Laxative "Guttasil": reviews, composition, analogues

What is the purpose of the drug "Guttasil"? Instructions for use, reviews about the drug will be described below. Also you will learn about the form in which the drug under consideration is released, what substances it contains, whether there are contraindications to this drug and side effects.

Form of medicine, its packaging and composition

What is the form of the drug "Guttasil"? Reviews of the drug say that it can be purchased in the form of drops for oral administration. The active component of this agent is sodium picosulphate monohydrate. As for the auxiliary elements, they include sorbitol, a solution of hydrochloric acid, sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate and water for injection.

What kind of packaging does the medicine "Guttasil" (drops) have? Feedback from those who have repeatedly had to use this drug, say that this product is sold in a polyethylene bottle with a special dispenser, sealed with a lid with a seal (control of the first autopsy). The drug is placed in a bright cardboard box. The container may contain 15, 30 and 7.5 ml of drug substance.

Description of the preparation

The drug "Guttasil", which will be described further on, is a clear and colorless liquid. Sometimes this product has a light yellow tint.

Pharmacological characteristics

What is Guttasil? Reviews about this medicine are ambiguous. As for the attached instructions, according to her, this medication is a laxative.

The principle of its action is that the main substance, getting into the body, begins to activate in the large intestine. This occurs under the action of bacterial sulfatases. Elements that are released during this process stimulate the sensory nerve endings of the intestine, thereby strengthening the motility of the organ.

It should be specially noted that the use of the drug in question is not accompanied by spasms and intestinal tenesms. Therefore, it can be used without fear of undesirable consequences.

Pharmacokinetics of medicament

Is the laxative "Guttasil" absorbed? Experts' reviews contain information that after ingestion the drug reaches the intestine (thick) without absorption. In it, under the influence of bacterial flora, the drug is cleaved, resulting in the formation of an active form of bis (p-hydroxyphenyl) -pyridyl-2-methane.

How quickly laxative effect develops after taking Guttasil medication? The composition of this drug is such that the patient senses its effect after a lapse of 7-12 hours. It should be noted that the intensity of the laxative effect is not interrelated with the level of bis (p-hydroxyphenyl) -pyridyl-2-methane in the blood.

One can not help saying that Guttasil is not subject to intestinal hepatic recirculation.

Indications for use

What is the purpose of the drug "Guttasil"? The use of this medication is indicated for chronic constipation, which is due to sluggish motility of the colon, as well as hypotension.

In addition, the agent in question can be prescribed by a physician to adjust the stool for proctitis, hemorrhoids, or anal fissures. Often, this drug is used as a preparation for surgery, as well as radiographic and instrumental studies.

Contraindications to the use of laxative drugs

In what cases is it forbidden to prescribe a patient a medicine "Guttasil"? Experts say that such a drug can not be used for intestinal obstruction, peritonitis, strangulated hernia, acute appendicitis and ulcerative colitis. Also, the drug is contraindicated in bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, acute pain in the abdomen of unknown origin accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as with uterine bleeding, cystitis, spastic constipation, and also in children under 4 years and in the first trimester of pregnancy.

In addition, the drug in question is not recommended for patients with severe dehydration and hypersensitivity to sodium picosulphate and other components of this drug.

Careful laxative

In what cases is the medicine "Guttasil" prescribed with caution? Analogues of the drug under consideration and the medication itself should be taken under the supervision of a doctor in the elderly, as well as hypokalemia, increased magnesium content in the blood, the presence of asthenia, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Administration of the drug during lactation and during pregnancy

The safety of the use of the drug in question during pregnancy, as well as during the period of breastfeeding is not fully understood. However, experts argue that in the first trimester this medication is contraindicated. With regard to the 2 nd and 3 rd, at this time the medication is possible only if the benefit to the mother significantly exceeds the risk of intrauterine disorders in the development of the fetus.

It should also be noted that the active component of drops (sodium picosulfate) is not able to excrete together with breast milk. However, if you need to use the drug "Guttasil" during the baby's feeding, lactation should be stopped immediately.

