"Salofalk" preparation: analogues and instructions for use

The human body is struggling with a variety of diseases, simple and complex, throughout its life. Not the most recent place in the series of health problems is inflammatory bowel disease. To combat them, many different medications have been developed with different principles of action.

Mesalazine is the main active ingredient in a fairly large group of drugs ("Salofalk", analogs) to combat specific inflammatory bowel diseases.

The composition of "Salofalk", pharmacodynamics

As already mentioned, the main active substance of the drug is mesalazine. As auxiliary, there are a number of components, in particular, such as: sodium carbonate, glycine, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide and titanium, calcium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, butyl methacrylate base copolymer.

"Salofalk" (granules, tablets, suppositories, suspension) inhibits (inhibits) the processes of neutrophilic lipoxygenase and the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in the human body. The active substance reduces the rate of migration, degranulation and phagocytosis of neutrophils, reduces the secretion of lymphocytes. In addition, the drug has the ability to bind to free radicals and subsequently destroys them, that is, exhibits antioxidant effects. Also, mesalazine is able to bind to free radicals formed from reactive oxygen compounds.

Indication for appointment

The main area in which "Salofalk" has found application is the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The first disease is a chronic inflammatory process of an as yet undefined nature. Its development is due to the interaction of genetic factors and environmental conditions.

Crohn's disease can be characterized as a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This process can capture all parts of the digestive system, affects all layers of the digestive tube. The consequence may be the development of lymphadenitis, the formation of scarring and ulceration in the walls of the intestine.

Forms of release of a medicament

Producers offer their customers the drug "Salofalk" (analogues in this regard may differ) in several forms of release.

In tableted form, 250 and 500 mg of the main active ingredient, mesalazine, can be contained. One packet can contain 500 mg or 1 g of the basic substance. Medication in the form of suppositories (suppositories for rectal administration) is also presented in two dosages - 250 and 500 mg of the main component. Also in pharmacies you can buy a suspension and a foam for rectal administration. The most effective for each individual patient form of release will help to choose the attending doctor.

Dosing regimen of tablets

The standard dosage for adult patients is three times a day for 500 mg. If a serious degree of the disease is diagnosed, the treating doctor may increase the dose to 3-4 g per day. The course of therapy can last from 2 to 3 months. If the medicine is taken for prophylactic purposes, it is done according to the standard scheme (1.5 g in three divided doses during the day).

To small patients "Salofalk" instructions for use (the analogs may differ in the dosage regimen) recommends giving according to the weight of the child. Children with a body weight not exceeding 40 kg, the doctor prescribes 250 mg of the drug three times a day. If the weight of the child exceeds 40 kg, the same dosage as for adults is shown: 500 mg three times a day.

Tablets are best taken after eating, do not chew and drink with a lot of liquid (best of all water).

Scheme of application of granules

This form of production of the drug "Salofalk" (granules) is appointed by the attending physician especially individually, proceeding from the general clinical picture of the patient's state of health. Most often, during an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, the patient is assigned to take a dose of 500 mg or 1 g three times a day (i.e., the daily volume of the drug is 1.5 to 3.0 g). You can take once 3 bags at once. If the patient is in remission, "Salofalk" is taken in a dose of 1.5 g per day: you can break it into 3 doses or take all the medicine at once.

If it is an aggravation of ulcerative colitis in children (starting from 6 years and older), the attending physician prescribes the drug at the rate of 30-50 mg of mesalazine per 1 kg of weight. The whole dose can be taken at a time or distributed to 3 doses during the day.

Granules should be put on the tongue and, without chewing, swallow. The drug should be washed down with plenty of liquid. In order for the therapeutic effect to be stable, the granules should be taken regularly and consistently. The acute stage of ulcerative colitis usually fades after 2-3 months, then the daily dose can be reduced to 1.5 g per day.

Purpose and mode of application of suppositories

"Salofalk" (candles) instructions for use recommends the use of 500 mg (1 rectal suppository 500 mg or 2 - 250 mg) three times a day. If the disease is acute, the daily dose can be doubled. If a long-term course of therapy is prescribed to the patient, or the goal is purely preventive (prevention of recurrences), the usual dose in this case is 250 mg (1 suppository) three times a day.

For small patients, the dosage regimen depends on the body weight. Children weighing less than 40 kg "Salofalk" (candles) instructions for use regulate appoint ½ dosage for an adult, i.e. 250 mg three times a day. If the child weighs more than 40 kg, he is given a medication in a dosage, as for an adult patient (three times a day, 500 mg).

