Among all viral infections, SARS and influenza are considered the most common specialists. Almost all have at least once encountered these diseases. Next, we briefly consider the features of pathologies, as well as one of the modern drugs prescribed for their treatment, “Helpex Antikold” (tablets).
Description of ODS and influenza (briefly)
Epidemics of these pathologies, as a rule, come in cold weather. As a result, about 15% of the world's inhabitants fall ill. Influenza is a rather serious viral disease of an infectious nature. Without competent and timely treatment, this pathology can lead to irreversible consequences and even death. Influenza affects large bronchi and trachea. This disease is characterized by severe toxicosis. An acute respiratory infection provokes a cough, sore throat, fever and headache. The same symptoms accompany flu. One of the common and effective drugs for the pathologies under consideration is the Helpex Antikold drug (tablets). Doctors' reviews indicate the high effectiveness of the medication due to the complex effect. According to experts, the medicine quickly relieves the acute symptoms of diseases. The mechanism of action is described in some detail by the instructions that came with the Helpex Antikold tool (tablets). Reviews of specialists indicate the safety of this drug and the satisfactory tolerance of patients.
Pharmacological properties
The tool "Helpex Antikold" (tablets), the instruction characterizes as a complex preparation. The medication has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. A moderate anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect is also noted. As indicated by the instruction attached to the Helpex Anticold product, tablets help eliminate headaches, lacrimation, nasal congestion, and coughing. When treated with a medication, the general condition of the body improves.
Pharmacodynamics
The composition of the drug includes such active components as phenylephrine and cetirizine hydrochlorides, as well as paracetamol. The latter has an antipyretic, analgesic and moderate anti-inflammatory effect. Paracetamol is able to influence the thermoregulatory center in the hypothalamus, inhibit (inhibit) the synthesis of inflammatory mediators (serotonin, kinin) and prostaglandins. Along with this, this component provides an increase in the level of pain sensitivity. Cetirizine hydrochloride is considered a fairly powerful antihistamine. This component is a selective antagonist of H1 receptors. Due to its activity, a histamine-mediated early phase of an allergic reaction slows down. Cetirizine hydrochloride reduces eosinophil migration and the spread of inflammatory mediators. Due to this, in turn, the late allergic reaction is also weakened. Cetirizine hydrochloride practically does not affect other receptors. In this regard, it does not provoke negative antiserotonin and anticholinergic effects. Phenylephrine hydrochloride acts as a selective alpha-adrenergic agonist. Due to the vasoconstrictor effect that this active component has, the swelling of the nasal mucosa and the amount of secretion secreted are reduced. Due to this, nasal breathing improves, the passage of air is facilitated.
Pharmacokinetics
Paracetamol is fairly rapidly absorbed from the digestive system. In plasma, the maximum content is noted after 10-60 minutes. The component is quickly distributed throughout the body tissues. When used in usual therapeutic doses, only a small fraction (about 28-50%) of paracetamol binds to proteins. The elimination half-life is 1-3 hours. The time of analgesic action is about 4-6, and antipyretic - about 6-8 hours. Metabolism is predominantly carried out in liver cells. Paracetamol is secreted mainly by the kidney system in the form of sulfate conjugates and glucuronic acid. Less than 5% is excreted unchanged. Cetirizine hydrochloride is also rapidly absorbed from the digestive system. Eating does not reduce the volume, but somewhat reduces the rate of absorption. The maximum concentration of the component in the plasma is observed after half an hour or an hour with 10 mg. The excretion of cetirizine is carried out mainly with urine, unchanged. In patients with moderate or mild impairment of renal function, the elimination half-life increases to 19-21 hours. Approximately 90% of the component binds to plasma proteins. Phenylephrine hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed, but, due to intensive pre-system metabolism (mainly in etorocytes), its systemic bioavailability is about 40%. After taking the therapeutic dosage, the maximum concentration is noted to be descent an hour or two. The plasma half-life is within 2-3 hours. After absorption, intense biotransformation of phenylephrine in the liver occurs. Excretion is carried out mainly through the kidneys in the form of decay products. Less than 20% is excreted unchanged.
Indications for use "Helpeks Antikold" (tablets)
What helps this medication? The drug is prescribed as a symptomatic treatment for influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, complicated by hyperthermic syndrome. These indications are also confirmed by the instruction attached to the Helpex Antikold medication (tablets). Reviews of experts indicate that therapy should be started at the first sign of pathology. The sooner treatment is started, the easier the healing process will be.
Dosage
Reception should be carried out as recommended by the instruction attached to the Helpex Antikold tool. Tablets are prescribed to patients from 12 years old. Dosage - 1 pc. 4 p. / Day Many patients ask: "I was prescribed Helpex Anticold tablets. How long should I take them?" The duration of drug therapy is no more than 5 days. Between receptions it is necessary to maintain an interval of 4 hours. The drug is drunk an hour after eating. It should be washed down with water in large quantities. The instructions attached to the Helpex Anticold product (tablets) recommend that you adhere to the dosage prescribed by the doctor. In the absence of effect, it should not be exceeded. In this case, consult a specialist. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe another drug instead of Helpex Antikold (tablets). Analogues of the drug (medicines "Antigrippin", "Axagripp", "Antiflu", "Coldrex" and others) should be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Who is not recommended for?
