Many medicines today can be successfully used in several areas of medicine. One such drug is Sofradex, which is used in otolaryngology and ophthalmology. It has anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, so it can be recommended for many ailments. However, doctors do not always prescribe this drug. Sometimes, an analogue of Sofradex can be used, which is able to cope with the disease. These drugs will be discussed below.
Indications
The Sofradex medication is used in ophthalmology for superficial bacterial infections. It is effective for blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids), barley, infected eczema of the eyelids, allergic conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, episcleritis. Like Sofradex, analogues can be recommended for the treatment of iritis and iridocyclitis.
In otolaryngology, this medication is used for chronic and acute forms of external otitis media.
Pharmacological properties of Sofradex
This medicine, unlike many others, contains not one, but three active ingredients: neomycin, dexamethasone and gramicidin. The first is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which has a wide spectrum of action. Dexamethasone, which belongs to the group of glucocorticoids, has an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect, and also relieves itching. The third is the antibiotic produced by Bacillusbrevis Dubos, which is bacteriostatic and bactericidal against most gram-positive microorganisms.
Due to this combined composition, the drug is often used in otorhinolaryngological and ophthalmic practice. But does any analogue of Sofradeks have such pharmacological properties? Let's try to figure it out.
Analogues of the drug
To date, the drug "Sofradex" does not have structural analogues for the active substance. Therefore, all the funds that will be discussed below are similar only in medicinal effect. They are also prescribed for superficial bacterial infections of the eyes and ears. However, each analogue of Sofradeks has a number of contraindications and side effects.
Means of "Dexon"
This drug belongs to the group of combined corticosteroid and antimicrobial medicines. It contains two main active ingredients. The first of these is dexamethasone sodium phosphate, which has an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effect. The second - neomycin sulfate, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
This analogue of Sofradex is available in the form of drops, which are used in ophthalmology and otolaryngology. For the treatment of eye diseases, the drug can be recommended for patients from 12 years old, and for superficial infections of the ears - from 7 years.
The medicine "Genodex"
Another medicine that has a combined composition and is used to treat superficial infections of the organs of vision and hearing is Genodex. Assign it to adults and children from three years, and the dosage of the drug does not depend on age.
The main active components of the drug are: dexamethasone, polymyxin B and chloramphenicol. The first has an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect, the other two are antibiotics that fight the causative agents of the disease.
Like the Sofradex drug, analogues containing dexamethasone have a lot of contraindications. The first of these is age - children under 3 years old are not prescribed. It is strictly forbidden to take medication for infectious tuberculous lesions of the organs of hearing and vision, lichen, chickenpox, diseases of the cornea with defects in the epithelium, trachoma, glaucoma and some others.
Means "Combined Duo"
Like Sofradex, analogues (ear drops), or rather many of them, contain dexamethasone. One of these drugs is Combinil Duo, which is based on two active ingredients. The first, as mentioned above, is dexamethasone, the second is ciprofloxacin.
This drug is available in 5 ml plastic dropper bottles. And can be prescribed for infections of the eyes and ears.
Reviews about the drug "Combin Duo"
Due to the complex composition of the drug, the visible therapeutic effect occurs already on the second day of use. The antibiotic prevents the growth of bacteria and destroys their structure, and dexamethasone relieves edema and other manifestations of the inflammatory process. Due to this pharmacological complex action, the drug has earned many positive reviews from doctors and patients.
However, not everyone who used the drug was satisfied. After all, there are many adverse reactions and contraindications, which warns, in particular, to the drug "Combinil Duo" and "Sofradeks", instructions for use. Analogs containing dexamethasone are forbidden to use for children, as well as for women during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, there is a list of diseases in which taking medication can only aggravate the patient's condition. It is those who ignore these precautions and use the drug without a doctor's prescription who speak negatively of it.
The medicine "Garazon"
Considering the drug "Sofradex", analogues, reviews about them, as well as their pharmacological properties, attention should be paid to the drug "Garazon". At the heart of this medication, two active substances are used: betamethasone and gentamicin. In ophthalmology, it is used for staphylococcal blepharoconjunctivitis, blepharitis, barley, and injuries of the anterior eye.
An effective medicine for the treatment of diseases of the organs of hearing. Most often, the drug is prescribed to people who are diagnosed with chronic or acute external otitis media, secondary infections of the external auditory canal, as well as contact and seborrheic dermatitis, eczema.
Reviews on the drug "Garazon"
Despite the combined pharmacological effect, as well as the Sofradex drug itself, analogues reviews are not only positive. And the medicine "Garazon", unfortunately, is no exception. Many patients to whom the medication did not fit can share stories about severe allergic and other adverse reactions. In fact, in most of these cases, the perpetrators of poor health are the patients themselves, who are irresponsible to the doctor's recommendations and do not comply with the dosage. In addition, almost half of patients use the medication on their own, without consulting a specialist.
Medication "Aprolat"
Today, it is cheap and expensive to purchase Sofradex in a pharmacy; analogues are cheap and expensive. However, before you go for such a purchase, it is worth consulting with your doctor. After examining the patient and conducting a series of clinical tests, it is the specialist who will precisely say which of the medicines will help to cope with the disease without harming one's health.
So, with bacterial conjunctivitis or marginal blepharitis, as well as those who suffer from keratitis, an ophthalmologist may prescribe the drug “Aprolat”. The otolaryngologist, in turn, will recommend this combination drug to patients suffering from external otitis media.
This analogue of the Sofradex preparation has a complex combined composition and is available in the form of drops and suspensions. Contraindicated in fungal infections of the eyes and hearing organs, as well as diseases of viral etiology, such as chicken pox and herpes.
Reviews on the drug "Aprolat"
As well as Sofradex (drops), the instruction recommends using the analogs only as directed by the doctor. This rule also applies to the Aprolat drug, which very rarely provokes the occurrence of adverse reactions. And despite the fact that most of the reviews about this medication are positive, there are a number of contraindications that should not be neglected. For example, the product can not be used for more than 7 days, it is categorically not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children.
Which analogue of Sofradex is better?
When choosing a medication for yourself or a member of your family, it is extremely wrong to be guided by the opinions of others, by price or other characteristics. After all, each medicine has not only a directed pharmacological effect, but can also harm health if used without the appointment of a specialist. Therefore, it is impossible to answer the question of which medicine is more effective and better - Sofradex, analogues of cheap domestic production or expensive imported drugs with the same therapeutic effect.
Only a qualified doctor in each case can clarify this situation. Therefore, you should not risk your health and self-medicate, but as soon as possible consult a specialist.