The liver is the only organ of the human body that is capable of regeneration. Even if there was a 60% fatty degeneration of the cells, the process is reversible. A competent scheme for taking hepatoprotectors, a strict diet, a complete rejection of alcoholic beverages can work wonders. Alas, if the patient neglects the condition of the liver, it can fail very quickly. Then "Karsil" tablets, instructions for use and reviews, about the action of which are presented in this article, will come to the rescue.
What are hepatoprotectors and what are they for
This is a class of medications designed to treat liver diseases. They have the following effect:
- reduce the harm of intoxication and help liver cells fight poisoning (including alcohol);
- accelerate metabolic processes, allowing cells to recover as quickly as possible;
- improve the process of formation and withdrawal of bile.
To date, there are not many hepatoprotectors with laboratory proven efficacy. Several components can be distinguished that have a proven therapeutic effect:
- essential phospholipids, with their constant use, the energy consumption of the gland decreases, the enzyme activity increases, and bile becomes more functional;
- ursodeoxycholic acid, which is effective in the treatment of biliary cirrhosis, diseases of the gallbladder, hepatitis of various origins;
- amino acid and homeopathic preparations with hepatoprotective action do not always bring the expected effect, but still are not completely useless.
Release form and composition
The instruction for Karsil tablets reports that the drug belongs to the class of hepatoprotectors created on a plant basis. It is produced in the form of a crimson-colored dragee with sloping edges. And "Carsil Forte" is produced in the form of gelatin capsules.
The drug is not available in ampoules for injection. That is, any other forms, except dragees and capsules, are fakes.
The main active ingredient of the drug is silymarin. This is a substance that is extracted in laboratory conditions from milk thistle juice. This plant has long been famous for its medicinal properties useful for the liver. The development of the modern pharmacological industry has made possible the synthesis of silymarin and its further use in the maximum permissible concentration.
The drug is manufactured by Sofarma (Bulgaria) under two names: "Karsil" and "Karsil Forte" (contains a large dose of silymarin in the composition).
pharmachologic effect
The mechanism of the exact effect of silymarin on liver cells has not yet been fully studied. It was found that its hepatoprotective effect is determined by the competitive interaction with toxins on the corresponding receptors in the membrane of hepatocytes (liver cells). Thus, a membrane stabilizing effect is achieved.
Karsil tablets are often well tolerated. And yet, despite the fact that the main active component of plant origin, in some cases, therapy can provoke the development of side effects.
Pharmacokinetics
The main active ingredient of Karsil tablets, as already mentioned, is silymarin. After it enters the stomach, it is rather slowly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, after which it becomes a “participant” in the intestinal-hepatic circulation.
In laboratory studies of the pharmacokinetics of silibinin (one of the four isomers of flavonolignans, due to which a therapeutic effect is achieved), the highest concentrations are found in the liver three to five hours after administration. A small amount of silibinin is found in the tissues of the kidneys, lungs, and heart.
The half-life is about six to seven hours. Approximately 80% of the drug’s metabolites are excreted with bile (mainly in the form of glucuronides) and about 5% through the kidneys and bladder.
Indications for use
The instruction for tablets "Karsil" reports that the drug is effective as part of complex therapy or as an independent tool in the treatment of the following conditions and diseases:
- hepatitis of various etiologies;
- cirrhotic liver disease in remission and during exacerbation;
- violation of the outflow of bile;
- chronic cholecystitis in remission and during exacerbation;
- poisoning by food, medicine, alcoholic beverages;
- liver steatosis of various etiologies.
This is a list of the main diseases in which the drug eases the patient's condition. And what is the use of Karsil tablets from? They can be effective in preventing liver problems. For example, before alcohol abuse, against the background of a course of antibiotics, during the period of forced malnutrition.
Contraindications
The instructions for the use of Karsil tablets indicate that the drug has the following contraindications:
- an allergic reaction to milk thistle and silymarin;
- children's age up to twelve years;
- period of pregnancy and lactation.
The drug is prohibited for people with allergies to wheat, since capsules contain wheat starch as an auxiliary component .
The medicine should be taken with caution (monitor your condition and in case of deterioration of health refuse to take) in the presence of the following diseases:
- uterine fibroids;
- endometriosis;
- carcinoma of the prostate or ovary.
It should be noted that silymarin has an estrogen-like effect. This fact makes its administration undesirable for people with hormone-dependent neoplasms.
