and intraocular pressure. As a rule, in order to prevent side effects of this drug, an additional Asparkam is prescribed in parallel.
Self-administration and administration of the drug "Diacarb" are categorically not recommended. To do this, there are safer, narrowly targeted tools. How exactly in a specific situation the medicine will work and whether it can help to effectively cope with the problem, only a specialist can determine.
Indications for the appointment of tablets "Diacarb" may be the following diseases:
Contraindications
Categorically it is impossible to use the tool "Diacarb" for treatment with increased intracranial pressure and in the following cases:
acidosis;
Addison's disease ;
diabetes;
lactation;
pregnancy;
acute renal failure;
hypokalemia;
hypocorticism;
uremia.
Extreme caution should be taken with the appointment of this drug for edema of renal and hepatic nature. In addition, while taking large doses of acetylsalicylic acid, drug compatibility problems may also occur.
The drug "Diacarb": side effects
In some cases, unpleasant symptoms may occur associated with a violation of the dose or other prescription of a doctor:
hypokalemia;
cramps
anorexia;
paresthesia;
itching
muscle weakness;
hives;
hyperemia of the skin;
metabolic acidosis;
noise in ears;
myopia.
Especially often left in relation to the tablets "Diacarb" reviews contain information about the appearance of muscle weakness and seizures. Prolonged use of the drug sometimes leads to certain health problems, such as:
leukopenia;
nephrolithiasis;
disorientation;
glucosuria;
vomiting
drowsiness;
hematuria;
allergy;
hemolytic anemia;
violation of touch;
diarrhea;
nausea;
agranulocytosis.
Method of administration and dosage
When the patient is prescribed "Diacarb" (tablets), the instructions for the drug should be carefully studied directly by the patient. Along with the established scheme for the use of the medicine, which the doctor selects depending on the type of disease, individual characteristics of the body, weight and age of the patient, questions may arise with its storage, pharmacological properties.
To remove the edematous syndrome, it is recommended to take the drug “Diacarb” daily at a dosage of 250-375 mg once a day. The maximum effect will be achieved 2-3 days after the start of treatment. After this, doctors advise taking a break for a day. In parallel with this, medication is usually prescribed to improve blood circulation, replenish potassium in the body and a sparing diet that limits salt intake.
Open-angle glaucoma is treated with this drug, also taken once every 24 hours at 250 mg. Secondary glaucoma therapy involves a dose of 250 mg every 4 hours. In the case of mountain sickness therapy, a dosage of 500-1000 mg per day is taken, before climbing into the mountains in about 1-2 days. Epilepsy is treated with the use of Diacarb tablets of 250-500 mg per day, with an interval after 3 days.
Newborn treatment
Quite often, situations where the baby sleeps poorly and does not sleep much, cries tearfully day and night, are perceived by young parents as normal. It seems to them that any newborn just needs to be restless. However, such signs do not always indicate the good health of the baby. Pediatricians claim that an overly restless and constantly crying child is a serious reason for taking emergency measures. Such signs in the baby’s behavior may indicate the presence of increased intracranial pressure. Usually, such a diagnosis is made to the children of those mothers who had a difficult pregnancy, toxicosis was present, and childbirth was difficult and prolonged.
This pathology usually results from the fetus receiving insufficient oxygen, which is why brain cells cannot function normally. It is because of this that the fluid that surrounds the children's brain is produced in large quantities and puts pressure on it. The result is a headache, poor sleep, moods and excessive tearfulness.
For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor collects an anamnesis, which includes detailed information about how the pregnancy went and the birth itself. Be sure to make a careful visual examination of the newborn to determine muscle tone and tomography of the brain. In case of confirmation of the disease, it is recommended to urgently begin treatment. The drug "Diacarb" with intracranial pressure becomes simply irreplaceable. Since it is a diuretic, it quickly helps to reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain of a newborn.
