"Ketotifen": instruction, analogues, contraindications

Today, probably, there is no person who is not familiar with the unpleasant word "allergy". Many prescribe antiallergic drugs. One of the most popular is ketotifen. The instruction to it says that this drug is a stabilizer of the membranes of mast cells.

What does it mean? To put it in clear language, the drug "Ketotifen" reduces the release of active substances (leukotrienes, histamines) from cell membranes , does not allow the accumulation of eosinophils in the respiratory tract. This makes it easier to breathe, prevent the occurrence of bouts of bronchial asthma, other rapid allergic reactions such as hay fever, acute or chronic urticaria. The drug blocks excessive expansion and hyperactivity of the bronchi. Ketotifen is also used in ophthalmology to relieve the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

Is ketotifen harmful? The instruction says that it is fully absorbed in the stomach, and then, already at the primary passage through the liver, is metabolized by half. From the body it is excreted by the kidneys within 48 hours by 70%, and its maximum accumulation in the blood plasma - in 2-4 hours. In this case, the speed of the drug does not affect the intake of food.

The drug "Ketotifen", the instruction warns about this, is contraindicated in pregnancy or individual intolerance. People taking it may experience drowsiness, slow reaction, dizziness. With the use of drops, itching or sensation of "dry eyes" may occur. Sometimes there is photophobia or pinpoint hemorrhage (hemorrhage). Typically, these side effects occur without the intervention of doctors. However, it must be remembered that it is not recommended for persons taking ketotifen to sit behind the wheel, to operate precise mechanisms or processes,

The action of ketotifen dramatically increases the effect of sedatives, alcohol, and other antihistamines.

This drug should be used with great care if the patient is already drinking drugs from diabetes, bronchial asthma. In this case, some unforeseen reactions may occur.

Summing up all that has been said, one can once again assert itself in a certain truth: it is possible to take ketotifen, the instruction to it emphasizes, like other medicines, only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Can I prescribe ketotifen to children? Testimonials of specialists testify to the positive effect of the drug on children. Only it is necessary to select very carefully the right doses. So, children from six months to three years are prescribed only 0.05 mg / kg of weight twice a day. Children older than three years, adults and elderly people are recommended to 1 mg twice a day, always in the process of eating.

Sometimes the reaction to ketotifen, the instruction also warns about this, is so acute that a person begins to "sleep on the go." In this case, it is recommended to start taking the medication with minimal doses, gradually bringing them to the norm recommended by the doctor.

Once again I want to emphasize the insidiousness of the drug. In properly selected quantities, he very quickly relieves allergy symptoms. But an overdose is deadly. Her symptoms are insuperable drowsiness, confusion. The patient often does not realize the surrounding, starts to hallucinate. Sometimes there may be cramps, especially in children. There is increased excitability. Later, the pressure drops sharply, tachycardia begins. If you do not provide timely assistance in case of an overdose, a person falls into a coma that flows into death.

Only the allergist doctor can correctly choose the drug from the allergy and calculate its dosage.

Analogues of the drug "Ketotifen" are preparations Zaditen, Stafen, Ketof, Frenasma, Positan. In them, just as in the preparation "Ketotifen", the main active substance is ketotifenum fumarate.