"Actovegin" is a drug often used by doctors, the active substance of which can accelerate various kinds of regenerative and metabolic processes in the human body. Also, this tool can improve the nutrition of cells in tissues. Very often, doctors prescribe this drug, including for children. Reviews "Actovegin" from parents earned mixed.
Release form and composition of the drug
The main active substance of the drug "Actovegin" is an extract from the blood of calves. This medicine can be issued in three forms:
Aktovegin's solution is delivered to clinics and pharmacies in ampoules without the use of a preservative. Tablets of this drug are packaged in blisters and boxes of 50 pcs. Each of them contains 200 mg of active substance. Creams and ointments, incorporating a calf blood extract, are packaged in tubes of 20-100 grams.
The solutions of this medicine, in addition to the main component, contain:
water for injection;
sodium chloride.
The composition of the liquid "Actovegin", intended for intravenous administration, may additionally include dextrose.
Auxiliary ingredients in tablets are:
povidone;
talc;
magnesium stearate;
cellulose.
Additional components of the Actovegin ointments and creams can be, for example, substances such as:
paraffin;
calcium lactate;
purified water.
Indications for children
In pediatrics, Actovegin is most often used when there are various kinds of brain problems in newborns and infants. Very often, this drug is prescribed by doctors to such children, for example, with:
brain hypoxia (an umbilical cord wrapped around the throat or a prolonged birth);
birth trauma of the brain of a different nature;
acquired or congenital hyposcia.
Quite often, this remedy is also prescribed for children with hyperactivity, tremor of the extremities, learning problems, and mental retardation.
Many doctors prescribe Actovegin for children with speech delay. Reviews about this medicine when using it for this purpose are also ambiguous. However, most parents note the fact that this medicine is able to increase the degree of learning in children.
In which cases
In case of various pathologies of the brain or developmental disorders, Actovegin is prescribed to children in the form of solutions or tablets. Ointments, gels and creams containing calf blood extract can be used, including in pediatrics, for example, with:
In addition, Actovegin is able to effectively deal with pressure sores and ulcers. Healing with the help of this tool and long healing wounds.
Treatment of children with Actovegin: reviews
Pediatricians find this drug effective and prescribe it to small patients who have problems with the central nervous system, often. From some parents, this medicine also earned good reviews. When used correctly in case of hypoxia and various kinds of disorders, they can help, in their opinion, it can actually be quite effective. Children taking this medicine become more active and respond better to surrounding irritants.
But, unfortunately, there are also negative reviews from parents about Actovegin. Some of them are not advised to give this medicine to children. The drug is expensive, and many parents believe that it can be intentionally prescribed without special need.
Perhaps this information is incorrect, but similar reviews about Actovegin still occur. In addition, there are reasons to doubt the absolute safety of the medicine. In many countries, Actovegin, for example, is currently prohibited not only for treating children, but also for adults. This is due to the fact that the medicine, in addition to allergies, can give other, and completely unexpected side effects.
Adult patients, for example, often note the fact that after taking this remedy, their head begins to hurt greatly. In children, as parents note, when using this medicine, very strong colic can occur. In addition, in the instructions for use for this drug that it can be used in pediatrics, not a word is said.
Are there any contraindications
So, is it possible to give Actovegin to children? Reviews of parents after using this medication to treat their children are different. But in any case, this drug has contraindications. You can read about them in the "adult" instructions for the medicine.
Doctors prescribe the drug "Actovegin" to children only in cases where they do not have pathologies such as:
heart failure;
pulmonary edema;
convulsive syndrome;
kidney dysfunction.
Also, this medicine is not prescribed for children with diabetes.
Can the drug cause side effects
The instructions for the use of this medication indicate that the only negative consequence of taking it may be an allergy. That is why many doctors consider the drug safe and prescribe Actovegin for children. Reviews about this medicine, however, as already mentioned, there are not only positive ones. Some parents note the fact that children taking this drug may have colic.
In any case, it is prohibited to prescribe this medication without a preliminary test for hypersensitivity. In addition, in the first few days after the start of treatment with Actovegin, parents should closely monitor the condition of the child. In case of fever or skin rash, the drug should be stopped immediately. Next, you need to take the baby to the doctor and get recommendations from him on the next steps.
Specialists recommend giving the child this medicine in the morning or afternoon. In the evening, it is not worth using Actovegin to treat small patients. The fact is that this drug in some cases can cause sleep disturbance. Ointments, creams and gels "Actovegin" - the funds are relatively mild. But sometimes when applied at the treatment site, the child feels a burning sensation and itching.
