"Biseptol": analogues, reviews, prices. How to replace "Biseptol"?

For many years the drug "Biseptol" is known to many. 30 years ago it was prescribed by all doctors with the majority of inflammatory diseases and bacterial infections. This drug does not apply to antibiotics, but is effective against many microorganisms. Because of this, he became popular, and some people took it even without the appointment of a doctor for any inflammation, even with a cold. But now the drug "Biseptol" is not used so often, because it turned out that it has some negative properties, and not in all cases is effective, because for years of its use many microorganisms have lost sensitivity to it. Therefore, doctors rarely prescribed the medicine Biseptol. Analogues of this drug have become more common, although in many cases are more expensive than it.

Characteristics of Biseptol

It is an antibacterial drug from the group of sulfonamides. It does not apply to antibiotics, although it is as effective as they that destroy bacteria. It used to be believed that it is safer, but now they have discovered many of the negative properties that Biseptol tablets possess. Analogues of it from antibiotics are sometimes safer and more effective. What is the peculiarity of the medicine Biseptol? It is an antimicrobial drug containing two main active ingredients. Separately, they are not used, but together - complement each other's actions and even strengthen. These substances are sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. The first breaks the metabolism in the microbial cell and destroys the folic acid necessary for its vital activity. And trimethoprim interferes with cell repair. Thus, bacteria die under the influence of Biseptol. It destroys many microorganisms, even those that are resistant to other sulfanilamide preparations and antibiotics of the penicillin group. Sensitive to it, in addition to the most common bacteria, some protozoa, chlamydia, plasmodia and pathogenic fungi. That is, "Biseptol" is an antibacterial preparation of a wide spectrum of action. However, like other antibiotics, it is useless against viruses. Insensitive to it are also pathogens of tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and spirochetes. And in recent years even some staphylococci and streptococci have acquired resistance to the drug.

Forms of release of this medicine

The drug is best known in tablets. Most often, patients in this form buy "Biseptol". The price of the medicine is low - this is one of the cheapest antibacterial drugs. Tablets come in different doses, adults need to buy "Biseptol" 480 mg, since a single dose of intake is usually 960 mg, that is, two tablets. Children from three years can give this medicine in a dosage of 120 mg - also two pieces. In addition to the tablets, there are several more types of the drug:

- "Biseptol" syrup for children, which is given to children from 2 months. It has a sweet taste and a comfortable measuring spoon. Parents can easily calculate the safe dose for their child, and the kids drink with pleasure "Biseptol" -syr. Instructions for use indicate that in 5 ml of the drug contains 240 mg of the drug - just a dose at a time.

- There is still "Biseptol" in the form of a suspension. It must be shaken before use. It has a pleasant taste and is popular with children.

- You can buy a solution for injections "Biseptol 480" on the prescription of a doctor in the pharmacy. Its price is slightly higher than that of the tablet form, and it is used mainly in the hospital for severe forms of infectious diseases.

How the drug works

"Biseptol" is quickly absorbed from the stomach and easily penetrates into all organs, tissues and body fluids. Therefore, it effectively stops the multiplication of bacteria, wherever they are. A few hours after taking the drug, its maximum concentration in the blood plasma is observed. And the medicine lasts 7-8 hours. Since the main active substances of "Biseptol" are excreted through the kidneys, it is not recommended to take it to people with a violation of their functions. In addition, it is advisable to drink at least two liters of water during treatment so that more urine is produced. The effect of the drug is based on the destruction of folic acid, necessary for the life of bacteria. But this substance is necessary for the health of the body itself. Therefore, people with a deficiency of folic acid, for example, because of alcoholism or malabsorption syndrome, take the drug "Biseptol" with caution. It also destroys the E. coli, which is involved in the synthesis of certain vitamins and minerals in the human intestine. And after taking this medication, avitaminosis may develop. For these reasons, it is not recommended to drink Biseptol without prescribing a doctor.

