As a prophylactic with an increased risk of malaria, it is recommended to use the Plaquenil tablets according to the instructions. The tool is used to treat this disease and some other systemic, diffuse, affecting connective tissues. Currently, Plaquenil is one of the vital medications that are on a special list in our country.
general information
The use of Plaquenil is reasonable for malaria - this composition is considered the most effective and well-known of this group of medicines. The active substances contained in the drug destroy the causative agent of the disease, while also reducing the too active response of the immune system. The effectiveness is due to the presence in the composition of the tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, made on the basis of 4-aminoquinoline. The drug is effective against plasmodia (erythrocyte forms). "Plaquenil" is prescribed for 3-day, 4-day malaria, a number of tropical varieties. It is known that "Plaquenil" is characterized by non-specific, specific activity in the foci of inflammation in the body.
As follows from the instructions, the drug "Plaquenil" has a pronounced antiprotozoal effect, since it stops the vital activity of protozoa, which can provoke numerous pathologies. At the same time, the composition inhibits the activity of the immune system to a reasonable extent, which makes it indispensable for autoimmune diseases. "Plaquenil" is prescribed for lupus in a systemic form, as well as with a discoid form of the disease. A distinctive feature of the pathology is the perception by the protective cells of the body of its own tissues as foreign, which leads to an erroneous attack. Due to the active components of the drug in question, excessive immunity is inhibited, the patient's condition improves.
As can be seen from the reviews, “Plaquenil” is often prescribed for a variety of inflammatory processes. Patients undergoing therapy with this drug note its high effectiveness. The composition is often prescribed for pain in the joints. "Plaquenil" is especially relevant if the non-steroid group does not show a pronounced effect.
What's on sale?
The manufacturer in the accompanying documentation mentions that the product is intended for sale strictly upon presentation of the prescription for the drug. To be treated with Plaquenil, you must first go to the doctor's appointment. If the doctor makes a decision in favor of this particular medication, he draws up a prescription, which indicates the duration of the course, dosage recommended to the patient. Based on the prescription, pharmacists will choose a product from the available assortment. Only Plaquenil tablets are on sale. Instructions for use always come with doses of the medication. Each specimen is convex on both sides, white, covered with a thin film. One of the parties has a reference to the dosage of the active compound, HCQ letters are engraved on the other.
As indicated in the accompanying instructions, “Plaquenil” (200 mg - the concentration of the active compound in one tablet) is available in capsules packaged in a dozen blisters. One box contains six blisters. The drug is taken orally in accordance with the program recommended by the doctor.
One tablet contains the active substance in an amount of 200 mg, as well as auxiliary components. If the patient is allergic to any products, intolerance to lactose or starch, it is necessary to warn the doctor about this, since the use of tablets can cause a negative response of the body. As can be seen from the reviews, “Plaquenil” (the instruction is always attached to the tablets) is sold at a price of one thousand to two and a half thousand rubles.
Pharmacology
As indicated in the instructions, the drug "Plaquenil" stops the activity of erythrocyte forms of plasmodia. The tool shows effectiveness when infected with almost any form of these organisms. The drug has been used in medical practice for a long time, but to this day there is no absolutely accurate confirmed information about the mechanism of its work. One is proved by numerous experiments for sure - the tool shows a pronounced, reliable effect. Scientists suggest that the active compound stops the enzymatic activity of phospholipase, cholinesterase, which helps to bring lysosomal membranes to a stable state. At the same time, the formation of prostaglandins is inhibited, and this reduces the pain syndrome.
Instructions for use of the drug "Plaquenil" contains a mention of the inhibition of gametes, plasmodia, that is, asexual microorganisms that provoke malaria. The active substance affects the patient in such a way that gametes completely disappear from the circulatory system, which means that malaria attacks pass. "Plaquenil" shows a reliable result if the disease is provoked by forms characterized by increased sensitivity to chlorine. The drug can be used for infection with plasmodia from the genus falciparum, despite their resistance to chlorine. Relative to other strains that do not perceive chlorins, Plaquenil is ineffective. The tool does not show an effect in malaria caused by non-erythrocyte forms, cannot be used as a prophylactic with the likelihood of such an infection.
