In those cases when the patient has a sharp decrease in the protective function of the organs entering the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to the further development of a number of pathological diseases, the drug Sucralfate (Venter) is often prescribed to be taken. Instructions for use of the product recommends it as an aluminum complex related to gastroprotectors.
Its high indicator of effectiveness has led to the fact that doctors often prescribe this drug both as part of complex therapy, and as a single drug in cases where the symptoms of the disease are expressed quite mildly. This article will describe the instructions for use and analogues of Sucralfate.
The form of the drug and its composition
Before you start studying the instructions for Sucralfate, the first thing to do is describe the form of the drug. You should be sure to look for it in a pharmacy under a completely different name - “Venter”, since in Russia it is considered to be a trade name. At the moment, the drug is sold in two forms - in the form of tablets and in granules. In total, there are 50 tablets in the package, each of which contains one gram of the active substance - sucralfate. In granular form, the medicine is sold packaged in bags of two grams. As an auxiliary substance, lactose is added to it.
In Ukraine, there is also a pharmaceutical company Darnitsa, which produces Sucralfate. In the instructions for use, you can see that it is also sold in two forms - in the form of a suspension of 250 ml and as a gel packaged in bags. The package contains 30 such bags, each of which contains only 5 grams of the substance itself.
Drug action
According to the instructions, “Sucralfate" refers to drugs whose action is aimed at protecting damaged mucous membranes of the intestine and stomach. A similar result can be achieved by binding proteins to dead tissue ulcers or erosion. The resulting protective layer does not affect the level of acidity of the gastric juice at all, or the effect of it is so small that it is simply impossible to notice it. All this leads to the fact that the healing process of gastrointestinal lesions begins to occur at a faster pace. In addition, the drug inhibits the growth of inflammatory processes that occur in the organs in those cases when they are moderate or mild.
It is worth noting that, according to the instructions, Sucralfate can also act as an effective prophylactic against the further formation of ulcers of the intestines and stomach, especially in those cases when they appear as a result of stress. The active substance contained in the preparation improves the production of prostaglandins in the body, which directly affect the motility and motility of the gastrointestinal tract, lowering the level of hydrochloric acid and activating the regeneration process.
Sucralfat has no other system-wide effects on the body. The drug itself is excreted by their bodies by the kidneys with urine, so that the systemic effect also does not appear.
Indications for use
If you pay attention to the paragraph in the instructions of Sucralfate, which affects the indications, then effective treatment can be achieved in the presence of the following diseases:
- peptic ulcer of the intestine or stomach;
- an excess of phosphorus salts in the blood;
- ulcerative erosive lesions resulting from non-steroid pain medication;
- gastritis, accompanied by increased acidity;
- reflux esophagitis.
As you can understand, the spectrum of action of the drug is quite extensive. In addition, he showed himself well as a prophylactic to prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which can occur as a result of severe stress or regular intake of mucosal-damaging medicines.
Application rules
Judging by the reviews and instructions for the use of Sucralfate, the drug should be taken only orally on an empty stomach. So the intake of the drug is carried out at least 30 minutes before a meal. It should also be noted that the maximum therapeutic dosage of the drug should not exceed 8 grams per day, so the dose should be divided into several doses.
The treatment itself is quite long - Sucralfat is recommended for approximately 3 months, although more precise terms are prescribed exclusively by the doctor based on the type of disease and its severity, as well as the patient’s immediate state of health. The course of treatment can last until confirmation of the complete healing of any lesions that were on the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Sucralfat for children
If you focus on the available reviews and instructions of Sucralfate, you should be very careful about taking this medication in young children. First of all, it is worth remembering that before 4 years of age it should never be given at all, and then it should only be done in cases of emergency.
But with the dosage of the drug in this case it will be much more difficult. If the patient has renal failure, then the dose level should not be reduced. However, it is also worth paying attention to the fact that in this case, the accumulation of complexing metal in the body may occur.
Side effects
Sucralfate should only be used as directed by your doctor, as side effects that are commonly associated with the gastrointestinal tract can often occur. Among them, constipation and stomach pain are particularly prominent, which are pretty much reminiscent of colic. More rarely, other symptoms appear: flatulence, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, insomnia. In this case, you will need to see a doctor for symptomatic treatment.
Contraindications
Like any medicine, Sucralfate has its contraindications. If they are present, in no case should you use the drug for treatment, since the consequences can be quite unpleasant. First of all, Sucralfate is not recommended for use in cases where there is intolerance or hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. The resulting allergic reaction is usually accompanied by itching, hives, and headache. Also, it can not be drunk in the presence of severe lactose intolerance, since it is one of the additional substances.
Consequences of an overdose
With a single dose of Sucralfate, the appearance of symptoms of intoxication is unlikely, but it is still recommended to monitor the dosage. In general, the drug is considered quite safe, because even when taking a large number of special side effects, it is not observed, although in some cases symptomatic treatment of pain in the stomach, nausea and vomiting may be necessary.
More dangerous is taking medication in patients who have kidney failure. Due to the fact that Sucralfate is not completely excreted from the body, aluminum accumulation may begin, which leads to systemic poisoning.
Analogs
Now let's talk a little about the instructions of analogues of Sucralfate, which can effectively replace this drug. Among them can be listed:
- Alsucral, also a gastroprotective agent that forms a protective layer from the proteins of dead ulcer tissue. It is prescribed in cases of manifestation of gastritis, as well as ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. However, it should be noted that this tool has a greater number of contraindications - it can not be used during pregnancy and in childhood.
- The drug “Sukras” also provides the formation of a protective film from an adhesive polymer paste-like mass. This film has alkaline properties, and therefore getting into the body, is transformed into a polyanion. This leads to the formation of tight protection of the damaged mucosa from the influence of aggressive factors such as bile and pepsin. The drug showed excellent results in the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcers, as well as heartburn and gastroduodenitis. However, it should be used with great caution due to the presence of side effects.
Conclusion
In general, Sucralfate has shown itself to be a fairly effective means to protect the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is worth remembering that self-medication with it is not recommended. Yes, and it’s unlikely to succeed in practice - the drug is sold only by prescription, which was prescribed by a gastroenterologist after diagnosis and a thorough study of the clinical picture.