Drops "Zodak": instructions for use, indications, composition, analogues, reviews

Recent WHO data have shown that the number of allergy sufferers in Russia has increased by 20%. The figure is serious and requires the adoption of appropriate measures. Of course, with the development of medicine, allergies become an easily eliminated ailment; recently, positive reviews about Zodak drops are met with enviable regularity. Is the drug really so effective and what is its feature? A detailed review of drops from allergies "Zodak" read in this article.

Information and composition

According to the manufacturer, one milliliter of the drug contains 10 mg of cetirizine dihydrochloride. The following additional substances are also present in the composition: methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, glycerol, propylene glycol, sodium saccharinate dihydrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, glacial acetic acid and, of course, purified water.

The composition is very gentle, when compared with other antiallergic drugs, and excipients were used mainly to dilute the concentration of the main and preserve its medicinal properties in the package, that is, for conservation. Due to the similar composition of Zodak drops, the color of the solution can vary from transparent to light yellow.

Pharmacotherapeutic group. Pharmacological properties

The manufacturer claims the drug is an anti-allergic agent, antihistamine for H1 receptors.

The instructions for the Zodak drops indicate the following properties:

• Blocks histamine receptors.
• Prevents the development of allergies and facilitates the course of its reactions.
• Significantly affects reactions such as rash and redness in the patient. Studies have also been conducted confirming the safety of the drug for people with allergies and bronchial asthma of the middle and light course.
• Subject to the recommended dosages, an improvement in well-being is shown both in “seasonal patients” and in year-round allergy sufferers.
• When studying the effect on children aged 5 to 12 years, their susceptibility to the drug was shown. The same goes for babies aged 6–11 months. However, the use of the drug for children from 6 to 12 months old is allowed only by prescription and under the supervision of specialists.

Regarding the absorption of the drug:

• The maximum concentration of cetirizine in the blood is reached within 1.0-1.5 hours and reaches the limit of 300 ng / ml. At the same time, eating does not worsen the amount of absorbed substance, but reduces the speed of this process. Moreover, the form of the solution, capsules and tablets is comparable in its properties.

With regards to excretion from the body:

• It is linear, depending on age, weight, dosage. The half-life, on average, is 10 hours. The instructions for the Zodak drops indicate the period of use - ten days at a daily dosage of 10 mg, when the accumulation of the drug in the body was not recorded. Nevertheless, the attending physician will be able to give more specific figures in a particular particular case.

Indications for use

Of course, the main indication for children from six months of age and adults are allergic symptoms, which can be alleviated with the correct method of applying the Zodak drops. Also, the drug is used in the presence of the following conditions:

• allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (year-round and seasonal);
• chronic urticaria;
• Quincke's edema;
• tearing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, itching and sneezing, resulting from the above and other allergic diseases.

Before diagnosing yourself with something similar to the above items, you should consult a specialist, because the use of Zodak drops for adults and for children should be monitored by a doctor.

Contraindications

To avoid unpleasant situations in the form of worsening health conditions or the emergence of new diseases, you should familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications. Many ignore this point, believing that only exceeding the dosage of Zodak drops can make you feel unwell, but the list of prohibitions is presented below.

• If there is an increased sensitivity to any components of the drug, especially to cetirizine and hydroxyzine.
• Renal failure of the terminal stage, where CC is less than 10 ml / min.
• Since studies on very young children are unsafe, for use the drug until the age of six months is also unacceptable.
• Pregnancy at any time. Accordingly, a child in the womb is even smaller and more vulnerable than in the first six months of life, therefore, a medicine for expectant mothers is also prohibited.

Methods of using the medicine and dose for patients

The use of Zodak drops according to the instructions is very simple. They use the medicine inside, after dropping the solution into a spoon or dissolving it in a certain amount of liquid. The solution should be taken immediately. This approach is especially well used for babies, since Zodak drops are not produced, due to the versatility of the product.

• For adults. The dosage is 10 mg once a day, which is 20 drops. Often half the dose is enough if this is enough to achieve a result.
• Elderly people. For those whose kidneys function as standard, there is no need to reduce the dosage.
• People with impaired renal function. For such patients, the drug is prescribed only when there is no alternative treatment option. Then the dosage is adjusted based on the KK index (creatinine clearance), since the main substance cetirizine is excreted from the body to a greater extent through the kidneys. Calculation of QC values ​​for men and women is different. The following are formulas compiled by the manufacturer.

