Unpleasant discomfort in the sternum, a burning sensation in the esophagus and often in the throat are symptoms of heartburn. Its occurrence is dictated by the unnatural throwing of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and even the oral cavity. Many people experience such symptoms. At the same time, many do not even suspect that heartburn can indicate the development of serious pathologies in the body. To extinguish the sensation of a "fire" inside the drug "Riopan" is capable. Instructions for use allow you to understand how and when to resort to using this medication. Therefore, consider it.
Drug characteristics
How does the Riopan medicine characterize the instruction? The description of the drug in the annotation is as follows.
The medicine "Riopan" is an antacid medication.
Produced in the form of:
- oral suspension;
- chewable tablets.
Characteristic features of the medication:
- The drug has an acid-neutralizing effect. Magaldrat (the main substance) is able to instantly regulate gastric juice.
- The tool perfectly neutralizes hydrochloric acid in the stomach, partially reduces the activity of pepsin.
- In addition, it has an enveloping effect.
- The drug "Riopan" effectively absorbs lysolecithin, bile acids. Thus, it protects the gastric mucosa.
- In this case, the agent does not affect peristalsis.
- The active substance is not absorbed by the body from the digestive tract. During neutralization, a small number of aluminum and magnesium ions are released. In the intestines, they are transformed into sparingly soluble phosphates, which are naturally excreted.
- During the use of the drug "Riopan" may be a slight increase in the serum of aluminum. This is dictated by the fact that a certain fraction of cations is capable of being absorbed. Therefore, with prolonged use of this drug, it is necessary to control the aluminum index.
The composition of the drug
The main substance of this tool is anhydrous magaldrate. In other words, it is magnesium and aluminum.
The composition of the suspension:
- anhydrous magaldrate;
- acacia (gum arabic);
- flavored caramel;
- sodium cyclamate ;
- sodium hypochlorite ;
- hypromellose;
- maltol;
- fragrant cream;
- simethicone emulsion;
- silver sulfate;
- purified water;
- chlorhexidine bigluconate.
The tablet preparation “Riopan” is somewhat different in substance content.
Instructions for use of this medication indicate the following composition:
- anhydrous magaldrate;
- calcium behenate;
- polyethylene glycol 40004;
- sorbitol (E 420);
- fragrant cream;
- maltol;
- flavored caramel.
Indications for appointment
With numerous ailments that are accompanied by heartburn, it is recommended to take the medicine "Riopan".
The instruction for the drug leads to such appointments:
- heartburn;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- hyperacid gastritis, duodenitis;
- GERD;
- ulcerative pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
Recommended Dosages
Initially, it should be said that this drug is intended for the treatment of adult patients. In pediatric gastroenterology, the Riopan medication is not used. If it is necessary to use this product for a child, it is recommended to replace it with alternative agents.
Now we will consider how to use the medicine "Riopan".
Instructions for use recommend the use of a tablet as follows:
- Chew the pills and drink them with liquid.
- A single dose is 1-2 tablets. Take them as needed. But no more than 4 times a day.
- It is important that the daily dosage does not exceed 8 pills. This corresponds to 6.4 g of magaldrate.
- The average duration of therapy is 14 days. If the negative symptoms do not disappear during this time, then the patient must consult a doctor for a clinical study. Since the medication is powerless only in those cases when severe pathologies (including malignant ailments) develop in the body.
Some patients prefer the medicine "Riopan" - suspension.
Instructions for use recommend it as follows:
- Be sure to pay attention to the amount of active substance in the drug. The suspension is produced in 2 forms: 1600 mg and 800 mg each.
- Shake before use.
- Take the medicine several times a day. But, like tablets, no more than 4 times a day. A single dosage is 1-2 sachets.
- The maximum amount of suspension: 800 mg - 8 sachets, 1600 mg - 4. These doses are equivalent to 6.4 g of magaldrate.
- The course of treatment is also 2 weeks.
Contraindications
Like any medicine, this medication has some limitations. That is why, before resorting to the help of the drug "Riopan", it is recommended to consult a doctor.
The medication is contraindicated in the following cases:
- individual sensitivity;
- intolerance to caramel, fructose.
Relative limitations to the therapy with the "Riopan" drug are such ailments and conditions:
- Alzheimer's disease;
- pregnancy period;
- impaired metabolism;
- renal failure;
- lactation.
There was no case of overdose with this agent.
Side effects
Therapy with Riopan is able to provoke some undesirable reactions. It should be noted that negative manifestations are rare. But the possibility of their occurrence cannot be completely ruled out.
So, what side effects can patients experience while taking Riopan?
Instructions for use warns of the following manifestations:
- liquid bowel movements (such a side effect is observed quite often);
- diarrhea (this manifestation occurs sporadically).
In addition, if you take the medicine for a long time, or in patients suffering from kidney failure, the level of aluminum and magnesium in the blood may increase. That is why it is recommended to use the tool under the supervision of a specialist. Aluminum accumulates mainly in nerve and bone tissues. A significant excess of the norm of this component leads to a deficiency of phosphates in the body.
Another distinctive feature of the drug "Riopan" is a decrease in the level of absorption of other drugs. That is why patients, when prescribing complex therapy, are recommended to observe an interval between medications of 2 hours.
It should be remembered that during treatment with Riopan, it is necessary to abandon dishes, drinks, which contain acetic or tartaric acid.
Cost of medicine
Of course, patients who decide to take this drug have many questions. These are, as a rule, the following points: instructions for the medicine "Riopan", price in pharmacies, analogues of the drug.
The main characteristics given in the annotation are discussed above. Now let's focus on the cost of the medication. This drug is not an expensive medicine. Thanks to this, it is quite accessible to almost all categories of the population.
So, for example, a suspension of "Riopan" 1600 mg, containing 10 sachets, costs an average of 566 rubles.
Analogues of the drug
Consider what drugs, if necessary, you can replace the original tool. There are quite a lot of them.
However, remember that before using a substitute or Riopan medication, the instructions and analogues of the drug should be discussed with your doctor. This will protect your body from unpleasant consequences.
Drugs are recognized as sufficiently effective analogues:
- "Almagel T".
- Agiflux.
- Alumag.
- Gastal.
- Almagel.
- "Maalox."
- "Remmax-KV".
- "Maalox Mini".
- Sekrepat Forte.
- "Rutacid."
Patient opinion
What do people think about this tool? Is it really as effective as the instructions for use indicate to the "Riopan" medicine? Patient reviews are most often positive.
People indicate that the drug is highly responsive. This is especially true of heartburn attacks. An equally important advantage of the medication is the relatively low cost. This, as indicated above, allows a wide range of people to choose this tool.
Patients who are associated with driving a car, and there are many in the modern world, emphasize another advantage of the drug. The medicine "Riopan" does not adversely affect the reaction rate.
An equally important plus, which is noted by many patients, is the caramel taste.
However, the drug also has disadvantages, which are also evidenced by the reviews of people taking this drug. Unfortunately, the medicine can cause negative manifestations, in the form of loose stools, nausea. In addition, many patients complain about the difficulties in combining the Riopan medication with other drugs.