Feasible side effects
The use of "Karsil" in tablets or capsules can trigger the appearance of the following side effects:
- from the organs of the gastrointestinal tract: pulling pains in the epigastric region, nausea, constipation or diarrhea (depending on the state of the intestinal microflora and the individual body reaction to silymarin);
- from the nervous system: headache and sleep problems (rarely);
- on the part of the vestibular apparatus, exacerbation of existing problems is possible.
Reviews on Karsil tablets report that side effects are rare. Usually the drug is well tolerated.
Drug interaction
Silymarin in the composition of this drug inhibits absorption and reduces the effectiveness of taking medications such as:
- "Vinblastine."
- Diazepam
- "Lovastatin."
In some cases, Karsil reduces the effects of oral contraceptives.
Recommended Dosages
Here is the method of administration that recommends the use of "Karsil":
- tablets before meals (on an empty stomach) can cause mild nausea, but this is the most optimal way to take it;
- when taken after meals, the effectiveness of therapy may decrease;
- tablets should be washed down with a sufficient amount of clean cool water;
- for adults, the average dosage at one time is two to three capsules or dragees;
- the optimal number of receptions per day is two to three;
- the optimal total duration of treatment depends on the course of the disease, on average it is two to four months.
In severe organ pathologies, it is permissible to take five to six capsules simultaneously, two to three times a day.
For severe intoxications, it is optimal to take Karsil Forte two to three capsules, three to four times a day, before each meal, or simply on an empty stomach.
How to take Karsil in tablets so as not to provoke the development of side effects? Begin with small doses. Gradually increase the dosage to the optimum indicated in the instructions for use.
Reviews of patients with liver disease
Reviews confirm that the drug is really effective. This is not a placebo or homeopathy, the effect of which cannot be reliably predicted.
Tens of thousands of patients with hepatologists were pleased with the use of Karsil tablets, and reviews on the Internet confirm this fact.
People note that a month after the start of taking the medicine, the results of a biochemical blood test were completely different. Indicators of liver enzymes decreased. The referent of total bilirubin, ALT and AST decreased. Cholesterol levels returned to normal. Of course, such an excellent effect was most often achieved not only by taking dragees, but also by strict adherence to a therapeutic diet, refusal to drink alcoholic beverages, and smoking. Such a complex effect most often has a truly miraculous effect on the state of the liver.
Alcohol mix
Concomitant use of Karsila with fatty, junk food and alcohol will help protect liver cells from exposure to toxins. But you should not think that “Carsil” alone, how many tablets would not have been drunk, will save the cells from degeneration. The patient will have to lead a sober lifestyle and adhere to medical diet No. 5.
Alcohol is the first factor that causes problems with the functioning of the body. Ethanol, which causes intoxication after drinking alcohol, is harmful not only to the liver, but also to the cardiovascular and nervous system.
Reviews of people who took Karsil tablets during the hangover syndrome (that is, immediately after alcohol intoxication) report that their condition returned to normal much faster. Silymarin, the main active component of Karsila, helps cells not only quickly process and remove ethanol metabolites from the body, but also restore the outflow of bile. But in some cases, the drug may be powerless with problems with bile, especially when it comes to gallstone disease.
Analogs and substitutes
There are quite a few drugs with hepatoprotective effects. Here is a list of Karsil 's main substitutes that contain the same active ingredient:
- "Silymarin" - tablet hepatoprotector. It is an analogue of "Karsila", which can be used as part of complex therapy or as an independent tool in the treatment of liver diseases. It can be used to treat children from ten years old.
- "Silimar" - a tablet product of domestic production, which includes silymarin. Its cost is cheaper than Karsila, but the concentration of the active substance in one tablet is lower.
- Silibor is another hepatoprotector that acts due to silymarin in the composition. Used for chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis (as part of complex therapy), fatty degeneration of liver cells. Effective as a prophylactic.
There are a number of equally effective hepatoprotectors based on essential phospholipids (hepatologists in our country like to prescribe these drugs to patients, since they are considered as effective as possible):
- Essential Forte contains essential soybean phospholipids as the main active ingredient. They are able to exert a miraculous effect on liver cells due to the regulation of lipoprotein metabolism. Also, the drug lowers bad cholesterol.
- Essliver Forte is a hepatoprotector that is not always available in pharmacies. It is an almost complete analogue of Essential Forte.
Joint reception "Karsila" with other hepatoprotectors
In some cases, such a combination is possible. "Karsil" is better absorbed in parallel with hepatoprotectors of plant origin.
Before concomitant use with essential phospholipids, a competent consultation of a hepatologist is necessary. In some cases, depending on the disease and the general condition of the body, such a combination will only be a waste of money. And it can even be harmful to some patients (especially in the presence of cholelithiasis).