Various pathologies of the liver and biliary system develop not only due to bad habits, but also due to poor ecology, poor nutrition and frequent use of medications. All these negative factors contribute to the formation of gallstones. The body develops multiple inflammatory processes. These diseases are treatable, which is based on the use of various medications. The most popular remedy is Greenterol. Analogs, instructions for use and contraindications will be described in this article.
Pharmacological principle of action
The drug "Greenterol" belongs to the category of powerful hepatoprotectors. The active substance freely penetrates the membranes of the liver cells and protects them from the negative effects of bile components. A drug reduces the overall concentration of biological acids, which have increased toxicity. Manufacturers of the drug "Greenterol" note that this tool has several positive effects at once:
Cholagogue. Stimulates the production and excretion of bile.
Cholelitolytic. Promotes the dissolution of small cholesterol stones that form in the gallbladder.
Hypolipidemic. Reduces intestinal absorption of lipophilic acids, contributing to their rapid elimination from the body.
Hypocholesterolemic. Significantly reduces the concentration of harmful cholesterol in the blood.
Patients rarely look for analogues of Greenterol, since this drug has a mild immunomodulating effect. The tool is involved in all important reactions that occur in the liver.
Composition and form of release
The drug "Greenterol" is available in the form of small capsules. The product is sold in blister packs of 10 pieces. One cardboard pack can contain from 5 to 10 blisters.
The composition of one capsule includes the following components:
The active substance is ursodeoxycholic acid 250 mg.
Auxiliary components: magnesium stearate, corn starch, silicon dioxide.
Purpose of ursodeoxycholic acid
For high-quality digestion of food, bile is necessary. Many people believe that if this substance is produced in the body of every person by special liver cells, then why take medications based on it? And the thing is that the composition of bile includes many components. One-third are universal acids that emulsify all fats. The classical pathogenesis of cholestatic liver diseases is based on an increased amount of hydrophobic substances, which have a certain toxicity to healthy organ tissues.
Specialists came to the conclusion that the composition of bile must be changed so that it contains more nutrients. This can only be achieved if you take drugs that contain ursodeoxycholic acid.
Indications for use
Numerous positive reviews about "Greenterol" indicate that this medication is effective in combating many diseases. Qualified doctors often prescribe this medication to those patients who have been diagnosed with the following pathologies:
Inflammation of the biliary tract.
Cystic fibrosis.
Gallstone disease (but provided that the organ is functioning normally).
Cirrhosis of the liver or biliary reflux gastritis (if the patient does not have symptoms of decompensation).
Converting once healthy liver tissue to fatty tissue.
The instructions for use of "Greenterol" indicate that the drug can dissolve only cholesterol stones, the size of which does not exceed 2-3 cm in diameter.
Contraindications
Analogues of “Greenterol” are of interest to patients only if the use of this medication is contraindicated for them. The doctor may refuse to prescribe the drug to those patients who have the following contraindications:
The presence of acute inflammatory processes in the intestine, bile ducts, gall bladder.
Hypersensitivity to the components that make up the medication.
The presence of x-ray gallstones (high calcium).
Pronounced hepatic or renal failure.
Chronic pancreatitis.
Children's age (up to 3 years old do not prescribe capsules).
Cirrhosis of the liver (decompensation stage).
Non-functioning gall bladder.
The patient must take into account all contraindications. Otherwise, you can only aggravate your health.
Instructions for use "Greenterol"
Analogs of this drug should be selected exclusively by a qualified doctor. If the patient has no contraindications, then he is prescribed full therapy based on the studied medication. Patients whose body weight is less than 45 kg or have difficulty swallowing capsules should take a drug with ursodeoxycholic acid in another dosage form. If you need to achieve high-quality dissolution of cholesterol gallstones, then you need to adhere to a certain dosage. For 1 kg of body weight, 10 mg of the drug is taken:
Over 100 kg - 5 capsules.
From 80 to 99 kg - 4 pills.
From 60 to 79 - a maximum of 3 capsules.
Up to 59 kg - 2 pills per day.
Capsules must be swallowed whole with a large amount of still water. The medicine is taken 1 time per day. The dissolution of gallstones takes from 6 to 24 months. If after a year the calculi have not decreased in size, then treatment should be stopped. The effectiveness of therapy should be checked once every six months. For these purposes, specialists use x-ray or ultrasound. Doctors also check for calcification of the stones. If this happens, then the treatment must be stopped.
To effectively combat biliary reflux gastritis, 250 mg of the drug is used per day. The drug is taken exclusively before bedtime. The therapy lasts two weeks. Extension of the course depends on the condition of the patient. That is why each clinical picture is considered individually.
For the qualitative symptomatic treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, the optimal dosage is selected based on the patient's body weight. A maximum of 7 capsules per day can be taken. The first three months, the pills are consumed throughout the day, distributing the daily dose 3 times. It is necessary to observe the regularity of admission. In the early days of the patient, clinical symptoms may intensify. In this situation, the treatment does not stop, just take 250 mg of the drug per day. The dosage is increased gradually until the prescribed regimen is reached.
The use of "Greenterol" can significantly reduce proliferation in the bile ducts, stop the progression of histological changes and even eliminate unwanted hepatobiliary changes, provided that treatment is started in the early stages of cystic fibrosis.
