In the article, we consider the instructions for use, price and reviews of Pentoxifylline.
It is a remedy that improves microcirculation and blood rheological properties. It is an angioprotector. The mechanism of action of the drug is due to the accumulation of CAMP and the inhibition of phosphodiesterase in the cells of vascular smooth muscles and shaped blood elements. Tablets and Pentoxifylline solution inhibit the aggregation of red blood cells and platelets, increase their elasticity, reduce plasma fibrinogen levels and increase fibrinolysis, due to which blood viscosity decreases and its rheological properties improve.
The drug has a small vasodilating myotropic effect. “Pentoxifylline” improves peripheral blood circulation, as it reduces overall resistance to some extent, and dilates blood vessels slightly. The drug as a whole improves microcirculation, supplies oxygen to tissues in the limbs and central nervous system, less to the kidneys.
Pharmacology Features
The instruction for the drug states that the drug "Pentoxifylline" in solution and tablets:
- It inhibits the combination of red blood cells and platelets into one system.
- Increases their sensitivity.
- Reduces plasma fibrinoid level.
- Strengthens the mechanism of dissolution of blood clots and blood clots, blood becomes less viscous, its rheological properties increase.
How do pentoxifylline tablets and injection work?
- The drug has a small vasodilating myotropic effect.
- To some extent, it reduces the characteristic resistance of peripheral vessels.
- To a moderate degree, it has a positive inotropic effect (coronary vessels expand slightly).
- Oxygen begins to saturate the tissues, the highest concentration is noted in the central nervous system and limbs.
With severe vascular obstruction, which causes intermittent claudication, the drug administered intravenously can significantly improve the situation, the patient is no longer bothered by spasms of the calf muscles at night, sensitivity decreases, the pain recedes. The medication quickly improves peripheral blood circulation.
The instruction for the drug states that its origin is synthetic. Why Pentoxifylline is needed, not everyone knows.
Features of pharmacokinetics
The drug is completely and rapidly absorbed. Its active substance begins to bind to the membranes of red blood cells, and also falls under biotransformation. Initially, this is carried out in the red blood cells, then in the liver, in which two main metabolites are formed: 1-3-hydroxypropyl, 3-7-dimethylxanthine and 1-5-hydroxyisohexyl, 3-7-dimethylxanthine.
The instructions for the Pentoxifylline tablets and the solution indicate that its residues are excreted by the kidneys, a small percentage of the drug (up to four) - through the intestines.
When using medication during pregnancy and lactation, special care must be taken and it is imperative to consult a specialist, because active ingredients penetrate a woman's breast milk.
Release Forms
The drug is available in the form of:
- coated tablets, 100 mg, as well as sustained-release coated tablets of 400 mg;
- solution for intra-arterial and intravenous administration (in the form of a dropper and injections in injection ampoules).
What are the indications for the use of Pentoxifylline? In what cases is the drug effective. About it below.
Indications
"Pentoxifylline" in solution and tablets is used for:
- cerebrovascular disease - a chronic pathology in which cholesterol is deposited on the internal arterial wall, as well as damage to the muscles of the heart due to acute disturbances in the blood supply due to thrombosis;
- disorders of blood circulation (in a disease where small terminal arteries are affected; a vascular chronic disease with predominant arterial lesions of the lower extremities);
- nephropathy and other lesions of the blood vessels;
- vascular disease of the eyes;
- cochlear neuritis;
- circulatory defects in the inflammatory, diabetic and atherosclerotic process of inflammation (including "intermittent" lameness, which causes atherosclerosis, and diabetic angiopathy);
- defects in the blood circulation of the vessels of the eyes;
- trophic tissue disorders resulting from venous and arterial microcirculation (gangrene, frostbite).
Instructions for use and dosage
The specifics of the use of the drug in various situations:
- In accordance with the instructions of the Pentoxifylline tablet, 0.2 grams should be taken three times a day, washed down with a large volume of ordinary drinking water. When the overall picture improves (about one to two weeks), the dosage is reduced to 0.1 grams. The treatment course lasts from 14 to 24 days. Tablets should be taken orally, preserving the integrity of the shell. Dragee tablets are taken at 1.2 grams per day. Can be divided into three times.
- The solution is often prescribed in droppers for acute disorders of the cerebral and peripheral circulation. The instructions for use confirm this. Pentoxifylline is injected intravenously in an isotonic NaCl solution (from 250 to 500 ml) or in 5% C6H12O6. A dropper is placed for one and a half to two hours. A specialist can increase the dosage per day to two or three ampoules.
- Intraarterial 0.1 grams is introduced into an isotonic NaCl solution (from 20 to 50 ml), then from 0.2 to 0.3 grams (the dosage of the solution increases by ten milliliters). The dosage of Pentoxifylline should be strictly observed.
The instructions for the drug and its analogues indicate that with severe pathology due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the cerebral vessels, the drug is not allowed to enter the large paired artery on either one or the other side of the neck.
The instructions for the use of Pentoxifylline analogues also draw attention to the fact that patients with diagnosed death of kidney tissue are prescribed no more than half the usual dosage.
When using the medicine in ampoules, it is very important to work with them correctly:
- take the ampoule and shake it, while holding the neck;
- squeeze the ampoule with your hand (while the liquid should not stand out) in a circular motion to rotate and separate the valve;
- through the hole formed, the syringe is connected to the neck of the ampoule;
- the ampoule turns over, its contents are typed.
Feasible side effects
"Pentoxifylline" in ampoules and tablets can cause a number of side effects. Among them are noted:
- vomiting
- feeling of full stomach;
- nausea;
- gastric spasm;
- diarrhea;
- lowering blood pressure;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- angina pectoris;
- a feeling of high tide;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- redness of the skin;
- urticaria, itching;
- anaphylactic shock;
- angioedema;
- the appearance of bleeding (in the mucous membranes, in the skin, in the digestive tract);
- aplastic anemia;
- thrombocytopenia.