Calculation formula for men: KK (ml / min) = [140 - age (in years)] × body weight (in kilograms) ÷ 72 × KK serum (mg / dl).

For women, QC is calculated in a similar way, only the result is multiplied by 0.85.

For adults with impaired renal function, the dose is calculated according to the table below.

People with impaired liver function. In this case, any correction is not required, but if at the same time a violation of the functions of both the kidneys and the liver is diagnosed, it is necessary to proceed from the calculations indicated in the table above.

Children. Let us remind once again that for the Zodak drops, children's dosages (for babies under the age of one year) are not provided, they can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Age from 6 months to a year: 2.5 mg (which is 5 drops), use once a day.

Age from 1 year to 6 years: 2.5 mg (5 drops) twice a day.

Age from 6 to 12 years: 5 mg (10 drops) twice a day.

Age from 12 years: 10 mg (20 drops) to use once a day. As with adult dosages, a minimum dose of 5 mg (10 drops) can be quite effective.

If the child has renal failure, then the dosage is calculated taking into account the indicators of QC and body weight.

Side effects and overdose of the drug

Data on whether there is a side effect of Zodak drops and the effect on the human body were obtained in clinical studies.

As a result, minor negative consequences were revealed that appear on the part of the human central nervous system, such as increased drowsiness, fatigue, headaches and dizziness. Some cases have revealed, on the contrary, stimulation of the central nervous system. Rarely, but there was difficulty in urinating, impaired visual function (false myopia), and dry mouth. Sometimes there was a deterioration in the function of the liver, which was combined with an increase in the activity of its enzymes.

In most cases, after stopping the use of the previous dosage of Zodak drops, the negative symptoms disappear. It should be noted that the above results are average. Accordingly, in fact, the risk of side effects is less. A more specific list of reactions can be found in the detailed instructions inside the package.

Post-registration application. In addition to the above phenomena, additional adverse reactions were identified and described during post-registration use.

This can include part of the list of rare, very rare cases, as well as cases with an unknown frequency. These are: thrombocytopenia, a hypersensitivity reaction, and even less commonly anaphylactic shock, increased appetite, agitation, cramps, taste change, vertigo, dystonia, tremor, sleep disturbance, diarrhea, tachycardia, enuresis, weight gain.

The main emphasis in compiling this list is made on the prevention of any diseases that may develop as a result of the side effects of Zodak drops. Their registration allows you to actively monitor the ratio of the benefits and risks of this drug to health.

On the clinical side, the symptoms of overdose are mainly reflected in the effect on the central system of human nerves. When using a dose of 50 mg, the following reactions were observed: confused consciousness, weak stools, dizziness and decreased activity, headaches, general malaise, itching of the skin, increased irritability and stress, weakness, tremor and urinary retention. Often there were symptoms of tachycardia and stupor.

Despite the fact that during the studies an increased percentage of drowsiness was recorded after using the drug, compared with the placebo group, on the basis of practice it can be said with confidence that the unpleasant consequences were mild and insignificant. Most subjects noted that such side effects did not affect everyday life and its quality.

Overdose treatment. If an overdose of Zodak drops occurs, it is urgent to stop taking the medicine, provoke vomiting, and take gastric lavage measures. It will also be useful to drink the amount of activated carbon required by weight, consult a doctor if after some time there is no improvement, since there are no specific antidotes.

Drug interactions with other drugs

A certain combination of cetirizine and other drugs, which would adversely affect the state of health, was not observed. Additional studies were conducted, during which it was found that the simultaneous use of drugs and alcohol, as well as other drugs that weaken the normal functioning of the central nervous system, can provoke an even greater decrease in the person’s attention concentration and his reaction rate to events. Although cetirizine will not enhance the effect of alcohol, if its concentration in the blood is 0.5 g / l.

