"Azithromycin" for children: instruction manual, reviews

In case of detection of complex infections with which penicillin-based antibiotics can not cope, doctors prescribe "Azithromycin". For children (instructions for use indicate this), this drug has a very strong effect, in some cases it can even disrupt the work of a completely unformed organism, so it must be taken in minimum doses.

Form of issue and composition

The drug consists of the active substance azithromycin and auxiliary excipients, with which the pill is given a traditional shape. Also, due to these substances, the absorption of the drug is better.

In connection with the extensive spectrum of antibiotic use in modern pharmacology, various forms of the drug release are used:

• Hard gelatin capsules with a blue body and a blue lid, inside of which is a white or light yellow powder (or compacted mass). When clicked, they break up. In addition to the active ingredient, the capsules contain microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate.
• "Azithromycin" (125) instructions for use for children described as tablets in a blue film shell, round, biconvex. On the one hand, they have the engraving "PLIVA", on the other - "125". If you break it, you can see that at the break the tablet is white. It consists of the following auxiliary means: calcium hydrophosphate anhydrous, hypromellose, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate.
• The drug "Azithromycin" for children is recommended for use in the form of a suspension, therefore in pharmacies you can buy a special powder for its preparation, which has a cherry or banana odor.

The cost of the antibiotic increases depending on the content of the active substance.

Pharmacological characteristics

"Azithromycin" refers to broad-spectrum antibiotics. When creating high concentrations in the focus of inflammation, microorganisms die.

The most sensitive to the action of the drug Gram-positive cocci: Streptococcus pneumoniae, streptococcus groups CF and G, Staphylococcus aureus, St. Pyogenes, St. Viridans, St. Agalactiae; Gram-negative bacteria: Moraxella catarrhalis, H. Ducrei, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Bordetella pertussis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, B. Parapertussis, Gardnerella vaginalis and Campylobacter jejuni; Anaerobic microorganisms: Chlamydia trachomatis, Bacteroides bivius, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Peptostreptococcus spp, Clostridium perfringens, Borrelia burgdoferi, Treponema pallidum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Gram-positive bacteria, resistant to erythromycin, transfer the antibiotic into an inactive form.

Pharmacokinetics

"Azithromycin" for children (instruction for use indicates this) is rapidly absorbed into the digestive tract due to its resistance to acidic medium and lipophilicity. Quickly distributed throughout the body. Easily penetrates not only in the respiratory tract, soft tissues and skin, but also in the organs of the urogenital tract. As a result of low binding of azithromycin and serum proteins, the ability to penetrate eukaryotic cells and concentrate in a medium with a low hydrogen index surrounding the lysosome, the half-life and concentration in the tissues increase.

All this determines the high volume distribution (31.1 liters per kilogram) and large plasma clearance. To destroy intracellular pathogens, the ability of "Azithromycin" to accumulate directly in lysosomes is of great importance.

Thanks to phagocytes, the drug enters the infection site, where it is released during phagocytosis. After 12-72 hours after admission in the focus of inflammation, a high concentration of the drug is achieved, which is significantly higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration for infectious agents.

As already mentioned, the half-life process is long, so, for example, it takes from 60 to 76 hours to remove from tissues. The bactericidal concentration of the drug is preserved in the areas of inflammation during 5-7 days after the last dose, so it is possible to use a single antibiotic a day, with a course of treatment of not more than a week.

"Azithromycin" is excreted mainly with bile, and only a small part - with urination.

Indications for admission

"Azithromycin" instruction on the use of children recommends prescribing for infectious and inflammatory diseases, which are provoked by bacteria susceptible to azithromycin. To such diseases carry: pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, infections of soft tissues and skin, tonsillitis, otitis, Lyme disease and urethritis. When suspected of pneumonia, pediatricians, as a rule, immediately prescribe antibiotics, even without the results of an X-ray study. Treatment of this disease should begin in time, otherwise you can face the most unfortunate consequences. Antibiotic in this case is chosen taking into account all the symptoms, the alleged pathogen and the clinical picture as a whole. When determining the microorganism that caused the infection, the age of the child is taken into account. If pneumonia is suspected in a baby aged 1 to 6 months, then. Most likely, the causative agent - Staphylococcus aureus, from one to six years - Streptococcus pneumoniae. With both types of bacteria, Azithromycin effectively fights.