Adverse reactions
The instructions to Greenterol indicate that exceeding the allowable dosage is fraught with a deterioration in the general condition of the patient. In such a situation, the digestive system, liver, bile ducts, soft tissues may suffer. Some patients complain of diarrhea and vomiting. In such a situation, it is necessary to reduce the daily dosage. If the negative manifestations do not stop, then the treatment is canceled.
Allergic rashes throughout the body are not excluded. If the patient is undergoing primary biliary cirrhosis therapy, then the following adverse reactions may occur:
Acute pain in the upper right abdomen.
Transient decompensation of cirrhosis.
If the patient feels deteriorated, then he urgently needs to consult a therapist. In such a situation, a substitute for Greenterol may be needed.
special instructions
Clinical trials of "Greenterol" showed that this medication has some nuances. They need to be considered before buying the drug. Thanks to this, you can avoid the most common mistakes and reduce the risk of side effects.
Special instructions:
The drug "Greenterol" does not cause drowsiness and does not reduce the reaction. Thanks to this, patients can drive a car and perform work that requires increased concentration.
During treatment, you must periodically take tests to monitor the body.
The entire course of treatment should be under the strict supervision of doctors.
The analogue of “Greenterol” is necessary if, after 12 months of using the drug, the patient has no positive dynamics in the fight against the disease.
During pregnancy, the drug can only be used if the risk of harming the baby is minimal.
The unique composition of “Greenterol” helps to cope only with small and medium stones.
After getting rid of cholesterol stones, therapy should be extended for another 3 months. Thanks to this, it is possible to dissolve the remains of calculi and prevent a possible relapse of the pathology.
The drug does not go well with alcoholic beverages. That is why for the duration of therapy it is necessary to abandon the use of alcohol.
Clinical studies of the effect of the drug on the fetus were conducted exclusively on animals. Carcinogenic or mutagenic effects were not identified by experts. “Greenterol” can be used during pregnancy only if the benefit to the mother is much higher than the existing risk to the fetus being formed. There is no data on the allocation of the components of the drug along with breast milk, so when using the drug it is better to transfer the child to artificial mixtures.
Pediatricians often prescribe medication for children aged three years. Young patients may have difficulty swallowing the capsules, so the medicine may be prescribed as a suspension.
Interaction with other drugs
Most of all patients are interested in the instructions for use of "Greenterol" and analogues of this drug. But it is also important to think about the correct compatibility of medicines. In order for the treatment to be truly effective, the drug interaction must be considered:
"Greenterol" several times enhances the effects of cyclosporine, which is why the dosage of drugs with this substance must be reduced.
Useful antacids based on aluminum salts and colestyramine should be taken a maximum of 2 hours before Greenterol. Otherwise, the effect of the hepatoprotector will be reduced.
Classical oral contraceptives significantly reduce the ability of ursodeoxycholic acid to dissolve existing cholesterol stones in the gall bladder. That is why it is better to refuse such funds during treatment with “Greenterol”.
The drug reduces the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin. In order for the treatment to be effective, the doctor must choose the right dosage of medications.
If the doctor prescribed "Greenterol" for the treatment of cholelithiasis, then you need to be examined regularly in the hospital. For the period of drug therapy, the patient should periodically give blood for analysis, undergo ultrasound of the gallbladder, as well as multifunctional cholecystography. Only in this case can the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment be monitored.
Analogues of "Greenterol"
Cheap substitutes for this hepatoprotector are often of interest to those patients who have contraindications to the use of the medication. The following agents are most effective:
Ursosan.
Ursofalk.
Ursodez.
Urdoksa.
Exhol.
Livodex.
Ursoliv.
"Choludexan".
Odeston.
Flaming.
Hofitol.
"Artichoke Extract."
Numerous reviews about the analogues of "Greenterol" indicate that the modern pharmaceutical market is filled with a variety of drugs that can cope with cholelithiasis. But the doctor must choose the right one!
Clinical efficacy of Greenterol tablets analogues
Laboratory studies of the beneficial properties of ursodeoxycholic acid have been underway around the world since the 90s of the last century. Experts have been able to prove that medicines with this substance are effective in treating primary biliary cirrhosis. The use of ursodeoxycholic acid at 14 mg per day reduces the basic indicators of cholestasis in patients and stops the development of a dangerous pathology.
In Russia, cheap analogues of “Greenterol” are indicated for the following cholestatic disorders:
Cystic fibrosis.
Intrarenal cholestasis of pregnant women.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Cholestasis, which was triggered by parenteral nutrition.
Cheap analogues of "Greenterol" have the necessary effectiveness even with cirrhosis. For example, in 2000, specialists conducted many placebo-controlled studies of patients with alcoholic liver disease. Thanks to this, it was found that after consuming 16 mg / kg for a month, liver tests improved significantly.
Patient Reviews
The drug "Greenterol" is in demand, as with this medication you can overcome gallstone disease. Patient reviews are positive. People note that the medication is highly effective, as it can be used to treat children who have reached the age of three. “Greenterol” does not affect the ability to drive vehicles, as well as potentially dangerous mechanisms. Taking a medication implies a mandatory consultation with a doctor. Dosage is calculated on an individual basis, since it all depends on the condition of the patient.