Among consumers, the most popular are universal medicines. An example of such a substance is Sofradex eye drops .
The release form of this drug is very convenient to use. It is a glass bottle (5 ml) with drops and a special removable pipette. The active substances in 1 ml of this drug are: gramicidin - 0.05 mg, framycetin sulfate - 5.0 mg, dexamethasone - 0.5 mg.
Excipients in the drops are: sodium citrate, lithium chloride, citric acid monohydrate, phenylethanol, 99.5% ethanol, polysorbate, water. Sofradex eye drops are an almost colorless, clear solution with a specific odor of phenylethyl alcohol.
This drug belongs to the pharmacotherapeutic group of glucocorticosteroids for topical use, as well as to antibiotics (cyclic polypeptide and aminoglycoside).
The effectiveness with which Sofradex eye drops act on pathogenic microorganisms is due to the therapeutic properties of its antibiotics.
Framycetin sulfate refers to drugs from the aminoglycoside group. The substance is bactericidal. This antibiotic is active against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is not effective against streptococci. It does not affect viruses, pathogenic fungi, anaerobic flora. Resistance of microorganisms to this antibiotic develops very slowly.
Gramicidin has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect, expands the spectrum of action of framycetin, since it is active against streptococci and various anaerobic microorganisms. It also enhances the effectiveness of framycetin in relation to staphylococcus, since it actively acts against these bacteria.
Dexamethasone is a glucocorticosteroid that has a strong anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effect. It suppresses inflammatory processes by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators and reducing capillary permeability.
It is this substance that reduces pain, lacrimation and burning during instillation in the eyes. Eye drops "Sofradex" when instilled into the ears significantly reduces all symptoms of otitis media. So, after its application, pain decreases, itching, redness of the skin, burning in the ear canal disappear, and congestion of the ear disappears.
Sofradex is an eye drop, the instructions for which recommend its use in bacterial eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, scleritis, iridocyclitis, episcleritis, infected eyelid eczema. Along with indications for the treatment of eye diseases, it is recommended to use this drug for otitis externa.
Contraindications to the use of such a drug as Sofradex eye drops are quite numerous:
- individual sensitivity;
- damage to the corneal epithelium;
- fungal and viral infections, purulent inflammation of the eye, tuberculosis, trachoma;
- thinning of the sclera;
- glaucoma, herpetic keratitis ;
- babies;
- lactation and pregnancy;
- damage to the eardrum.
With great caution, the drug is prescribed for young children, since there is a risk of suppressing the normal functioning of the adrenal glands.
Doses and method of application:
- with mild forms of eye diseases - 1-2 drops, every 4 hours;
- with complex forms - 1-2 drops hourly;
- with otitis media - 4 times 2-3 drops in the ear canal.
The duration of treatment is a week.
Side effects: allergy, increased intraocular pressure, the appearance of a fungal infection, the development of cataracts, thinning of the cornea.