An increasing number of people suffer from allergic reactions. Affected by both adults and children. Moreover, the problem can be not only congenital, but also acquired. Allergy is a non-specific response of the immune system to a stimulus. It can occur in a variety of forms. The consequences can also be very different: from a common cold to Quincke's edema. But if earlier tablets were used to treat problems, which caused side effects, now they are releasing new generation drugs that do not have such an effect on the body. These include the drug "Zirtek", the instructions for use which clarifies that its use is possible even in infancy. The main thing is to choose the right form of release of the drug and dosage.
Tool selection
If a person suffers from manifestations of an allergic reaction, he should always have drugs in his home medicine cabinet that can prevent the development of dangerous symptoms. Doctors recommend that parents of young children acquire such funds. After all, sometimes unusual food or any other factor can cause redness on the baby's cheeks. Increasingly, the choice falls on the Zirtek. The instruction for use states that the medicine is suitable for the treatment of manifestations of all forms of allergies in adults and children.
It is important that if the problem already exists, then the drug is able to protect against the development of dangerous complications. However, doctors recommend choosing a medicine based on their recommendations. Among allergy sufferers, “Zirtek” is a very popular remedy, and specialists generally approve of this choice. The great advantage of the tool is that it can be given to infants.
Release Forms
The drug has only two forms of release - tablets and drops for oral administration. The spray is also presented on the official website of the company, but so far it is not available in Russia. Do not release the drug in the form of a cream.
The instructions for use for "Zirtek" clearly states that the principle of action, that the drug is in the form of a drop, that in tablets is exactly the same. It should be borne in mind that in liquid form, it is convenient to give the medicine to children, and tablets are more suitable for adults.
Tablets. They have a milky hue and an oblong shape. It is known that one pill contains 10 mg of the active substance - cetirizine.
Drops - colorless transparent solution. The instructions for use for Zirtek say that they were developed specifically for children, and they have a sweet taste and aroma of acetic acid. In this case, the composition is completely free of flavorings and alcohol, so the medicine can be given even to infants. The drug is convenient to use with the dispenser included in the kit.
It is important that only inside through the mouth is it necessary to take Zirtek drops. In the nose, instructions for use do not provide for their use.
What problems does it solve
In medical practice, the drug is used to solve allergy problems. He acts as follows:
- eliminates the symptoms of hay fever - runny nose, sneezing;
- relieves of various dermatoses.
The medicine is intended for the treatment of drug or food allergies. It is fixed that the product is effective against any irritants that cause an allergic reaction. These may be the following types of allergens:
- plant pollen;
- animal hair;
- household chemical particles;
- medications;
- dust.
Zirtek is recommended for relief from insect bites and if the irritant caused a severe allergic reaction and Quincke's edema.
Dermatologists recommend the use of the drug in the complex treatment of atopic dermatitis. It is also prescribed in case of bronchial asthma. The medicine is popular and has a wide scope, because it does not depress the nervous system, if you strictly adhere to the recommended dosage.
How does the drug work?
In the human body, histamine can transform and end up in the bloodstream, which causes an allergic reaction. It is this biological substance that is responsible for triggering negative manifestations of the stimulus. In its active form, histamine is able to cause smooth muscle spasms and promote the release of adrenaline and secretion. In addition, the substance has an effect on cardiac activity, provokes edema. Blood pressure may decrease and a headache may appear.
It is the neutralization of histamine that the action of the Zirtec drug is directed. Instructions for use suggest that he effectively fights against allergy, because it eliminates the effects of histamine activity.
What does it consist of
The medicine is referred to a new generation of antihistamines that do not have side effects, such as drowsiness and do not affect the patient's ability to control various mechanisms. One of the most popular means of this group in our country is the Zirtek drug. Instructions for use suggest to the consumer that the main active ingredient is cyterisin. It belongs to histamine antagonists and acts at different stages of allergic manifestation. Once in the body, the substance blocks H 1 receptors (histamine). Citerisin has the following effects:
- relieves itching;
- prevents and eliminates tissue edema;
- eliminates spasms of smooth muscles;
- effectively fights the body's response to cold;
- neutralizes skin reactions.
Features of admission in children
To combat allergies in the smallest patients, doctors recommend using Zirtek in drops (10 mg). Instructions for use indicate that the medicine is safe for children and can eliminate unpleasant symptoms even before the onset of complications. However, if the reaction is already in full swing, then the drug effectively reduces the effect of active histamine. Doctors especially emphasize that the drug does not have a sedative effect, which distinguishes it from other similar drugs. It is also important that long-term use is not addictive, so the tool can be used repeatedly.
For the treatment of allergy manifestations in children, it is necessary to use the Zirtek liquid form (10 ml). Instructions for use clearly show that 1 mg of such a drug accounts for 10 mg of the active ingredient. Contained in it and excipients:
- water;
- sodium acetate;
- glycerol;
- acetic acid.
When appointed
Zirtek is able to eliminate multiple manifestations of allergies. The instructions for use tell the consumer in which cases the remedy will be effective. The medicine is necessary to eliminate the effects of negative body reactions to the stimulus. Moreover, drops can be used to treat newborns. However, despite the fact that this form of the drug is positioned, how can a child use it even after the baby reaches the age of six months. Otherwise, the individual doctor may give an individual recommendation. Problems that Zirtek fixes:
- allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis;
- Quincke's edema;
- urticaria symptoms;
- itching on the skin and constant tickling in the nose caused by hay fever;
- various skin manifestations associated with external and internal irritants.
Baby drops "Zirtek": instructions for use
For the treatment of the smallest patients, drops are provided. They are consumed inside, previously dissolved in a small amount of liquid. If you study the instructions, it becomes clear that the dosage will depend on the age of the child:
- If the baby is from 6 months to a year, then a day he needs to take 5 drops. Reception is limited once.