The dosage of the drug and the way it is used

How to properly use the drops of "Guttasil"? According to the instructions, this medication must be taken only inside. And it is recommended to do this at night. It is this method that will allow the intestine to be cleared the next morning.

The drug "Guttasil" is dosed by a special dispenser of the manufacturer. Its volume should be determined according to the age of the patient. For example, adults and children older than 10 years are prescribed 14-28 drops or 5-10 mg. Children from 4 to 10 years should be given about 8-14 drops (or 2.5-5 mg).

As for children under 4, the drug is contraindicated for them. Although in some cases, pediatricians still appoint it. To do this, the dose is calculated based on the body weight of the child - 250 μg per 1 kg (ie 2 drops per 3 kg).

As a rule, children are added to the medicine. For them, a single medication is considered effective. If necessary, the course of therapy in a child can be increased. However, it is preferable to limit it to only three days.

To eliminate constipation in cancer patients who receive large dosages of opioids, you should consult your doctor. Self-administration of the drug in such cases is prohibited.

An overdose of a drug

In case of improper and uncontrolled admission of medicament, the patient may develop such signs of overdose: liquid bowel movements, significant water-electrolyte balance disorders, spasms and colic in the abdomen, hypokalemia, fluid loss, and ischemia of the large intestine mucosa.

One can not help saying that prolonged overdose can lead to the development of severe abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, secondary hyperaldosteronism, metabolic alkalosis, kidney damage, nephrolithiasis and muscle weakness.

How to treat this condition? First of all, the patient needs to rinse the stomach. Then he is given a reception of enterosorbents (for example, activated charcoal), and also conduct symptomatic therapy (adjust the water-electrolyte balance, prescribe antispasmodics, etc.).

Side effects after taking medication

According to reviews of doctors and patients, with short-term use of the drug, side effects are extremely rare. With prolonged use of the drug in elevated dosages, violations are possible, which are listed below:

• Skin: rash, itching and hives.
• Water-electrolyte balance: loss of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes. Dehydration is also possible.
• The digestive tract: vomiting, diarrhea, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, abdominal cramps, increased intestinal motility, flatulence, pain in the anus. As a rule, these side effects occur immediately after stopping the medication.
• Immune system: allergic reactions, as well as angioedema.
• Nervous system: increased fatigue, headaches, drowsiness and convulsions.

Interaction with other means

Electrolyte imbalance, which arose on the background of taking the drug in question, can easily lead to a decrease in the body's tolerance to cardiac glycosides.

GCS, as well as diuretics increase the severity of hypokalemia, which is caused by the use of the drug "Guttasil" in high dosages.

Simultaneous therapy with antibiotic drugs can reduce the laxative effect of the drug.

Special instructions for taking a laxative drug

Like other drugs designed to accelerate intestinal peristalsis, the drug "Guttasil" is not recommended to be taken every day and for a long time.

If you need a daily intake of the drug, you should find out the true cause of constipation. Long use of laxatives often leads to electrolyte imbalance, as well as hypokalemia. In addition, such a drug may become addictive. Subsequently, the patient will have strong constipation (ricochet effect).

This medication normalizes the stool in patients with cancer who receive large doses of opioids. But in this case the drug should be prescribed only by the attending physician.

The laxative "Guttasil" contains sorbitol. In this regard, people with hereditary intolerance to fructose to use it is prohibited.

Drug analogues

What can replace the drug "Guttasil"? Analogs of this laxative are available in every pharmacy. Among them, the following medicines can be identified: "Laxigal", "Guttalax", "Slabikap", "Laxigal-Teva", "Picosulphate-AKOS", "Sodium picosulphate", "Regulax Picosulfate", "Slabilen" and others.

Reviews about the drug

Now you know what the drug "Guttasil" is. The composition (reviews about it we will consider right now) of this drug is such that it influences intestinal motility well, releasing all its contents.

According to reviews of patients, the laxative drops under consideration quite effectively eliminate even very strong constipation. At the same time, there is no discomfort in the form of spasms and abdominal pain. However, it should be noted that there is a category of people who claim that this medication causes a rather large number of side effects (see above). Often this is due to improper administration of the drug. Therefore, before using laxatives, you should consult your doctor and read the attached instructions.