The drugs most bought in all pharmacies are painkillers. Moreover, they are often chosen by people without consulting a doctor. Some medicines are more popular, others are bought less often. What does it depend on? It affects people, first of all, advertising, recommendations of friends, their own experience, as well as price. Many patients are accustomed to Pentalgin. After trying the drug once, only it is bought to relieve pain. But in recent years, they are increasingly looking for a cheaper replacement for conventional medicines. Therefore, in pharmacies they ask what analogue of "Pentalgin" is. People are interested in a cheaper but equally effective medicine. Moreover, after the ban on codeine, Pentalgin became not so effective.
Generic and equivalent: what is it
To release the drug on sale, you need a patent for it. Its design, advertising, the creation of the original packaging - all this costs a lot of money. Therefore, branded medicines are quite expensive. But after 20 years, in most cases, the patent expires, and other pharmaceutical companies may produce similar drugs. Such medicines are called analogues or generics. They usually cost less, but have the same active substance, so they have the same effect.
So on sale there are several drugs with the same composition, but different in price. Some patients are aware of this and are trying to buy cheaper analogues instead of the original drugs. In most cases, they are just as effective, but sometimes it happens that the quality of their constituent components is lower. Many patients try to find the analogue of Pentalgin. This drug relieves any pain so effectively that nothing but some helps it.
From what "Pentalgin"
These tablets are used for pain of various origins:
- arthritis, osteochondrosis, myalgia and radiculitis;
- with a headache, even caused by vasospasm;
- with toothache;
- the drug is effective in post-traumatic or postoperative syndrome;
- quickly relieves renal colic, pain with cholecystitis, pancreatitis or gallstone disease;
- Pentalgin is used to alleviate the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza: it slightly reduces the temperature and removes pain.
Features of composition and action
What can explain the effectiveness of the drug? Only its unique composition. It includes five active components, which is reflected in the name itself. Initially, the drug contained two narcotic substances: codeine and phenobarbital. Because of them, the analgesic effect was stronger. Of the analgesics, it contained metamizole sodium. But now "Pentalgin" is produced with the following composition:
- Paracetamol, acting on the centers of pain and thermoregulation in the brain;
- naproxen - a strong non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance;
- caffeine - dilates the vessels of the heart and kidneys, eliminates drowsiness and fatigue, and increases the digestibility of analgesics;
- drotaverine - is a strong antispasmodic;
- pheniramine maleate - has an antispasmodic, antihistamine and mild sedative effect.
Not all patients who are looking for an analogue of Pentalgin know that its composition has changed. Now the drug with metamizole sodium, phenobarbital and codeine can be purchased only by prescription, and even then not everywhere.
How to replace "Pentalgin"
There are a lot of painkillers in pharmacies. But among them, Pentalgin stands out. Analogues are cheaper than it exists, but not all of them are equally effective. When choosing a medication to replace Pentalgin, you should always consult your doctor and carefully study the instructions. You also need to know that other drugs will not necessarily be effective, even with the same composition as Pentalgin. Replacement - analogues and generics of this medicine - may be this:
- "Pentalfen" is a Russian-made drug, but is available on prescription, since it includes narcotic analgesics.
- Pentamialgin - also contains phenobarbital and codeine and is not much cheaper than the original.
- "Pivalgine" - is cheaper than the original, but its composition is slightly different: along with paracetamol, it contains the analgesic propiphenazone.
- The drug "Sedal M" has a similar composition with the original "Pentalgin" and is not cheaper than it.
- Bulgarian-made Sedalgin Plus is slightly less effective as it does not contain antispasmodics.
In addition, there are several drugs that can also replace Pentalgin. Analogs are cheaper than it - it is Spazgan, Ibuprofen, Drotaverin, Paracetamol, Novigan, Solpadein and others. These drugs are more likely to belong to the synonyms of "Pentalgin", because they have a slightly different composition, but a similar effect.
Russian analogues of the drug
In recent years, the price of imported drugs has increased dramatically. And under these conditions, the question has become relevant whether there is a Russian analogue of Pentalgin. In our country, several drugs are produced, which include five active active ingredients.
1. Pentamialgin is a complete analogue of Pentimalgin with codeine and phenobarbital. Therefore, you can buy it only by prescription. And the price of this drug is not small - about 130 rubles.
2. A similar drug manufactured in Russia is Pentalfen. His composition and indications are the same, but he can hardly be found in pharmacies.
3. Another Russian analogue of Pentalgin in tablets is Santotitralgin. It costs inexpensively - about 40 rubles, but the content of codeine and phenobarbital in its composition makes it inaccessible to many patients.
4. But the most, perhaps, the most popular Russian substitute for Pentalgin is Citramon. Its action is slightly weaker, but it costs less - 30-40 rubles. Included in its composition, caffeine and aspirin not only relieve pain, but also reduce temperature and increase performance.
The cheapest analogues of "Pentalgin"
1. Andipal is close in composition to Pentalgin. It also contains an analgesic, antispasmodic and phenobarbital, enhancing their action. You can buy Andipal for 40-50 rubles.
2. Another analogue of Pentalgin is cheap - it is Spazgan. It consists of two antispasmodics and metamizole sodium. Therefore, it is very effective for cramping, colic and migraines. You can buy the drug for 40 rubles.
3. A drug very close in composition to Pentalgin is Kaffetin. It also contains paracetamol, caffeine and an antispasmodic and is effective for vasospasm, colic and pain of a different origin. The drug costs a little cheaper than Pentalgin - about 80 rubles.
4. Those who are looking for an analogue of "Pentalgin" cheap, should pay attention to such drugs as:
- "Paracetamol" - the price is about 20 rubles,
- Drotaverin - about 50 rubles,
- Ibuprofen - 30 rubles.
These drugs are not complex, they contain one active substance. But in most cases, with pain of moderate intensity, they help.
How to choose the right analog
Of course, many of those who often suffer from pain are looking for cheaper drugs. But when choosing analogues, you need to know that they can differ only in composition, but also in the amount of active substance. Even drugs containing the same components as Pentalgin may not be as effective. It depends on the degree of purification of the active substances and their concentration. Therefore, analogues of "Pentalgin" can be poorly absorbed, have more side effects or do not have the desired effect. First of all, when choosing a medicine, you need to consult a doctor. Typically, a specialist can offer several options that differ in cost.
It is rare that only Pentalgin can relieve pain. Usually its cheaper counterparts are just as effective. But you always need to carefully study the instructions and take the medicine for the first time in a small dose. In addition, you need to know the cause of the pain and use specific drugs:
- with migraine - "Migrenol",
- with colic - “No-Shpu” or “Drotaverin”,
- with increasing temperature - "Aspirin" or "Paracetamol".
Reviews of drug substitutes
Many people do not go to doctors and choose a medicine for an ordinary headache. Most positive reviews about such drugs:
- Citramon
- Ibuprofen
- "Paracetamol",
- Spazmalgon
- Novigan.
They help with any pain of moderate intensity. But with renal colic, it is better to drink “No-Shpu” or “Cyston”, for migraines - “Migrenol”, for arthritis - “Nise”, and for toothache - “Ketanov”. These drugs are quite effective, but many patients report that Pentalgin helps them better.