Mode of application

The treatment regimen will depend on the disease, but the total dose should be maintained. The doctor can prescribe the drug "Azithromycin" for children. Instructions for the use of the tablet are allowed only for adults, since they contain from 250 to 500 mg of active substance, and this amount is calculated for a rather large mass. The fact that the tablets must be swallowed whole, they are not recommended to break or chew, therefore, it will not be possible to maintain the recommended single-use dosage (10 mg / kg). It is for this reason that adolescents are prescribed "Azithromycin" as the antibacterial agent (125). Instructions for use for children tablets prohibits taking up to 12 years, they can be replaced with a syrup or suspension.

For treatment of acute inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, otitis media, pneumonia, one-time administration of the drug (10 mg / kg) is prescribed. The drug "Azithromycin" (125) instruction for use in children in tablets recommends taking only after reaching the age of 14 years. Treatment of babies is done exclusively with the use of a suspension.

It should be mentioned that in 5 grams of syrup "Sumamed" (tea spoon) and other analogs of the drug also contains 125 mg of active substance. Accordingly, the standard dose for older children is 1-2 spoons, depending on the weight. During the next four days, the treatment is continued, but the dosage is reduced to 5 mg / kg. In case of a serious course of the disease, the dose may be doubled, but in such a situation, the use of an antibiotic is permissible only under the supervision of a specialist. The drug "Azithromycin" (125) instructions for use for children can be used only in the case of a single or double intake at a dosage of 30 mg / kg body weight.

Contraindications

The drug "Azithromycin" for children is forbidden to take the instruction for use at weight less than five kilograms. In addition, it is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the components contained in the composition or another to macrolide antibiotics. This drug is in no case to be used for severe hepatic and renal insufficiency.

Overdose and side effects

For those mothers who will use the drug "Azithromycin" for children, the instructions for use (patients' feedback on taking an antibiotic are presented in this material) provides a list of side effects. From the side of the lymphatic system and hematopoiesis, the development of thrombocytopenia is possible.

The patients show aggressiveness, hyperactivity, nervousness and anxiety. From the nervous system may be dizziness, convulsions, headaches, drowsiness and even fainting. In rare cases, taking the drug causes insomnia, asthenia, paresthesia, and the perception of smells and taste is also impaired.

Infrequently, macrolides (a group of drugs whose macrocylic 14- or 16-membered lactone ring with attached carbohydrate residues are the basis of the chemical structure), to which Azithromycin belongs, lead to hearing impairment. Rarely, but nevertheless there are side effects of dyspeptic nature and allergic reactions occur.

"Azithromycin" instructions for use for children can be used, but for children the drug can be taken only as a suspension. For older children, the capsular form of the antibiotic is also suitable. Before applying the medication, you need to get a doctor's permission and carefully read the instructions enclosed in the package.

Overdose can be indicated by diarrhea, temporary loss of hearing, nausea and vomiting. In case of exceeding the recommended dose, you should immediately wash the stomach, then proceed with symptomatic therapy.

special instructions

The use of "Azithromycin" in pregnancy is extremely undesirable, but it is permissible if it is impossible to help a woman without using it (the effect of the drug on fetal development has not been studied 100%). In the lactation period, when using an antibiotic at the time of treatment, it is necessary to interrupt breastfeeding.

Children under 12 years are better to choose an analogue of "Azithromycin".

The intake of alcohol does not affect the effect of the drug, but when it is used, the course of any illness is aggravated. Therefore, the amount of alcohol consumed is recommended to be reduced to the maximum, and it is even better to refuse for the period of treatment completely.

Drug Interactions

When taking "Azithromycin" with antacid agents containing calcium, magnesium and aluminum, the absorption of antibiotic is slowed down, therefore it is necessary to observe a 2-hour interval between the doses of these drugs.

The main difference between this drug and other macrolide antibiotics is the lack of connection with the isoenzymes of the cytochrome system. Therefore, when taking with "Theophylline", "Carbamazepine", "Digoxin", "Terfenadine" and "Triazolam" there is no interaction.

If the drug is used with "Warfarin", prothrombin time should be monitored.

Lincosamides reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotic, and chloramphenicol and tetracycline are increased.

Terms and conditions of storage

Antibiotic is recommended to store in a place inaccessible to children at a temperature of up to 25 degrees. On the expiration date, the instruction for use available to the preparation "Azithromycin" (for children). Suspension cooked can be stored for no more than 5 days, the powder itself - 2 years, and tablets and capsules - up to 3 years.

Analogues and opinions of patients

Those who used Azithromycin for children (instruction on the use of the capsule does not recommend taking in childhood), the reviews left mostly positive. After the first reception of the antibiotic, significant improvements in the condition are evolved, progressing in the future.

Analogues of the drug include "Azitsin", "Zomaks", "Sumamed", "Azitral", "Azaks", "Zitrox" and others.