Rectal suspension

The drug "Salofalk" - suspension is available in vials provided for rectal administration. The procedure is carried out once, in the evening before bedtime. Before the introduction of the drug, the patient is recommended to empty the intestine. The daily volume of the drug is selected based on the weight of the patient (at a rate of 30-50 mg / kg). If the disease is severe or is at an acute stage, the maximum dose during the day can go up to 3 g. To prevent relapse, specialists usually recommend taking Salofalk orally (in tablets). In this case, the dose (daily) is also prescribed depending on the weight - 15-30 mg / kg body weight. The entire daily volume of the drug during the day is recommended to be divided into two doses.

Contraindications to the admission "Salofalka"

The use of the drug "Salofalk" (analogs - not an exception) is contraindicated in people with increased sensitivity to the main and auxiliary components of the drug. It is unacceptable to prescribe pills to children under 3 years of age, granules to 6 years. Patients suffering from severe forms of renal and hepatic insufficiency should not take the medicine.

Do not prescribe "Salofalk" to people who have a tendency to develop bleeding, various diseases of the hematopoiesis system. Suffering diathesis of hemorrhagic nature, peptic ulcer diseases of any part of the gastrointestinal tract should also not take medications based on mesalazine.

In granules, the drug should not be administered to patients suffering from phenylketonuria (hereditary disease, associated with a violation of the metabolism of phenylalanine, leads to severe CNS damage in the form of deviations in mental development).

With regard to pregnant and lactating women, the use of medication in the first 3 months of pregnancy should be justified by strict indications. During 2-3 trimesters, the appointment of "Salofalk" is possible only if the expected positive effect on the woman's health dominates the possible risk for the baby. According to the same indications it is permissible to use the pellets "Salofalka" during lactation. However, if a child has diarrhea, breastfeeding should be discarded. And in general, it is optimal before the onset of the planned pregnancy to cancel the reception of "Salofalk" or, at least, to reduce the dose taken.

Possible side effects

Virtually every drug has side effects. Salofalk was not an exception (analogous to Russian ones as well). From the side of the central nervous system are possible such manifestations as headaches, dizziness, tremor, tinnitus, depression, seizures, paresthesia. The gastrointestinal tract can respond to the use of "Salofalk" with pain in the abdomen, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. It is possible to develop hepatitis, change the values of hepatic transaminases. From the cardiovascular system may appear rapid heart rate, fluctuations in blood pressure (hyper- or hypotension), pain in the chest, dyspnea.

In some cases, patients can be heard about the development of myalgia, arthralgia. In addition, the medication can provoke the development of anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anuria, oliguria, hematuria, crystalluria.

From a number of allergic reactions, itching, skin rashes, erythema, bronchospasm, pericarditis and myocarditis are possible. In patients with hypersensitivity to mesalazine, it is possible to develop such diseases as interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, acute stage of pancreatitis. In a separate group of patients, "Salofalk" (its analogs included) caused symptoms similar to the syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Medication-analogues

Salofalk has a sufficient number of analog medicines for the main active ingredient. What can, for example, replace "Salofalk" - candles? Analogues, which are most often of interest to consumers and are assigned by health workers, are the suppositories of Pentas and Samesil. In these medications, the main active ingredient is mesalazine, so they have a similar pharmacological effect on the human body.

"Mesakol" is another widely used analogue of "Salofalk" (in granules, tablets).

In addition to analogs for the active ingredient, there is a fairly large group of drugs similar in therapeutic effect. To such medicines you can reliably refer "Azathioprine" and "Alginatol", "Hydrocortisone" and "Dexamethasone", "Diprospan" and "Irmalax", "Prednisolone" and "Sulfasalazine". This list can be continued.

Special recommendations

Before starting treatment, as well as in the process of therapy and at the end of it, health workers recommend taking general blood and urine tests. Also, before the treatment and in the process, it is necessary to monitor the parameters of the functional state of the liver. Monitoring is best done 14 days after the initiation of therapy, and then 2-3 more times with a periodicity of 4 weeks. If the results of the tests are within the normal range, monitoring studies are carried out every 3 months. If suddenly there are any deviations in the tests, then the control tests should be carried out immediately.

When appointing any form of the drug "Salofalk" (candles, analogs in tablets, granules, suspensions), patients suffering from bronchial asthma, the treating doctor need to carefully monitor the condition of patients during therapy. If the patient has a history of the possibility of developing side effects when taking "Sulfasalazine", the health of such people should be closely monitored at the initial stage of treatment with "Salofalkom." If they exhibit acute intolerance reactions (cramps, abdominal pain, rash, febrile condition), the drug should be discontinued immediately.

When driving a car or performing work that requires an increased speed of psychomotor reactions, patients taking Salofalk should be extremely cautious.