Contraindications

• Use during pregnancy and lactation. Analyzes were made of the data of more than 700 cases of pregnancy outcome, where no malformations of the embryo or fetus were revealed. Nevertheless, serious and well-controlled studies on pregnant women have not been conducted, therefore, the instruction of the Zodak drug prohibits the use of the drug in this case.
• During lactation, the use of the drug is possible only if the benefit to the mother is greater than the hypothetical risk for the child, since the active substance is found directly in the mother’s milk, and in a decent amount (from 25 to 90 percent), and, of course, it can enter the body baby, therefore, the application should be agreed with the doctor and be monitored by specialists who can control how to correctly take the "Zodak" in drops.
• Driving vehicles and engaging in hazardous activities. With a thorough assessment of the ability to drive a car, as well as working with mechanisms, there are no certain certain negative factors that would occur after applying the Zodak drops according to the instructions. Nevertheless, if there is a side effect in the form of drowsiness, weakness, dizziness while taking the drug, it will be more logical to abandon dangerous activities and driving vehicles where increased concentration and attention are needed.
• Chronic kidney failure and impaired function. Consultation of a doctor and accounting of data from the table above are necessary.
• Retired and elderly patients. If there is a decrease in glomerular filtration quality.
• Most types of epilepsy and increased convulsive readiness of the body.
• Damage to the spinal cord and growth of neoplasms in the prostate gland, as well as other factors predisposing to urinary retention.

In addition to the above, there is a potential depressing effect on the human central nervous system, therefore, when prescribing Zodak drops during pregnancy, studying the medical history of a particular patient, especially a child, is simply necessary, because there are a number of factors that increase the risk of sudden infant mortality syndrome under the age of one year.

1. Sleep apnea syndrome or sudden infant mortality syndrome in infants in the patient’s sisters and brothers.
2. Drug use or maternal smoking during pregnancy.
3. Mother's age is under nineteen.
4. If there is a smoking person (such as a nanny) next to the child who smokes more than one pack per day.
5. If the child regularly falls asleep face down and is not turned over on his back.
6. Premature baby (gestational age less than 37 weeks) born with low birth weight.
7. If there is a simultaneous administration of drugs that have a negative effect on the child’s nervous system.
8. If the composition of such preparations includes auxiliary substances such as methyl parabenzene and propyl parabenzene. They can cause allergic reactions, including slow-type reactions.

Release form, conditions for safe storage of drops "Zodak" from allergies

The drug is declared by the manufacturer as a medicine in the form of drops for oral administration of 10 mg / ml.

Available in a 20 ml dark glass bottle, sealed with a special stopper with dropper function, as well as a lid with protection against opening by small children. After use, the vial must be covered again and tightened again. Each bottle is issued in a set with detailed instructions for use and is placed with it in a cardboard package. No special storage conditions are required. And yet, it involves storage in an exclusively safe place from children, for example, in a first-aid kit or a special medical case.

The shelf life of Zodak drops is 3 years from the date of issue; its date is indicated on the package. Use after the expiration date is dangerous and prohibited. Dispose of the medicine immediately.

Analogues of the drug

Of course, this medicine has analogues in quality and purpose, often with minimal differences. Since pharmaceuticals in recent years have made serious progress, the range of drugs on offer has also expanded. For example, how many drops of the Zodak act? On average, the duration of the action is about 24 hours. And if you need a stronger or, conversely, a weaker antihistamine? Or were there no drops in the pharmacy?

Here are a few analogues of Zodak drops.

The most expensive is Parlazin. However, effective, rapidly absorbed, despite eating food. The duration of action is similar and equal to 1 day. Available for use by children from a year.

"Zirtek" - it is still the same 24 hours, it is forbidden for children up to a year, since studies in this area have not been conducted. The release form of the drug is limited to the version in tablets, therefore, if used for children, it is advisable to grind the dose and mix in a small amount of liquid.

"Citrine" - also has the form of release exclusively in the form of tablets. In general, the drug is aimed at a more adult audience, since the use of Citrine is possible only from the age of six. The use of food does not greatly affect the absorption rate of the medicinal composition.

Reviews of the Zodak drops on the part of patients are mostly positive, since the medicine has the most sparing form and is allowed for children from six months, if necessary. It is better to decide which drug to treat the allergy for yourself or for children, not on your own, but in consultation with your doctor, since the medicine may show an adverse reaction that needs to be controlled.

An important factor in favor of choosing this drug is its price. Compared to peers, the efficiency is almost equal, but the cost is different. As for the form of release, drops are easier to apply to people of any age, regardless of time and place, in addition, the packaging can use a convenient dispenser - a pipette. Also, you should always pay attention to the expiration dates, the integrity of the package and never be shy to ask for documents for the medicine in the pharmacy. A conscientious pharmacist will provide them without any problems. Also, do not forget to follow the rules of dosage and use of the drug.