Activity: versatile effect
As mentioned in the reviews, "Plaquenil" (the instruction also confirms this) is prescribed for arthritis. This is due to inhibition of the production of enzyme compounds, under the influence of which the cartilage tissue disintegrates. At the same time, the drug slows down the formation of cytokines, which is especially important for autoimmune pathologies, since under the influence of such compounds the immune system is activated. Plaquenil effectively prevents the body from harming its own tissues, while the inhibition is not strong enough to cause serious health consequences for the patient.
Instructions for use "Plaquenil" draws attention to the fact that the composition stops the formation of prostaglandins, under the influence of which the pain provoked by the inflammatory process intensifies. At the same time, the composition inhibits the formation of immunoglobulins, which is especially important for patients with rheumatism. Rheumatoid factors are perceived by the immune system as foreign and cause the production of antigens. Proper use of Plaquenil tablets helps to normalize this process, as well as reduce the activity of lymphocytes involved in biochemical reactions to ensure the body's immune defense.
Kinetics of the drug
The instructions for use of Plaquenil describe how the drug is processed after oral administration. The active compound is absorbed almost completely during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract. The suction rate is rated as fast. When using two capsules at a time, the maximum concentration of the active compound in the circulatory system in a healthy person is observed in less than two hours.
Plaquenil metabolism occurs in the liver cells. The active compound becomes metabolites, while there is a uniform distribution over the tissues of the body. "Plaquenil" accumulates in the kidneys, liver. Accumulation is possible in the respiratory system and ocular, skin cells containing melanin. Due to this specific feature, Plaquenil is used for the treatment of ocular pathologies.
The bioavailability, as seen from the Plaquenil instructions, is estimated at 45%. The active substance is excreted unchanged with urine. Similarly, metabolites leave the body. A small amount is excreted with bile. The process is quite slow, per day - no more than 3% of the substance taken. For the complete removal of the composition from the patient's body, 50 days are needed. Purification of blood plasma is observed a month after completion of the course.
Indications
The instructions "Plaquenil" mentions that the composition should be used when:
- cardiac rheumatism;
- scleroderma in systemic form;
- rheumatoid arthritis (including age-related), that is, systemic pathology, the mechanism of which is similar to autoimmune diseases;
- lupus erythematosus (discoid, systemic), accompanied by damage to the connective tissue, vascular system;
- malaria (except for strains resistant to chlorins) as a therapy and prophylaxis;
- skin diseases.
The latter concerns pathologies that are activated under the influence of sunlight. "Plaquenil" is used for photodermatosis of various shapes and types, including urticaria, pruritus, dermatitis, eczema, photophytodermatitis. As indicated in the instructions, Plaquenil is effective because pathologies are caused by increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, and the active compound of the drug affects cells that accumulate melanin. In patients with skin diseases associated with the sun, chemical reactions occur in an unforeseen manner, which provokes damage to the integument. Plaquenil normalizes cell functionality.
A feature of photodermatitis is the activity of the patient's immune system. Protective cells perceive skin areas damaged by chemical reactions as foreign agents, therefore, destruction reactions are activated. The Plaquenil Instruction mentions the immunosuppressive quality of the active compound. It is it that becomes especially important for patients with such dermatitis: suppression of immunity helps to stop allergies, inflammatory processes, and cure the disease.
How to use?
As mentioned in the reviews, instructions for use, Plaquenil is sold in pharmacies strictly if the client has a prescription from a doctor. You can’t take the composition yourself, the probability of a negative response from the body is high. The doctor prescribes the dosage, determines the program, the duration of treatment. A preliminary examination of the patient is preliminary carried out. The active compound, on which Plaquenil is based, can become a source of a rather severe negative response from the body, you will have to be prepared for this. At the reception, the doctor explains the dangers associated with the use of pills.
As can be seen from the instructions "Plaquenil" (200 mg - dosage of the active compound in one capsule), for a pronounced therapeutic effect, the accumulation of the active compound in the tissues of the body is necessary. This takes time, as a rule, the effect should be expected no earlier than a month after the start of treatment. But the negative consequences of the use of the composition can occur much earlier, especially with an unsuccessfully selected dosage. "Plaquenil" is canceled if the six-month therapy does not show an improvement in the patient's condition.
About doses and rules
As indicated in the instructions for use of Plaquenil (the reviews also contain information about such medical practice), the main task of the doctor is to find the minimum dosage at which the product will show the desired result. For adult patients, including the elderly, for a day the amount of medication is calculated based on the ideal body weight, and not real. Usually this is one or two tablets, since the drug is used in the calculation of 6.5 mg per kilogram of weight.