Analogs and synonyms of the drug

Different drugs that have the same effect on the body and are used to treat one disease are called analogues. They sometimes have differences in composition, are differently tolerated by patients and often differ even by the power of the action. What are the "Biseptol" analogues? You can refer to them all antibiotics and antibacterial drugs. Which one to choose depends on the availability of contraindications and the specifics of the disease. For example, with infections of the upper respiratory tract, there is often a choice: "Biseptol" or "Amoxicillin." Only the doctor can make the right decision. "Amoxicillin" is less toxic, but with some diseases Biseptol is more effective. However, in recent years, children are most often prescribed "Amoxicillin." The closest analogs of the drug are other sulfonamides. The most famous of them are drugs "Ftalazol", "Streptocide", "Sulfalen", "Sulfadimetoksin", "Norsulfazol" and others. But among them there are few who have a wide range of activities. For example, the modern analogue of Biseptol, closest to it, is Sulfaton. They are similar in composition and mechanism of action. But "Biseptol" is used for more diseases. In addition, there are still "synonyms" of the drug, or generics. These are funds that have the same composition, but are issued by different pharma companies. Instead of the drug Biseptol, you can buy drugs such as Bactrim, Biseptazol, Bi-Tol, Co-Trimoxazole, Septrim, Groseptol and others.

When they take Biseptol

Since the drug is effective against many microorganisms, it is prescribed for the following diseases:

1. Infections of the respiratory tract and ENT organs: bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, otitis, lung abscess.

2. Urinary tract infections: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis and gonorrhea.

3. Infectious-inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: bacterial diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever or gastroenteritis.

4. Infections of the skin and soft tissues: furunculosis, acne, abscess, pyoderma, sepsis and others.

5. Severe infectious diseases: brucellosis, meningitis, salmonellosis, malaria and toxoplasmosis.

In recent years, it has been clarified that "Biseptol" does not affect the Pseudomonas aeruginosa, mycobacterium tuberculosis and spirochetes. It is also useless against viral diseases. In tonsillitis, the drug can only be prescribed by a doctor, since the causative agents of streptococcal angina have developed resistance to it for years of use.

Contraindications to taking the drug

Treatment of Biseptomol is not possible for everyone. Although it does not apply to antibiotics, there are as many contraindications to its administration as they do. In addition, the effectiveness of this medication often depends on the individual characteristics of the organism, the patient's place of residence and even the food that he receives. With great care, the drug should be taken by elderly people, patients with bronchial asthma, vitamin deficiency and thyroid diseases. And who absolutely can not drink Biseptol tablets? The instruction for use must contain information about this. This medicine is contraindicated:

- pregnant and breastfeeding women;

- patients with renal failure and severe impairment of kidney function ;

- those who have severe blood diseases, especially anemia, associated with a deficiency of folic acid;

- patients with cardiovascular insufficiency;

- children under 3 years (in the form of tablets);

- patients with allergic reactions and individual intolerance to sulfanilamide preparations.

What side effects can Biseptol cause?

This medicine is highly toxic, so many doctors stopped prescribing it, choosing safer analogs. It is especially dangerous to drink this medication on your own, as with frequent admission or overdose it can not only cause serious side effects, but also it is useless. What are the symptoms of the intolerance of the drug and the need to cancel it? The following signs are indicated in the instruction:

- headaches, dizziness, noise in the ears, drowsiness, a tendency to fainting;

- hallucinations, confusion, depression or apathy;

- bronchospasm, suffocation, shortness of breath or cough;

- stomatitis, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea;

- impaired renal function and increased urea concentration;

- Hepatitis, pancreatitis and necrosis of the liver;

- itching, hives, rash and dermatitis;

- a violation of the function of hematopoiesis - a decrease in the number of leukocytes, as well as a decrease in the level of sugar in the blood;

- pain in the joints and muscles, neuritis;

Candidiasis.

But severe side effects are very rare, usually in cases of non-compliance with dosage and the rules for taking the drug.

Biseptol: instructions

The price of the drug is so low that you can pass the course of treatment, having spent only 100-200 rubles. But it is not necessary without the doctor's appointment to start treatment with this medicine. It is necessary to know how to correctly take Biseptol tablets. The instructions for use describe in detail what dosage is needed depending on the age and specificity of the disease. But the likelihood of side effects depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and the presence of chronic diseases. For example, in patients with immunodeficiency they will appear more often.