If treatment with Diakarb is planned, patient reviews cannot be the only source of information. Such a medicine is not prescribed on its own, and therefore, if the neurologist nevertheless made a disappointing diagnosis for the baby, the doctor’s instructions should be clearly followed in everything. Only the results of special studies can allow the doctor to determine the treatment regimen and establish the dosage. The high effectiveness of therapy gives every reason for pediatricians to prescribe the drug “Diacarb”, side effects from which, however, can adversely affect the baby’s health. The diuretic property of this drug leads to excessive leaching along with water from the body of potassium, which he needs for normal heart function. It is for this reason that the regimen for taking this medication involves the simultaneous use of Asparkam.
The doctor individually prescribes the diacarb medicine to a small patient. Instructions for use, reviews and administration should be carefully studied by the mom or dad of a sick child. To prescribe the dosage and method of treatment, the doctor only needs to know the exact weight of the baby and the amount of accumulated cerebrospinal fluid. The specific sequence of tablets and a clear dosage are also determined taking into account the overall well-being of a small patient. As for taking the Asparkam supplemental medicine, its order will also be clearly outlined by the doctor. In practice, usually a newborn is prescribed to give this drug in the amount of 0.25 tablets 3 times a day, while the main medicine is taken once a day for ÂĽ. These standards do not necessarily indicate that the doctor will prescribe just such a dosage - each case of the disease involves an individual approach to the patient.
Side effects from both drugs, such as diarrhea, skin itching, vomiting and nausea, cramps, are a reason for urgent hospitalization of the newborn. In addition, the result of taking Asparkam tablets may be severe thirst, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, facial flushing, weakness in the muscles, and severe lethargy of the child. If any of these symptoms appears, doctors recommend that you do not waste time and go to a medical institution. In the case of taking the medicine for more than 5 days (namely, this period is the maximum for such young children), metabolic acidosis can occur .
Cases of overdose of the drug "Diacarb" in practice are rare. But when there are signs of disturbances on the part of the central nervous system, you should immediately stop taking the medicine and go to the hospital to monitor the acid-base balance of the body.
Moms should not be afraid of side effects, because if the doctor insists on the need for such treatment, then there are good reasons for this. The effectiveness of the drug “Diakarb” is scientifically proven, therefore, it will not be difficult to solve the problem with the baby’s health in just a few months. As a result, the child will calm down, get rid of excruciating headache, discomfort and will give joyful emotions to his parents. By the age of one, usually in a family they already forget about such a terrible at first glance diagnosis, made by a neurologist in the first weeks of a baby's life. Do not forget that the problem of intracranial pressure that is not solved at an early age can cause a serious lag in the development of the child, painful migraines, and complex formation.
"Diacarb" - how to take the child?
Depending on the age of the child, you need to distribute the daily dosage:
from 4 to 12 months - 50 mg;
from 2 to 3 years - 50-125 mg;
from 4 to 18 years - 125-500 mg.
To give the drug “Diacarb” to children, the instructions for use advise not more than 15 mg per kilogram of weight for one day, however, the specified dose must be proportionally distributed throughout the day. The total dosage of the medicine for the child should not exceed 750 mg per day. With the combination of this drug with anticonvulsants, the norm of its intake by the child per day at the initial stage of treatment is 250 mg. As prescribed by the doctor, the Diakarba dosage regimen may change, and the dosage will gradually increase. It should be noted that in the treatment of any disease, when a pill is accidentally skipped, the next dose in time cannot be increased.
The use of this drug for children should occur under the strict supervision of a physician. Entering the prescription group of drugs, this remedy can be dangerous for a child of any age, and therefore it is better to be treated in a hospital setting, where attention and monitoring of the patient's condition is guaranteed. In practice, Diacarb tablets are often prescribed by neurologists for home treatment of children in the absence of a serious condition.
Parents need to be very attentive to the child taking this medicine, since side reactions can occur from the side of the body. In the case of using the drug "Diacarb" for children, the instruction warns that the baby may experience cramps, vomiting, muscle weakness, nausea, and allergy symptoms. Long-term use of the drug sometimes leads to a decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood or even hemolytic anemia.