If 400 mg every day shows a normal body response, then stop at this format. The tool is used in several stages. As soon as a marked improvement is achieved, the dose is halved. If this leads to a sharp deterioration, the amount of medication used is increased again.
If malaria is found in acute form, with a Plaquenil attack, a sufficiently large dose of 800 mg can be used. Seven hours after the main dose is received, the patient is given half the amount of medication; the next two days, they maintain a dose of 400 mg. In some varieties of malaria, radical therapy requires a combination of Plaquenil and agents based on 8-aminoquinoline.
Application: different formats
Like some analogues, Plaquenil is used as a prophylactic. The optimal dose per day is two capsules of the composition. It is important to take the medicine on the same day of the week. The preventive course begins half a month before visiting the dangerous territory, and continues for at least two months from the moment of departure. If it is not possible to start timely preparation, first use 800 mg in two stages, making intervals of 6 hours between them, and then adhere to the scheme described above.
If lupus erythematosus is diagnosed, treatment begins with two Plaquenil capsules taken once or twice a day. The doctor monitors the reaction of the body, determines the duration of the course based on the information received. You can use Plaquenil for several weeks, but sometimes it takes months to treat. If maintenance therapy is required, one or two capsules of the drug must be taken per day.
It must be remembered (and this is indicated in the reviews, instructions for use), "Plaquenil" (analogues too) significantly affects the person’s ability to see. It becomes more difficult to focus your eyes, blurred halos appear in front of your eyes, and your subject appears blurry. The passage of a therapeutic course is categorically not combined with transport management, work with high-precision machines, units.
Technical nuance
Plaquenil should be used during meals. The best format is to drink a tablet with a glass of milk. It is known that the active compound can be injected into the muscle, vein, but in practice such methods are almost never used.
Plaquenil for children
The tool can be used as part of the prevention, therapy of malaria, it is used if systemic, skin diseases are diagnosed. The main task is to find out which lowest dosage will show the desired effect. Calculation is also carried out from the ideal (but not actual) weight. For every kilogram - 6.5 mg. If the child's weight is up to 31 kg, 200 mg capsules should not be used. As a prophylactic, Plaquenil is started to be taken a couple of weeks before visiting the danger zone. The course is drunk two more months after departure. If it is not possible to start prophylaxis in advance, first use a medicine at a rate of 12.9 mg per kilogram of ideal weight (not more than 800 mg).
The acute form of malaria requires the appointment of 32 mg per kilogram of mass, but not more than 2 grams. The initial dose can reach 800 mg (12.9 mg per kilogram of weight). After another six hours, the child is given a substance in the amount of 6.5 mg per kilogram (within 400 mg), the same amount after 18 hours. After another day, the patient is given “Plaquenil” at the rate of 6.5 mg per kilogram (not more than 400 mg).
"Interesting" position
It is known that the active substance "Plaquenil" is able to penetrate the placenta, excreted in breast milk, although in small quantities. The substance has an increased toxic effect, so you have to completely abandon breastfeeding, if necessary, undergo treatment with the composition.
Information on the possible effect of the active compound on the embryo is not yet sufficiently voluminous. Studies have shown that Plaquenil can cause the development of the vestibular apparatus, some elements of the nervous system. Under the influence of the active substance, pigmentation of the iris is disturbed, hemorrhages in the retina are possible. During gestation, “Plaquenil” is prescribed only when the obvious benefit of using the composition is more significant than the possible danger to the child.
How to replace?
Similar instructions are for the use of Plaquenil analogs based on 4-aminoquinoline. The most famous formulations:
- Immard.
- "Delagil."
- Chinocide.
A good reputation is the drug "Plasmocide".
It is important to note that the instructions for use of Plaquenil and the analogue of Delagil have significant differences. Different formulations can cause various adverse reactions. The prices for Plaquenil and its analogues vary quite substantially.
Sometimes you can’t
"Plaquenil" has a wide list of contraindications. The active substance negatively affects the liver, kidneys, activates existing violations of the functionality of the organs of vision. The tool should not be used if the patient has an allergic reaction, hypersensitivity to 4-aminoslorins, as well as derivatives of this group. , , . «» .
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