In the autumn-winter period, an epidemic of viral diseases develops. Both adults and children are ill. And if one person falls ill in a family, then often all of its members are infected. Among the wide variety of antiviral drugs, one can often get lost. But are they all as effective as advertisements say? And is it possible to replace the drug prescribed by the doctor with a more affordable analogue?
One commonly prescribed antiviral medication is Amixin. Cheaper analogues can be purchased on their own initiative or ask your doctor to advise a more affordable substitute.
Amiksin: indications
The antiviral drug Amiksin is used to prevent and treat many viral diseases, including those common such as influenza or SARS.
In terms of speed and harmlessness, it significantly surpasses cheaper analogues. The drug is used in the complex treatment of viral hepatitis, herpes, cytomegalovirus infection in adult patients. It can be prescribed to children over seven years of age for the treatment of viral diseases.
The antiviral drug Amiksin can act as a component of the complex treatment of tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis, and chlamydia of the respiratory and urogenital forms. The course of treatment depends on the type of disease and its degree of complexity.
Contraindications and side effects
Like many antiviral drugs, Amiksin has contraindications. It is not prescribed for pregnant women, as well as children under the age of 7 years. Also, the drug is not recommended during breastfeeding. Do not take Amiksin if there is a sensitivity to its components, as this can provoke the appearance of a strong allergic reaction.
Perhaps the manifestation of side effects from the use of the drug from the digestive system. During use, patients noted short-term chills and the manifestation of allergic reactions. The manifestation of side effects is not an indication for the cancellation of Amiksin, but in some cases, appropriate treatment may be prescribed.
Amixin composition and release form
Amiksin is an antiviral agent that is available in the form of round tablets coated with an orange coating. The active substance of the drug is called tilorone. One tablet contains 60 or 125 mg of tilorone.
In addition to the active substance, Amixin also includes non-medicinal auxiliary ingredients. For example, potato starch and microcrystalline glucose. Also in small doses, primellose, calcium stearate and povidone are present in the preparation. The tablet shell consists of titanium dioxide, hypromellose, macrogol and polysorbate.
Amiksin tablets are packed in plates of 6 or 10 pieces, as well as in plastic cans of 6, 10 or 20 pieces. Packaging does not affect the concentration and effectiveness of the drug, and you need to choose only on the basis of the required number of tablets per treatment course, since for long-term use it is more profitable to purchase the drug in large packages.
Methods of use and dosage of "Amiksin"
It is recommended to take the drug after eating. The dosage of the drug depends on the disease. For general cases, the recommended dose is from 125 to 250 mg per day. It should be taken on the first, second and fourth day of treatment. The maximum course duration is one week. For the prevention of influenza and SARS, one tablet is prescribed once a week for 4-6 weeks.
The course of treatment for hepatitis A is 2 weeks, during which they take 125 mg twice a day, then 125 per day after 48 hours. For the treatment of hepatitis B, the drug is prescribed according to the same scheme, the course of administration is 3 weeks. The course dose of the drug depends on the severity of the course of the disease and the body's response to treatment.
Children are prescribed Amiksin at 60 mg per day for the first two days of treatment, then another 60 mg after 48 hours. With complications of influenza and SARS, the course dose is 4 tablets, which are taken on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th days of treatment.
Interaction with other drugs
Means such as Amiksin, analogues cheaper than Amiksin, interact well with the traditional treatment of viral infections. That is, these antiviral drugs are prescribed simultaneously with antibiotics and some other drugs used in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections. It is not recommended to combine Amiksin with other antiviral medicines that have the same pharmacological effect. Such measures do not increase the effectiveness of the drug, but increase the load on the patient's body. Before using the medication, it is worth informing the attending physician about all the medicines taken, which will exclude the development of some side effects.
Analogs of Amiksin
With all its advantages, the drug has one significant drawback - high cost. For this reason, not everyone can afford Amiksin. Cheaper analogues may be less effective, but with uncomplicated infections, they can also do their job well.
There are several similar to the pharmacological effects of Amiksin drugs that can be offered as a cheaper alternative. What can replace Amiksin? You can find out what analogues of the drug exist in any pharmacy. But it is better to consult a doctor who will recommend a more affordable and suitable antiviral drug.
