In the modern world, doctors are increasingly finding diagnoses associated with damage to cartilage joints. In this regard, there is a need for medications that can favorably influence such a pathology. Pharmacologists have developed a number of tools aimed at restoring the structure of cartilage. One of such medications is the drug "Artiflex". The instruction indicates that the medicine has excellent chondroprotective properties.
Description of the drug
The main substance of the drug "Artiflex" is glucosamine sulfate sodium chloride. It is distinguished by its excellent chondroprotective effect.
Thus, the drug "Artiflex" (instructions for use indicates this) has a number of positive effects on the joints:
- stops the process of destruction of cartilage tissue;
- stimulates the production of intraarticular fluid;
- helps to restore damaged cartilage;
- reduces pain;
- restores elasticity of joints and their mobility;
- provides normal calcium deposition in bones;
- stimulates the production of chondroitin sulfuric acid;
- protects cartilage from damage due to NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids.
The drug does not have a negative effect on the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
The medication is available in several dosage forms:
- powder;
- tablets;
- ointment;
- injection.
This allows you to choose the necessary drug for any category of patients, taking into account the severity of the condition.
Indications for use
The medicine “Artiflex”, the instructions for use recommend the use in the treatment of various degenerative processes occurring in the spine or peripheral joints.
The main indications are such conditions and ailments:
- osteoarthrosis;
- spondylarthrosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- osteopathy, chondropathy;
- damage to joints as a result of physical overload (sports injuries);
- bone fractures (allows you to accelerate the formation of bone marrow);
- periodontopathy;
- chondromalacia;
- various injuries;
- operations on the musculoskeletal system.
Drug dosage
The medicine in the form of a powder is available in special bags. Each sachet contains 1,500 mg of active ingredient. The instruction recommends taking this drug "Artiflex" as follows:
- Before use, dissolve the contents of 1 sachet in a glass of water.
- Use the resulting drink once a day. It is best to carry out such a procedure while eating.
- The duration of the course depends on the condition of the patient. It is determined by the doctor. As a rule, the minimum duration of therapy is about 4 weeks.
- If necessary, the doctor will recommend repeating such therapy several times throughout the year. However, the interval between courses should be at least 2 months.
The therapeutic effect of taking the drug appears slowly. But at the same time, it persists for a long time even after stopping the use of the medicine. The maximum effectiveness of the medication is fixed 3 months after the start of therapy with this drug.
The use of a tablet preparation
Like powder, this product is used for internal use. However, the dosages are slightly different for this form of the Artiflex medication. The tablet instruction recommends taking this way:
- For adult patients, it is recommended to use 1-3 pills daily. The dosage is determined by the doctor depending on the pathology and condition of the patient.
- The therapy begins, usually with a maximum dose of three tablets. Gradually, the doctor adjusts the treatment regimen. The dosage begins to decline. Thus, the supporting norm is selected. Do not forget that only the attending physician can determine the required dose.
- The course of treatment is also selected individually. The minimum duration of medication is 6 weeks.
An excellent therapeutic effect can be observed only after 2-3 months from the start of treatment.
Injection
Intramuscular administration of Artiflex Chondro may be recommended for some patients.
The instruction provides the following rules for the use of the medicine:
- The drug is administered intramuscularly in 1 ml. This procedure is repeated every other day.
- If the patient tolerates this drug well and he does not have undesirable reactions to the medication, then the dose is increased to 2 ml. As a rule, the doctor monitors the patient's reaction for 6 days. During this time, the patient is given 3 injections. And only at the fourth injection does the doctor increase the dosage of the drug.
- To achieve the necessary therapeutic effect, at least 25 injections should be performed in one course. However, no more than 35.
- If necessary, therapy is allowed to be repeated after 6 months.
It is important not to forget that only under the supervision of a doctor can the dose be increased. The instructions attached to the "Artiflex" insist on this. Injections should be monitored especially carefully by the doctor if the patient has overweight, peptic ulcer. Attention is required by patients taking diuretics.
Ointment application
This is a great tool that is very popular. This form of the drug "Artiflex" (ointment) is intended for external use. The instruction describes the medicine as a combined preparation, which includes:
- Glucosamine hydrochloride. The component promotes the regeneration of cartilage, suspends the destruction of joints. The substance provides an improvement in the synthesis of intraarticular fluid.
- Ibuprofen. The ingredient has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The substance eliminates the pain syndrome, helps to reduce the inflammatory process.
- Allantoin. This is a herbal component of a medicinal product. The substance has anti-inflammatory properties, eliminates the pain effect, stimulates regenerative processes in the tissues.
"Artiflex" (ointment) instruction recommends use as follows:
- The product is applied to the surface of the joint. For 2-3 minutes, massage the joint. Thus, the cream is rubbed into the joint.
- During the day, 2-3 such manipulations should be carried out.
- The duration of treatment is 14 days.
Longer treatment with Artiflex (gel) is not recommended at all. The instruction says that in this case, side effects may occur, provoked by a component such as ibuprofen.
In addition, the product should not be used on open wounds. And carefully avoid getting the ointment on the mucous membranes.
Side effects
Be sure to monitor the body's response to this drug. The drug in the form of powder and tablets is able to provoke the following negative reactions:
- Digestive system. Stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence may occur. Some patients complain of nausea, and sometimes vomiting.
- Nervous system. During taking the medicine, headache, drowsiness, general weakness may occur.
- The immune system. The body can respond to the drug with various allergic manifestations. Most often, skin rashes, itching are observed.
- Organs of vision. In some cases, patients claim that against the background of treatment with the drug, their vision deteriorates.
For people who are prescribed Artiflex Chondro (injections), the instruction recommends that you be extremely careful. Since the medicine in the case of individual hypersensitivity of the patient is able not only to cause the above side effects, but also provoke the occurrence of the following conditions:
- anaphylactic shock;
- redness, severe itching at the injection site;
- angioedema;
- keratopathy;
- peripheral puffiness.
Be sure to notify your doctor about any negative reactions to the medication.
Contraindications
Do not forget that the medication has restrictions on admission. Therefore, before using this tool, be sure to study the annotation of the drug "Artiflex".
The instruction gives the following contraindications:
- chronic kidney pathologies characterized by impaired function in the stage of decompensation;
- lactation, pregnancy;
- phenylketonuria;
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- childhood.
Artiflex ointment is allowed for teenagers over 12 years old.
Analogues of the drug
If necessary, the attending doctor can choose medicines that also contain glucosamine.
Effective analogues are drugs:
- Aminoarthrin;
- "Arthron FLEX";
- "Artromax";
- "Glucosamine ORION";
- "DONA";
- Structum;
- Teraflex
- Chondroxide;
- Unium
- "Lycopid."
Patient opinions
What do patients think about Artiflex? The instruction positions the medicine as a rather effective remedy. Is it really?
People to whom the drug was prescribed by the attending physician testify that, having passed the recommended course, they felt significant relief. Patients claim that they were able to forget about the pain syndrome, got rid of stiffness in the joints. In addition, many testify that a rather unpleasant crunch in the joints has gone.
Thus, people attribute the medication to quite effective means. However, the patients themselves indicate that the first favorable results have to wait a long time, approximately 1.5 months. But it's worth it. After all, even after the end of taking the drug, positive results remain for a long time.