The drug Helpex Antikold (tablets) has the following contraindications:
- Increased individual sensitivity to the components.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cardiovascular pathology.
- Lactation.
- Pregnancy.
- Age to 12 years.
These are the main restrictions that are provided by the instruction attached to the Helpex Antikold tool. Tablets are also not recommended at the same time as tricyclic antidepressants or MAO inhibitors.
Side effect
A medication can have a negative effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In particular, there may be a decrease or increase in pressure, increased heart rate. Tachycardia is also likely. Some patients may experience impaired urination. In particular, the Helpex Antikold drug (tablets) (the instructions for use contain such information) can provoke a spasm of the urethral canal or vesical sphincter. Co-treatment with opiates can cause urinary retention. The medication has a sedative effect, can cause drowsiness, blurred consciousness, apathy, lethargy, headache. On the background of therapy, deterioration of physical and mental performance, dysphoria, blurred vision, mood changes, anxiety can be noted. These side effects relate to a violation of the central nervous system. According to experts, they occur when therapeutic doses of the drug are exceeded. A medicine can also cause an upset digestive system. In particular, during therapy, discomfort in the stomach or intestines, dry mouth, vomiting, or nausea may be noted. Allergic reactions include a skin rash.
special instructions
As mentioned above, if the symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor. It is also necessary to visit a specialist in case of intensification of manifestations of pathology. In addition to the limitations listed above, there are a number of cases in which special care must be taken. Their list contains the instructions attached to the Helpex Antikold medication. Tablets, in particular, should be prescribed with extreme caution to patients with impaired renal or hepatic function . During treatment, the dose is not allowed to be exceeded. Also, you should not take other medicines, in which paracetamol is present. The likelihood of an overdose is an order of magnitude higher in patients with non-cirrhosis liver pathologies provoked by alcohol abuse. Caution is necessary when prescribing a medication to patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as angle-closure glaucoma. It should be remembered that felylephrine is able to increase pressure. In this regard, dose adjustment may be required for patients receiving antihypertensive treatment, as well as beta-adrenergic blockers. As part of the drug "Helpex Antikold" (tablets) (photo of the drug is presented in the article) there is aspartame. This component is a source of phenylalanine. This compound may adversely affect patients with phenylketonuria. A medication should not be prescribed to patients with hereditary rare fructose intolerance, sucrose-isomaltase deficiency, as well as glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.
Pregnancy and lactation
There are no adequate research results indicating the safety of using Helpex Antikold during these periods. It was found that phenylephrine and paracetamol are able to penetrate into milk. In this regard, taking Helpex Antikold medication during lactation is not allowed. If necessary, carry out treatment during this period, feeding must be stopped.
additional information
The drug can provoke drowsiness, impaired vision and other disorders of the central nervous system. In this regard, for the period of therapy, patients should refrain from potentially dangerous activities. This is especially true for drivers and people whose work is related to mechanisms and requires a high concentration of attention and speed of psychomotor reaction. Efficacy and safety in patients younger than 12 years of age have not been established. In this regard, the Helpex Antikold medication is not prescribed for patients of this age category.
Interaction
Helpex Antikold should not be prescribed together with MAO inhibitors and for 2 weeks after the end of their intake. The drug is not recommended at the same time as other medicines containing paracetamol, and also intended for the treatment of depressive conditions, Parkinson's disease, and mental disorders. With prolonged use, Helpex Antikold may enhance the effect of Warfarin and other coumarins. With periodic therapy, a significant effect is not observed. With the simultaneous administration of Helpex Antikold with the drug Colestyramine, absorption is reduced and the action of paracetamol is weakened. Drugs such as Domperidone and Metoclopramide increase the absorption of this component. When used simultaneously with NSAIDs, the likelihood of impaired renal function increases. The risk of toxic effects increases with combined treatment with drugs that enhance the activity of liver enzymes. They mainly include barbiturates, antiepileptic drugs and Rimfampicin. The medicine "Salicylamide" increases the half-life of paracetamol. The hepatotoxic effect of the latter can be enhanced with the combined use of the Helpeks Antikold drug with ethyl alcohol.
Overdose
When taken in an amount exceeding the therapeutic, as well as subject to the presence of risk factors, paracetamol has a hepatotoxic effect. After an overdose, chemical and clinical lesions of the liver are noted after 12-48 hours. Among the first symptoms should be called blanching of the skin, pain in the abdomen, vomiting and nausea, anorexia. There is a high risk of impaired glucose metabolism and acidosis is likely. In practice, cases of the development of pancreatitis and arrhythmias have been reported. Liver and renal glomerular necrosis is also likely. With an overdose, thrombocytopenia may develop, hypoglycemic coma may occur. An increase in drowsiness when taking a large amount of medication is due to the action of cetirizine. In this case, children first experience agitation, which is subsequently replaced by lethargy. In case of an overdose, even with normal health, you should contact a specialist as soon as possible.