The closest in action to Amiksin are Kagocel, Cycloferon, Ingavirin. There are many other remedies, but their effect may be significantly weaker.
Kagocel
This is an Amiksin Analog, which contains kagocel as an active substance, which is an inducer of interferon. In addition to the active substance, the composition of the drug also includes calcium stearate, potato starch and ludipress.
"Kagocel" has antiviral, antimicrobial and immunomodulating therapeutic effects. It can be prescribed as an alternative replacement for "Amiksin" in the treatment of SARS, influenza, herpes simplex and the prevention of viral infections.
Which drug is more effective - "Kagocel" or "Amiksin"? What works better? "Kagocel" has a milder effect, so it can be used to treat viral infections in children from three years old, in contrast to "Amiksin", which is recommended only from the age of seven.
"Cycloferon"
Another analogue of Amiksin is called Cycloferon. The active substances are acridonoacetic acid and N-methylglucamine. The tablets also include methyl cellulose and calcium stearate.
"Cycloferon" is prescribed as part of complex therapy in the treatment of acute forms of viral infection (acute respiratory viral infections, influenza), hepatitis C and B, acute intestinal infections, herpes infections and neuroinfections (serous meningitis). It can be used as an additional drug in the clinical stages of HIV infection in adults and children over the age of four.
The tabletted "Cycloferon" is an analogue of "Amiksin" in tablets, which has the same pharmacological effect. This drug can completely replace Amiksin in case of hypersensitivity to its components. Contraindications include pregnancy, breast-feeding, age up to 4 years, sensitivity to the substances that make up the drug. Many people ask: “Cycloferon or Amiksin, which is better?”. You should choose based on the appointment of a doctor and the complexity of the disease.
Ingavirin
"Ingavirin" is often prescribed by a doctor for acute forms of viral infections, including various strains of influenza, adenovirus and some other diseases. The drug can be considered as an analogue of "Amiksin" due to a similar mechanism of action, namely the activation of the production of interferon by the cells of the body.
Clinical trials of Ingavirin did not reveal the immunotoxic or allergenic effect of the drug, therefore this antiviral agent has a high level of safety. However, the drug is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, nor can it be used in pediatrics. Side effects of Ingavirin include mild allergic reactions in patients with sensitivity to the components of the drug. "Ingavirin" can be used to prevent infection with viral infections, in particular after contact with a sick person.
It is difficult to determine which is better "Amiksin" or "Ingavirin." Despite the similar mechanism of action of these drugs on the virus and the patient’s body, Amiksin has a wider spectrum of action. But both drugs are effective for the prevention and treatment of simple infections, and in this case, it is worth choosing based on financial capabilities.
Advantages of Amiksin over its analogues
Why is the patient often prescribed a rather expensive Amiksin drug? Analogs are cheaper less effective in complicated infections. The speed of the drug also plays an important role in choosing a good antiviral agent. Many patients cannot afford to spend several weeks in bed due to commonplace ARVI and prefer to spend money once on a truly effective remedy.
Advantages of Amiksin include its low toxicity and safety while observing the recommended doses. The drug has a long-lasting effect, and for a long time after its administration, the patient’s body will be resistant to infections caused by various viruses and bacteria.
What can replace Amiksin? Price
We considered the analogue tablets of this drug. Now find out their cost. Many people know that aggressively advertised products have a higher price. Amixin also belongs to such means. Analogs are cheaper most often are less well-known means. But in any pharmacy will tell more affordable substitutes for an expensive drug. When buying cheap analogues, you must carefully read the instructions for use and compare the spectrum of action of the drugs and their indications.
The average cost of six Amixin tablets, which are enough for a course of treatment for simple viral infections, is 600 rubles. A package for ten tablets costs around 800–900 rubles. The cost of "Kagocel" is much lower than the cost of "Amiksin": only 240 rubles for ten tablets. But it is worth considering that even for the treatment of influenza or SARS, the course dose of this drug is 18 tablets. This is three times more than the dosage of Amiksin. The cost of the course dose (20 tablets) of Cycloferon is 360 rubles, and seven capsules of Ingavirin can be purchased for 450 rubles.