Instructions for the use of liquid form
The use of this particular form of the drug has the most reviews. Actovegin injections are prescribed to children more often than tablets. But doctors consider intravenous administration of this drug even more effective. Such a procedure is carried out, of course, in the clinic. In this case, the doctor selects the dosage individually. In most cases, the treatment with Actovegin by pediatricians uses the following scheme:
newborns and children under 3 years of age are prescribed 0.4-0.5 ml of solution per 1 kg of weight per day;
for patients aged 3-6 years, 2.5-4 ml, respectively, is administered;
children under 12 years of age are prescribed 5-10 ml per kilogram of weight.
For patients under 18 years of age and older, this drug in most cases is prescribed in the amount of 10-15 ml per day.
In the clinic, this medicine is administered to small patients, of course, by medical professionals. And therefore, in terms of the convenience of its use on the Web, of course, there are no reviews. "Actovegin" for children, the instructions for use of which is not provided for small patients by manufacturers, are prescribed by doctors intravenously, however, usually with a frequency of once a day.
Injections of this medicine to small patients are prescribed less frequently. The therapy is carried out in this way mainly only when the solution cannot be administered intravenously for any reason. In most cases, Actovegin injections are given to children in combination with Novocain. In this case, a preliminary test is made for an allergy to both types of drugs.
Directions for use for tablets
In this form, the medicine is prescribed to children orally. In this case, treatment can be done at home. In this form, the medicine from the parents also earned mixed reviews. Pediatricians rarely prescribe Actovegin tablets for children in any case. The fact is that the pharmacological industry produces only the adult form of this drug. That is, tablets in the treatment of children have to be divided. The destruction of the membrane of the drug leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of its action.
For newborns and infants, such a drug is usually prescribed depending on weight. Older children are most often prescribed one tablet of Actovegin per day. Take this medicine, according to the instructions, relies before meals. In this case, the drug should be washed down with warm water.
The most difficult thing, of course, is to give Actovegin to very young children. It is supposed to take this medicine before meals, and therefore it should not be mixed in the mixture. Some mothers for treating children with this drug, for example, recommend using this technique:
The prescribed amount of medicine should be carefully ground into a powder in a teaspoon and diluted with a small amount of boiled water.
Next, the resulting solution should be typed into a syringe and carefully poured over the cheek of the child.
It is in this way that Actovegin is usually given to children up to a year old. Reviews about the convenience of using the medicine in this regard, of course, are not too good. Tablets when used for such small patients have to be divided, and their administration can cause difficulties. In any case, about the method of taking the prescribed medicine by the baby, his mother should, of course, first consult with the pediatrician.
When using older Actovegin for the treatment of children, of course, you also need to grind it into powder and dilute it with a small amount of water. If the child cannot master one tablet at a time, the product can be divided into two parts and used twice a day.
How does the drug interact with other drugs?
Reviews Actovegin tablets, children who are still rarely prescribed, have earned both good and bad. But opinions about this medicine differ mainly among parents. Doctors use this drug for the treatment of CNS pathologies "Actovegin" in children quite often. In this case, pediatricians prescribe a medicine usually in combination with other drugs used for encephalopathy and developmental delays. For example, this tool can be used simultaneously with:
Mildronatom;
B vitamins;
"Riboxinum";
Cavinton
Cortexin, etc.
Also, this medicine is compatible with sodium chloride and glucose solution. Introducing with other forms of solvents is not recommended. With intramuscular injections, as already mentioned, at the same time it is allowed to use Novocaine.
Storage and shelf life
Many parents, of course, themselves would like to read the instructions for the use of Actovegin. Children of reviews about this drug, and especially very small ones, of course, cannot give. Unfortunately, printed instructions for such patients are not provided. In this case, parents have to rely only on the decency of the doctor and hope for a high degree of qualification.
Regarding the storage of the drug, manufacturers give accurate recommendations. Tablets and ampoules of "Actovegin" in the house should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. The maximum allowable storage temperature of this drug is +25 ° C. In the heat, the medicine is thus best placed in the refrigerator. Open ampoules, even if there is a solution in them, should be disposed of immediately, since the medicine in this form does not contain preservatives. The maximum shelf life of this drug is 3 years from the date of manufacture.
Instead of a conclusion
Thus, doctors recommend "Actovegin" to children, reviews of which are available both good and not very often enough. Some parents are still afraid to use this drug for treatment. In any case, when undergoing therapy using this medication, parents should carefully monitor the condition of the child. When negative symptoms appear, giving the drug to the baby should, of course, be stopped.