To increase the effectiveness of these pills and prevent adverse reactions, doctors prescribe additional drugs to small patients at the same time. In practice, Diakarb and Asparkam infants are used quite often - the reviews of practicing pediatricians about such a comprehensive treatment indicate its exceptional effectiveness. This principle of administration is usually used for a long course of therapy in order to reduce the withdrawal of potassium from the child's body (it is lost due to the high consumption of sodium ions). The value of this trace element in a child’s life is difficult to overestimate: potassium is necessary for all cells to ensure proper metabolism. However, his main task is to participate in the development of the heart muscle (myocardium), which also requires the presence in the body of a sufficient amount of magnesium involved in carbohydrate metabolism and the supply of energy to cells.
Thus, if long-term treatment with Diakarb is necessary, side effects will be minimized by compensating them with Asparkam, namely, by compensating for the loss of potassium ions and increasing blood alkalinity. The active substances of this medicine will ensure the supply of potassium and energy to the body, as well as ensure its proper functioning, bringing the alkalinity of blood to an optimal state.
Selection of the dosage of the drug is made individually for each baby based on the results of the tests and a thorough examination. The dosage of the drug “Diacarb”, reviews and instructions to which indicate the need to take into account the weight and age of the child, is usually at least 50 mg per day. It is necessary to give the child a daily dose for 1-2 times, breaking it into equal parts.
Features of admission for newborns and infants
Quite often they use the drug "Diacarb" for newborns - parental reviews on this topic contain a lot of information about the high effectiveness of the drug in the fight against complex childhood diseases. Babies up to a year are prescribed these pills for epilepsy. In case of divergence of the sutures of the skull and its excessive increase, this remedy also helps very well. An excellent result is shown by the drug Diacarb for infants - reviews of many pediatricians indicate the prevalence of such a treatment regimen.
The prescription of this medicine for babies is done exclusively by a pediatrician, after a thorough examination by a number of specialists (neurologist, surgeon, ENT, optometrist). Treating such a small child is undoubtedly much safer in a hospital, where continuous monitoring is carried out. That's exactly what doctors advise parents of infants, insisting on placing the baby in a hospital for a full course of therapy. However, in real life, some mothers prefer to use Diakarb tablets for newborns on their own - reviews of such home treatment indicate that parents do not always want to go to the hospital with their child.
The doctor always warns parents about the significant risk of such behavior, explains the possible consequences of uncontrolled medication. While at home, the baby should receive this remedy for no more than 5 consecutive days, after which it is necessary to come to the pediatrician for examination, as well as pass all the necessary tests. Indeed, along with high effectiveness in treatment, the “Diacarb” remedy also has side effects, and quite serious ones.
Patient Reviews
Opinions about the effectiveness of treatment with the drug "Diacarb" are very different. Some people say that this medicine helps to quickly cope with their problem and is well tolerated by the body, while others complain of the presence of significant side effects.
If we talk about the use of the drug "Diacarb" for infants, reviews on this subject are extremely positive. Many doctors talk about this remedy as the only possible effective treatment option for certain problems with children's health. In general, on the results of treatment with Diakarb, the patient reviews contain content and say thanks to the doctors who made a competent appointment.
This medicine is dispensed with a prescription from a doctor. That is why it is imperative to go through a pediatrician’s examination with the child, pass a series of laboratory tests and receive recommendations on the appropriateness of treatment with this particular drug. If parents have received an appointment and plan to use Diacarb tablets for children, the reviews in our material may be useful to them. This tool is effective, but you should carefully consider the doctor’s recommendations.
Many women are wondering if Diakarb tablets can be taken with intracranial pressure during pregnancy. Experts unanimously give an unambiguous answer to this question: it is absolutely impossible to do this! Obstetrician-gynecologists especially insist on the harm of such therapy, explaining their position with a high risk of negative consequences for the development of the fetus. According to the instructions, patient reviews, and doctors' recommendations regarding the appointment and administration of Diakarb, it ’s also impossible for women to be treated with this drug during breastfeeding .