"Biseptol" should be drunk twice a day after meals. It is advisable to drink tablets with plenty of warm water. It is necessary to observe a 12-hour break between taking two doses of the drug. Usually children 3-5 years of age are prescribed 240 mg, and up to 12 years - 480 mg twice a day. Better tolerated at this age, the drug in the form of a suspension or syrup. Adults and children over 12 years are recommended to take two tablets of Biseptol 480 mg twice a day. With usual uncomplicated infections it is enough to drink the drug for 5-7 days. In severe cases, treatment may be extended to two weeks. In some diseases, the dosage of the medicine can also be increased, but not more than 50%. However, with gonorrhea prescribed 2 grams every 12 hours, and with pneumonia, the interval between doses of the drug is 6 hours.

Special instructions for taking the drug

1. During treatment with Biseptolum, drink as much water as possible.

2. Prolonged administration of the drug is possible only in a hospital with strict control of the liver and kidneys by blood tests.

3. During treatment, you should avoid ultraviolet irradiation and try to be less in the sun.

4. With prolonged intake of the drug or large doses of it additionally prescribed folic acid and vitamins.

Interaction of Biseptol with other medicines and food

This drug is not compatible with many other medicines. If you take diuretics at the same time, there is a risk of developing thrombocytopenia or an allergic reaction. And barbiturates together with Biseptolum increase the deficiency of folic acid. It should also be taken into account that this drug can reduce the effect of hormonal contraceptives and antidepressants. It should not also be taken with Aspirin and some other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, during treatment, you need to adjust your diet so as not to reduce the effectiveness of Biseptol. It is undesirable to take it after eating animal origin, especially fatty cheese, and also along with legumes, beets, desserts and dried fruits that interfere with its assimilation. It is not recommended to eat spinach, carrots, cauliflower and tomatoes during treatment. You can not drink the drug with milk, as well as take alcohol. All these products not only reduce the effectiveness of Biseptol, but may increase the risk of side effects.

Biseptol for children

In many countries, this drug is used only with 12 years. But now it is available in the form of a suspension, syrup and small dosage tablets especially for children. Therefore, when the child can not be given antibiotics, Biseptol (syrup) is prescribed. Instructions for use recommend this drug for children over the age of the infection of respiratory tract infection, furunculosis or sinusitis. It is used for dysentery and other intestinal disorders. Children most easily perceive the pleasant taste of "Biseptol" (syrup). The instruction recommends using a measuring spoon. But even without it, it's easy to measure the right dose of the drug with an ordinary teaspoon, in which 240 mg of the drug is placed. This is the number you need at the reception for children under seven. You can not give your child Biseptol without a doctor's appointment, because it can not always help. Those parents who, with the slightest increase in temperature and coughing in the baby immediately give him antibacterial drugs, very much risk his health. And doctors in recent years increasingly appoint Biseptol to children. Reviews about it are contradictory, it is believed that it is even more toxic than antibiotics. Although many mothers note that the drug helped the child to recover quickly and to do without complications.

Reviews about this medicine

Many doctors now have a negative attitude towards Biseptol. They prefer to prescribe more effective modern antibiotics. They note that over the years of using the drug some microorganisms have developed resistance to it, and if a person has already taken this medicine many times, it can become useless. But many people still buy Biseptol instead of antibiotics. Its price compares favorably with other drugs, and this allows it to remain popular. The majority of patients taking Biseptol at the first signs of the disease note that they managed to quickly recover. And only a few were confronted with allergic reactions and side effects after taking the drug. Sometimes patients describe this drug as useless, but most likely this is due to a violation of the rules of admission or uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs. It should also be known that in cases of severe infections, Biseptol 480 should be used. Its price is higher, but the effect is stronger.

If we summarize all that has been said about Biseptole, we can conclude that the attitude towards it is mixed among people, and most doctors began to abandon it, giving preference to other drugs.