Infectious skin diseases, injuries, purulent wounds, acne - almost every person faces similar problems from time to time. Naturally, pathologies or injuries complicated by a bacterial infection require appropriate treatment.
In modern medicine, a drug known as synthomycin liniment is very often used. The instructions for using the ointment are quite simple, and the reviews about the medicine leave positive. Nevertheless, patients are interested in additional information about this tool. For example, what is the composition of Liniment Synthomycin, its use in dermatology and other branches of medicine, possible risks associated with therapy are all very interesting and important questions. Answers to them will be useful to every reader.
Release form and composition description
Syntomycin ointment belongs to the group of local antibiotics. The drug is available in the form of a white liniment, sometimes with a faint yellow tint. There is a faint specific odor. In the pharmacy you can buy the drug in an aluminum tube.
The main active component of the drug is chloramphenicol - 1 g of ointment contains 50 mg of this substance. Of course, other constituents are present in the composition, including stearyl alcohol, castor oil, cetyl alcohol, sorbic acid, water, and carboxymethyl cellulose.
How does the drug work? Description of pharmacological properties
Chloramphenicol belongs to the group of antibiotics with a wide spectrum of effects. It provides a bacteriostatic effect - it has a detrimental effect on certain proteins of the bacterial cell wall, due to which microorganisms lose their ability to reproduce and active life. The antibiotic is active against many strains of staphylococci, streptococci, as well as Escherichia coli, salmonella, rickettsia, spirochetes and many other pathogenic bacteria.
To date, there is no data on how much the active substance of the ointment penetrates into the systemic circulation and affects the body.
Ointment "Liniment synthomycin": use in medicine
This tool is used in dermatology for the treatment of various diseases. So in what exactly cases is it advisable to use Syntomycin ointment (liniment)? What helps the remedy? Indications for therapy are as follows:
- Purulent skin lesions, as well as wounds and other injuries, including postoperative injuries. But it is worth saying that the ointment is not recommended for use in the first phase of healing, which is accompanied by severe edema and profuse purulent discharge.
- The drug also treats the mucous membranes. For example, it is used to treat trachoma, an infectious disease of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
- One of the indications is sycosis - purulent inflammation of the hair follicles (this most often appears on the skin of the face, in the beard and mustache in men).
- Liniment is often used to treat acne, boils, carbuncles.
- Long-term non-healing trophic ulcers are also an indication for the use of ointments.
- The drug is sometimes prescribed to women during lactation in the presence of cracks in the nipples.
"Syntomycin" (liniment 10%, ointment): instructions for use
Naturally, first of all, patients are interested in questions about how to properly use the drug. It’s worth saying right away that only a doctor can prescribe “Liniment synthomycin” (ointment). Instructions for use are for general reference only.
According to reviews, in most cases, patients are recommended to apply a small amount of ointment directly to the affected areas of the skin. To achieve maximum effect, the drug is applied to a gauze swab, and then it is applied to the site of inflammation (or damage). The swab can be covered with compress or parchment paper on top and a bandage can be applied. Change the compress once every 1-3 days. As a rule, the effect of the ointment can be noticed already 2-3 days after the start of therapy.
Features of use during pregnancy and lactation
The period of bearing a child is the time when a woman needs to carefully monitor her health. Is it possible to use the synthetic ointment “Syntomycin” (liniment) during pregnancy? Instructions for use contain information that the drug is prescribed only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the potential risk to the fetus. The fact is that studies of the drug in this group of patients have not been conducted. Serious side effects have also not been reported.
As already mentioned, synthomycin ointment helps with cracks in the nipples, which often occur during breastfeeding. Active substances practically do not penetrate into the blood, as well as into breast milk, therefore, against the background of treatment, the termination of feeding the baby is not required. But some precaution must be observed when using the drug "Liniment synthomycin." Instructions for use are as follows:
- Before applying the ointment, the skin of the nipples needs to be cleaned - 0.25% ammonia is often used for this.
- After this, small gauze dressings need to be treated with liniment, and then applied to the nipples and left for some time.
- Before feeding the baby, it is important to remove the ointment with a sterile napkin, and then thoroughly rinse the chest with boiled water.
According to reviews, the pain disappears already 2-5 days after the start of therapy. Cracks disappear relatively quickly, and the life of a nursing mother becomes much more comfortable.
Are there any contraindications for treatment?
Of course, this drug has many advantages. But can all patients use liniment synthomycin? Instructions for use suggest that there are still some limitations to the treatment.
To begin with, it is worth saying that the ointment is not prescribed to patients who have hypersensitivity to any of the components of the drug. That is why before starting therapy, you need to conduct a small test for the presence of allergies, and also familiarize yourself with the list of components.
The drug is not used to treat eczema. She can not treat skin areas affected by psoriasis. Since the medicine is active only against bacteria, its use for the treatment of fungal skin diseases does not make sense.
Contraindications include some systemic diseases, including severe forms of liver and kidney failure, as well as acute intermittent porphyria, disorders of blood formation in the bone marrow, deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Is syntomycin liniment prescribed for children? In fact, childhood is a relative contraindication. The use of the drug in this case is possible, but only on the recommendation of a doctor. It is important to constantly monitor the condition of the child and not exceed the dose prescribed by a specialist.
Feasible side effects
Are there any complications that a patient who is undergoing treatment with an ointment such as syntomycin liniment may encounter? Instructions for use contain information that some adverse reactions are possible, and to one degree or another they are associated with allergic sensitivity.
Sometimes a small rash or even hives appears on the treated areas of the skin. Side effects include swelling of the skin, severe itching, and redness.
In addition, similar antibacterial agents can lead to sensitization of skin tissues - in the future, the skin becomes hypersensitive to this kind of drugs.
Interaction with other drugs
As you know, often with a given disease, the patient requires complex therapy - for quick and complete cure, the use of Syntomycin ointment alone (liniment) may not be enough. Instructions for use contain some data on possible interactions with other medicines.
While taking with medications containing nystatin, erythromycin, levorin and oleandomycin, an increase in the antibacterial activity of the liniment is observed. But taking drugs containing benzylpenicillin salts, the effect of the ointment, on the contrary, becomes less pronounced.
It is forbidden to use liniment with medicines that contain diphenyl, sulfanilamides and pyrazolone derivatives. The drug is incompatible with cytostatics and barbiturates. During therapy, it is not recommended to drink alcohol or medicines containing ethanol.
Is an overdose possible?
Is it possible to overdose with Syntomycin Liniment 10%? Instructions for use contain data that the use of too large amounts of ointment (especially if you need to process large areas of the skin) can lead to an exacerbation of side effects. Allergic reactions become more pronounced, and their symptoms are more severe (occasionally, the use of the drug leads to the development of anaphylactic shock). In such cases, the doctor prescribes symptomatic treatment, which depends on the violations that have appeared.
Reviews of patients and doctors about the tool
The manual provides data from various studies. But what do patients themselves think about such a medicine as synthomycin liniment (ointment)? Reviews of people who have already managed to undergo a course of therapy are mostly positive. This medicine is very simple to use, and the results appear after a few days - the inflammatory process begins to fade, soreness, redness and swelling disappear. An undoubted advantage is the relatively low cost, because synthomycin ointment costs very little, especially if you compare the price with more modern analogues.