What indications do Sonapax recommend for children? Reviews and the purpose of this medication will be presented in this article. In it, you will find information about what features are inherent in this medicine, what it is and how to take it correctly.
The produced form, description, composition of the antipsychotic
In what form is the drug “Sonapax” released? The reviews claim that the drug in question goes on sale in the form of white round tablets. Their active ingredient is thioridazine. Also included in the composition of this product as auxiliary ingredients are gelatin, lactose monohydrate, corn starch, talc, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, gum arabic, sucrose and dye.
Features of the drug
What is the Sonapax medicine? The instruction (for children reviews the drug is recommended) reports that it is an antipsychotic. Its active ingredient is the piperidine derivative of phenothiazine, which has not only peripheral, but also a central effect on the NS.
The mechanism of the central action of thioridazine is due to its ability to suppress certain functions of the brain stem. At the same time, it suppresses the cerebral cortex to a lesser extent. As for the mechanism of peripheral effects, it consists in anticholinergic, antihistamine and α-adrenolytic effects.
The peripheral effect of this drug is more pronounced than that of other types of antipsychotics. However, it does not suppress motor activity, does not exhibit antiemetic properties and rarely provokes the development of extrapyramidal disorders.
So what should you know before giving Sonapax tablets to children? Reviews of doctors say that the active substance of this medicine has all the necessary properties of antipsychotics. As you know, it has not only a mild anti-autistic and antipsychotic effect, but also exhibits an antidepressant effect. As for the activating properties, this drug does not have them.
Pharmacokinetics of antipsychotic drugs
The medication in question is absorbed from the intestine completely and very quickly. Its highest concentration in the blood is reached four hours after taking the pill. About 95.5% of thioridazine binds to blood proteins. The metabolism of this component occurs in the liver.
Approximately 35% of the active substance “Sonapax” is excreted through the kidneys, and the rest - along with feces.
The half-life of the drug from the patient’s body is 10 hours. At the same time, its active component penetrates into breast milk and through the hematoplacental barrier.
Indications for appointment
Why is Sonapax prescribed for children? The instruction reports that this tool has the following indications for use:
- psychotic disorders, which are accompanied by agitation and increased reactivity;
- schizophrenia (as a second-line medication in people who are contraindicated with other drugs, or there is no therapeutic effect when taking other drugs);
- psychomotor agitation of various origins;
- severe behavioral disorders that are associated with aggressiveness, as well as the inability to concentrate for a long time;
- neurosis, which is accompanied by obsessive states, anxiety, psychomotor agitation, fear, psycho-emotional stress, sleep disturbance and disorders of a depressive nature;
- withdrawal symptoms (e.g., alcoholism or substance abuse).
What is the purpose of prescribing Sonapax medicine to children? Reviews say that in child psychiatry this drug is actively used for severe behavioral disorders, which are accompanied by high psychomotor activity.
Prohibitions for appointment
In what cases should you not give Sonapax tablets to children? Description and reviews indicate such contraindications:
- blood diseases, including a medical history;
- severe depression;
- long QT syndrome;
- coma;
- history of arrhythmias;
- severe depression of the central nervous system;
- liver failure;
- congenital low activity of an isoenzyme such as CYP2D6;
- concurrent administration with drugs that extend the QT interval;
- high sensitivity to drug substances;
- deficiency of lactase, isomaltase or sucrase, glucose-galactose malabsorption, lactose or fructose intolerance.
At what age have Sonapax been used for tics in children? Reviews, instructions claim that this drug is allowed for babies from 4 years old.
Cautious appointment
With caution, “Sonapax” is prescribed for renal failure, impaired hematopoiesis, breast cancer, angle-closure glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, gastrointestinal ulcers, Parkinson’s disease, alcoholism, epilepsy, cachexia, myxedema, respiratory failure (especially in babies), Reye syndrome vomiting and so on.
The drug "Sonapax": instructions for use for children
Reviews argue that the medication in question should be taken only by mouth. The dosage regimen is selected individually, taking into account the severity of the existing disease.
For schizophrenia in adult patients, treatment begins with 50-100 mg three times a day with a gradual increase in dose to a maximum (800 mg day). After obtaining the desired effect, the dosage can be reduced to maintenance. In this case, the total daily dose of this drug should fluctuate within 200-800 mg per day in 2-4 doses.
At what dosage should Sonapax be given to babies? Reviews (for autistic children, this medication is prescribed very often), the instructions say that treatment of a child should be started with 0.5 mg / kg per day in several doses. If required, then the specified amount of the drug is increased to a maximum of 3 mg / kg per day.
In the presence of a psychotic disorder accompanied by agitation or hyperreactivity, as well as severe behavioral disorders that are associated with aggressiveness, psychomotor agitation of various origins and inability to prolong concentration of attention, this medication is prescribed at a dose of 150-400 mg per day on an outpatient basis and at a dose of 250 -800 mg per day in a hospital.
Therapy with the agent under consideration usually begins with small doses, gradually increasing them to the optimum. The antipsychotic effect after taking this medication is noted after 10-13 days. In this case, the course of treatment is several weeks.
If supportive treatment is required, the daily dosage of the drug should be 75-200 mg (at bedtime, once).
The medication in question should be withdrawn gradually and only under the supervision of the attending doctor.
Side effects
Can Sonapax negatively affect a child’s health? According to experts, this medication has many side effects. Consider them right now:
- thrombocytopenia, confusion, skin allergic reactions, tardive dyskinesias, agranulocytosis, agitation, leukopenia, agitation, eosinophilia;
- insomnia, violation of ejaculation, dystonic and extrapyramidal disorders, pirouette tachycardia, parkinsonism, aplastic anemia, emotional disturbances, dysuria;
- violation of thermoregulation, dysmenorrhea, decreased seizure threshold, weight gain, fainting, exfoliative dermatitis, malignant antipsychotic syndrome ;
- erythema, hyposalivation, decreased libido, anorexia, gynecomastia, increased appetite, bronchospastic syndrome, dyspepsia, pancytopenia, nausea, paradoxical ischuria;
- vomiting, visual impairment, diarrhea, priapism, paralytic intestinal obstruction, hyperprolactinemia, tongue papilla hypertrophy, photophobia, cholestatic hepatitis;
- rash, decreased blood pressure, false-positive pregnancy tests;
- tachycardia, angioedema, ECG changes, nasal congestion, dose-dependent prolongation of the QT period, skin melanosis, granulocytopenia.
Does Sonapax help children? Reviews of parents and doctors
Unfortunately, reviews about the tool in question are few. However, from those that are available, we can safely conclude that this drug is a mild and weak antipsychotic, which is ideal even for children from four years old. According to the parents, this tool is quite well tolerated by babies and very rarely causes negative effects. However, one cannot fail to say that many adult patients report that this antipsychotic causes impotence in men.
As for the reviews of doctors, most often they are positive. However, some experts believe that the medicine in question has long been outdated. Moreover, it affects the heart muscle quite badly.