- Patients who are from one to two years old are recommended to give a similar amount of the drug, but twice a day.
- Children from two to six are offered five drops twice a day, but with acute symptoms, 10 drops can be used once.
- For older children, the recommended dosage is 10 drops per day, but if necessary, it can be increased to 20.
The instructions for use with Zirtek drops for children indicate that the doctor may make individual amendments to the recommended dosage regimen. So, in the presence of renal failure, the specialist will prescribe a slightly different reception regimen. This is due to the fact that the active substance is mainly excreted by the kidneys. But if the disorders in the body are associated with the functioning of the baby’s liver, then an adjustment to the intake will not be required.
The advantage is the possibility of using the drug "Zirtek" for newborns. The instructions for use indicate that the recommended age is from six months. If an allergy remedy was required earlier, then the doctor will recommend an individual scheme. It is known that the medicine is successfully used to relieve unpleasant symptoms even in smaller patients. But their treatment should be under the full supervision of a qualified specialist.
Dosage for adults
It is better if the dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor, taking into account the general condition and possible consequences. But the general information that is presented in the instructions shows that children over six years of age and adults are usually prescribed the drug in the form of tablets.
For adults, one tablet per day is recommended for the treatment and removal of all allergy symptoms. For children, the dosage does not change, but the pill should be divided in half into two doses. One half should be drunk in the morning, the second - in the evening. Moreover, a second dose may not be necessary, because a dose of 5 mg, as a rule, works effectively.
The tablets do not need to be chewed; they must be swallowed whole. In this case, it is important that there is enough drunk fluid. To achieve the greatest therapeutic effect, the medicine is taken one hour after a meal or one hour before it.
Usually, histamine release is recorded in the evening hours, so with a single dose it is better to drink a pill before bedtime. With regular admission, a 12-hour period should be maintained.
When you can not use the medicine
Effectively and safely eliminates all the symptoms of allergic manifestations of Zyrtec. Indications for use (confirmation of this instruction) can be all the unpleasant consequences that are caused by the manifestation of active histamine. The drug quickly eliminates all symptoms, removes puffiness, redness, tearing and runny nose. However, this drug is not always suitable for everyone. Drops from Zirtek allergy (the instructions for use contain complete information) can not be taken in the following cases:
- if there is an individual intolerance to any component of the drug;
- impaired kidney function;
- patient's age is less than six months.
However, the last point is not a complete contraindication and, together with the doctor, you can make an informed decision about admission.
Admission restrictions
Specialists recommend using the product with caution in children under the age of one year. Their treatment is best carried out under the supervision of an allergist. The question of the dosage of the drug should also be completely entrusted to the doctor if there are kidney pathologies. It is also important to consult a specialist for those patients who have disorders associated with the discharge of urine, or the risk of seizures.
Zyrtec also has some limitations in the form of drops. Instructions for use clearly indicate that simultaneous administration with theophylline reduces the effectiveness of the drug by 15%.
Doctors agree that, given all the features of the active substance and possible side effects, only an allergist should deal with the appointment and dosage of antiallergic drugs. Self-prescribing and ignoring the provisions of the instructions may harm the body and not remove all symptoms.
Side effects
Relatively safe for babies "Zirtek". Instructions for use indicate that administration is possible at this age, which is rare for this type of drug. But for the treatment of such small patients, only drops are used that are easy to give the baby with water. But, regardless of the form of release, the medicine can cause unpleasant consequences. Among the main side effects are the following:
- drowsiness:
- headache or dizziness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- dry mouth and nasal mucosa;
- runny nose and nasal congestion.
Among the side effects, the instructions indicate anaphylactic shock and an aggressive state. But then an explanation was given that such conditions are extremely rare, however, this item cannot be ignored. The annotation also contains an indication of possible urinary incontinence during treatment with this drug, deterioration in the quality of vision and the development of asthenia.
There are warnings for lactating women. In this condition, administration is possible, but it is important to strictly adhere to the recommended dosage, otherwise problems may arise.
Consequences of an overdose
If the drug is taken according to the instructions, then side effects occur quite rarely. However, if you accidentally overdose, the following problems may occur:
- tremor of limbs;
- anxiety;
- headache;
- increased itching;
- general malaise and weakness;
- loose stools;
- strong sedative effect.
What to do in case of overdose
If the permissible dose of the medicine is exceeded, then the main measure is gastric lavage. There is no special antidote, but the use of absorbent drugs is recommended. Ordinary activated carbon can be used.
It is noted that an overdose negatively affects the nervous system and acts on it depressingly. Therefore, nursing mothers should be careful. It is also important to consider that with a predisposition in a baby to a possible sudden death, it is recommended to refuse to take antihistamines.
Course duration
If an acute allergic reaction is recorded, then it is necessary to take the drug until all unpleasant symptoms disappear completely. Typically, the course is from a week to ten days. However, with year-round allergy or its seasonal manifestations, the duration of administration is increased to three weeks. In this case, it is necessary to observe breaks - 2-3 weeks.
Conclusion
Zyrtec is indicated for all forms of allergies. For the treatment of children under six years of age, it is necessary to use the drug only in the form of drops. But they need to be given only orally, having previously diluted with a small amount of water. The instruction for use categorically prohibits the use of Zirtek as drops in the nose.
For the treatment of adults, tablets are used. The drug has a mild sedative effect, but does not affect driving. But nevertheless, the annotation warns people who regularly take the drug so that during admission they abstain from work requiring extreme concentration. A single dose of this action usually does not. Therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a physician.