Smecta is an excellent remedy used for food poisoning, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. How quickly Smecta helps depends on the underlying cause of the disease. For example, with food poisoning, 2-3 doses of the medicine will be required to alleviate the condition of the patient, and it may take several days to completely stop the diarrhea. What are the features of the use of the drug and its difference from similar drugs?
Structure
The main active ingredient of Smecta is a natural mineral extracted from shell rock - dioctahedral smectite (Diosmectite). It belongs to the group of adsorbents of mineral origin.
Manufacturer - Beaufour Ipsen International. The substance is a grayish white or grayish yellow powder. To improve taste, the manufacturer adds glucose, saccharin and vanillin to the product - and it turns out the drug with the trade name Smecta. What does the medicine help from? It is mainly used for diarrhea of various etiologies.
Release form
The powder is packaged in paper bags weighing 3 g. In cardboard packaging - 10 or 30 bags.
Before use, the contents of 1 sachet are diluted in half a glass of water, gradually pouring the powder into the water and stirring. It turns out an opaque suspension, which is drunk before or after a meal, observing an interval of 1-2 hours. Also do not allow mixing "Smecta" with other drugs. Otherwise, there will be no effect from them - Smecta will absorb them. Store the drug at a temperature not exceeding + 25 ° C.
Mechanism of action
“Smecta” refers to drugs for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. Its action is based on the ability of the smectite crystal lattice to selectively attract and fix viruses, bacteria, toxins, gases and other harmful substances on its surface.
This process is called adsorption. In addition, Smecta improves mucus production and together with it forms a glycoprotein layer that protects the intestinal wall from the irritating effects of chemical and physical factors,
pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This is the main advantage of the drug over other drugs with adsorption properties. In the complex therapy of enteritis, including infectious origin, "Smecta" is always prescribed. What helps the drug, except for intestinal inflammation? Here is a list of indications for the use of Smecta:
- food allergy;
- drug diarrhea;
- diarrhea due to a violation of diet;
- food poisoning;
- heartburn;
- gastritis;
- peptic ulcer;
- bloating due to increased gas formation.
Smecta can be used for children of any age, pregnant and lactating women. Consider carefully the features of use for various symptoms of digestive disorders.
Loose stool
Does Smecta help with diarrhea? Of course, because this is the main purpose of the drug. Diarrhea stops due to the removal of harmful and irritating substances from the intestines by the medicine, the creation of a high-quality protective mucous layer on its inner membrane. In case of poisoning and irritable bowel syndrome, Smecta is one of the best adsorbents. If diarrhea is caused by infectious causes, then, in addition to Smecta, the doctor will prescribe antibacterial drugs. Recall that the interval between taking any medicine and Smecta should be 1-2 hours, otherwise their effectiveness will significantly decrease. Adults with diarrhea are prescribed 1 sachet three times a day until stool normalizes. Thus, the daily dose of the drug is 9 g.
Does Smecta help with vomiting?
“Smecta” refers to antidiarrheal drugs, but can it be used for vomiting? It depends on the cause that caused it. As a rule, infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and food poisoning are accompanied by vomiting. In these cases, it is recommended to take Smecta as an adsorbent that removes harmful substances from the stomach and intestines. The dose is the same as with diarrhea - 1 sachet per reception. If, immediately after taking the medicine, the patient vomits again, then it is necessary to drink the drug again.
"Smecta" helps with vomiting only if the process was caused by the ingestion of poor-quality food, poisonous substances or an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract. In all other cases, such as vomiting due to fever, head trauma, nervous disorders, adsorbents are useless.
"Smecta" helps with nausea if it is caused by the accumulation of toxic products in the stomach or intestines, associated with the development of a viral or bacterial infection in the intestines, and the intake of poor-quality food. By removing harmful substances, the adsorbent removes the cause of nausea.
Use in children
Not all drugs are suitable for small patients. One of the medicines approved for children of any age is Smecta. What does she help kids with? From problems such as:
- loose stools;
- gas in the intestines;
- rotavirus infections;
- food poisoning;
- heartburn;
- dysbiosis.
Newborns can be taken "Smecta" on the second or third day as prescribed by a pediatrician with jaundice.
Doses for babies are different than recommended for adults. Up to a year, the daily dose is 3 g - 1 sachet. Up to two years - 6 g (2 sachets). Over two years old - as in adults, up to 9 g, i.e. up to 3 sachets per day. The daily dose is best divided into two to three doses. You can mix the drug not only with water, but also with baby mixtures, mashed potatoes, compotes. For small children, the contents of the bag are diluted in 50 ml of liquid. If Smecta is given in mashed potatoes or milk formula, then you need to divide the daily dose of powder into three parts and dilute before use so that the food does not spoil. They drink the child a teaspoon within 1-2 hours, the next dose of the drug can be given after 2 hours.
Advantages of Smecta over other adsorbents:
- does not affect the motility of the gastrointestinal tract;
- does not injure the intestinal wall with microparticles;
- selective adsorption - does not remove vitamins and minerals from the body;
- has an enveloping effect.
For children release "Smecta" with an orange flavor.
Contraindications
You can not take the drug with bowel obstruction. It is also prescribed with caution with a tendency to chronic constipation, individually selecting a dose. Very rarely there are cases of individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
Side effects
Cases of overdose "Smecta" are not recorded. Of the side effects possible:
- the development of constipation;
- allergic reactions - urticaria, skin itching, rash, Quincke's edema;
- if used improperly, a decrease in the rate and degree of absorption of other drugs from the gastrointestinal tract.
It is undesirable to use the drug "Smecta" for more than 7 days.
From what helps and how effective is the remedy, according to consumers? Most of them agree that this is the most effective drug for diarrhea and vomiting caused by food poisoning in children and adults. Also, many mothers give Smect to babies with colic, combining it with Espumisan. There are reviews that in some children, this adsorbent can cause vomiting due to its consistency or constipation, which occurs when the drug is discontinued or the dose is reduced. As for the taste of the medicine, adults do not experience any problems. But children often refuse to take it because of a not very pleasant taste.
In general, Smecta is an affordable and high-quality drug for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea and, in some cases, vomiting in children and adults. Subject to the instructions for use, the medication is harmless and practically has no contraindications and side effects.