Contraindications
The instructions for use say that tablets are prohibited when:
- chronic disease, when cholesterol is deposited on the internal arterial walls;
- sensitivity to the active substance or other similar components that have a pharmacology similar to Pentoxifylline;
- damage to the heart muscle due to acute disorders of the blood supply due to thrombosis;
- a sudden drop in blood pressure to the extent that a person can feel it;
- hemorrhages in the brain and eye retina;
- ulcerative pathology of the digestive organs;
- violation of blood coagulation, while breastfeeding or pregnancy.
This must be considered before treatment.
special instructions
In each specific situation, it is necessary to check the compatibility of the infusion solution and the Pentoxifylline solution. When conducting intravenous infusions, the patient should be in a supine position. The drug is well tolerated by people at the recommended rate of infusion and with injections. The dosage of the drug is reduced for patients with unstable and low blood pressure. In the elderly, drug elimination is reduced, and therefore a dosage reduction may be necessary. Smoking can lower the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug.
Drug interaction
According to the instructions for use with “Pentoxifylline” in tablets and solution, the activity of medicines that affect blood coagulation systems (direct and indirect type anticoagulants), Acidum valproicum, antibiotics (cefotetan, cefoperazone, cefamandol) is significantly increased under the action of the drug.
Antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic agents for oral use, insulin become more effective when combined with Pentoxifylline.
Active substances increase the concentration of the drug in the blood plasma (the number of possible side effects increases). The combination of a number of xanthones causes a strong excitation of the nervous system.
Analogs
Among the analogues of the drug are:
- "Flowerpot";
- "Trental pentoxifylline";
- Latren
- "Xanthinol nicotinate."
The choice of the drug should be done by the doctor. Patient reviews indicate that all drugs can improve blood circulation in small blood vessels, as well as provide oxygen to tissues.
Pentoxifylline or Trental: which is better?
Patients often ask the question which drug is better - Pentoxifylline or Trental? In such a situation, you need to know that Trental is the trade name for the substance pentoxifylline. This drug is original, it was first introduced on the pharmaceutical market by Sanofi-Aventis. Later, other companies began to produce the medicine under various trade names. Such drugs are generics.
Among the advantages of a branded product are the following:
- The medicine was synthesized in Germany in the early 70s and until now is one of the safest and most effective.
- Using the drug improves the plastic signs of red blood cells.
- The medicine is widely used in the practice of surgeons and is considered to be one of the most popular vascular preparations in 2004.
- The medicine is absorbed by more than 90%.
According to the results of several clinical studies, its good tolerability and the claimed therapeutic effect were confirmed.
The drug has an angioprotective effect, normalizes the blood flow of small blood vessels and expands them. The drug has both preventive and therapeutic effects, thanks to its use, the progress of a disease is suspended.
Among the disadvantages are the rather high price of the Trental medication in comparison with its analogues. The medicine is intended for prolonged use, and therefore this factor can be a significant minus for some patients.
Thus, the conclusions are as follows: if the patient has doubts that it is better to use “Trental” or “Pentoxifylline” in the process of treating blood microcirculation disorders or a hypoxic state, then you need to pay attention to such obvious facts:
- If possible, it is better to give preference to better products approved by the quality control department of the drug. This recommendation particularly applies to patients with severe hypoxic defects and advanced vascular pathologies.
- It is necessary to pay attention to the results of clinical studies that have been conducted since the 2000s, showing the pronounced therapeutic effect of the drug.
In the event that a person does not have the opportunity to buy an expensive product, you can always get a doctor's consultation and choose a more budget, but at the same time, high-quality version of the original drug.
Price
Ten ampoules of an injection solution of 2% cost 42 rubles.
60 tablets of 0.1 grams - 102 rubles.
Instructions for the use of the drug indicate that before using it, you must always consult your doctor.
Doctors reviews
The drug is used in neurosurgery as a tool that improves microcirculation, in the treatment of craniocerebral and spinal injuries, radiculopathy with simultaneous disc herniation.
Doctors note a good ratio of quality and price.
An excellent effect of Pentoxifylline injections is observed in patients with intermittent claudication in chronic leg ischemia. The relatively low price and high availability to all categories of patients are an undoubted advantage.
In rare situations, there may be side effects in the form of decreased pressure, nausea, dizziness, and allergic reactions. The use is limited in some categories of patients, for example, with diabetes mellitus or serious cardiac diseases.
The clinical effect of the drug is often poorly expressed with angiopathies and other nosologies. Patients with cardiac arrhythmias and aged poorly tolerate it. Hypotension is provoked when combined with antihypertensive drugs.
Patient Reviews
Patient reviews about Pentoxifylline are contradictory.
After taking the tablets, many patients had noises in the head and ears, and vision was normal. However, the medicine has many different side effects, including lowering blood pressure. When the first adverse events occur, you have to reduce the dosage, and they pass.
The drug in ampoules is also effective. No negative properties were noticed. This vasodilator medicine is often used in medical practice. For some patients, it is first prescribed as an intravenous dropper, and it immediately greatly alleviated the manifestations of the disease. Further improvements in blood supply to the lower extremities, reduction in pain, normalization of sleep, and the absence of numbness of the feet were noted.
Reviews indicate that Pentoxifylline is a good and affordable analogue of Trental, which not every patient can purchase.
Very often, in the responses of patients, not only the effectiveness of the drug is noted, but also a large number of side effects, because of which it has to be canceled and switched to a more expensive original.
We reviewed the Pentoxifylline preparation for use, price and reviews.