Sumamed for children: instructions for use

Sumamed can be called one of the most effective and sought-after antibiotics, which are a preparation of the macrolide group. Adults often take it for otitis, sinus, bronchitis and some other infectious diseases. Is such an antibacterial drug prescribed to children, in what forms is it used in childhood, how long should it be drunk and what analogue is it acceptable to replace?

Sumamed is a product of the Israeli company Teva, but it is produced in Croatia. It is presented in pharmacies in a large assortment of dosage forms. There are these types of drugs:

• The powder from which a suspension is made before the start of treatment. Such Sumamed is placed in plastic white bottles that can hold 50 ml of liquid. The powder itself has a yellowish tint and the smell of strawberries. A measuring syringe and sometimes a measuring spoon are attached to the bottle.
• Dispersible tablets. They are sold depending on the dosage of 1 to 6 pieces in one pack. They have almost white color and a flat round shape. On one side of the medication you can see the inscription "TEVA" and the number indicating the content of the active substance. Such a medicine can be either swallowed or dissolved in water to form an orange-flavored slurry.

• Tablets in the shell. This form of the drug is sold in packs of 3 or 6 pieces and is represented by round and oval convex blue tablets. Depending on the dosage, there is a mark of 125 or 500 on one of their sides. On the other side of the tablets there is an inscription “PLIVA”.
• Capsules This type of Sumamed is sold in boxes of 6 dense gelatin capsules. They have a blue body and a blue cap, and inside is a white and yellow powder.
• Lyophilisate. This medicine is a white powder, placed in transparent glass bottles. It is sold in 5 bottles per pack and is not used in childhood.

Sumamed Forte is produced separately, which is represented only as a suspension powder. It has a white-yellow color and a banana, raspberry or strawberry flavor. It is placed in white plastic bottles with a capacity of 50 or 100 ml.

The action of any form of Sumamed provides azithromycin dihydrate. Its dosage in different versions of the drug is different:

• Sumamed prepared suspension contains such a substance in the amount of 20 mg per 1 ml (100 mg per 5 ml).
• The amount of azithromycin in suspensions Sumamed Forte is 40 mg per 1 ml (200 mg per 5 ml).
• One dispersible tablet may contain the active ingredient in a dose of 125, 250, 500 or 1000 mg.
• In one coated tablet, this substance is contained in an amount of 125 or 500 mg.
• One capsule contains 250 mg of azithromycin.

The composition of auxiliary substances in different forms of Sumamed is also different:

• Hyprolose, sucrose, titanium and silicon dioxide, xanthan gum and sodium phosphate are added to the suspension (both in the usual Sumamed and Forte drugs). Depending on the taste of the finished product, it also has strawberry, raspberry or banana flavor.
• In order for the dispersible tablet to keep its shape, but could quickly dissolve in water, the active substance in its composition is complemented by microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K30, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, crospovidone, and magnesium stearate. For sweet taste, aspartame, sodium saccharinate and banana or orange flavor are added to the preparation.
• The core of the tablets in the shell consists of starch, magnesium stearate, calcium phosphate, MCC, hypromellose and sodium lauryl sulfate. Talc, hypromellose, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide and a dye are used to make a dense shell of this form of Sumamed.
• The contents of the capsules in addition to azithromycin include magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium lauryl sulfate, and their shell is made of gelatin with the addition of dyes.

Sumamed has the ability to act on various microorganisms by suppressing the synthesis of protein molecules in their cells. Infiltrated into the bacteria, azithromycin attaches to their ribosomes and interferes with the work of special enzymes that are important for the formation of proteins. The result of this effect will be a slowdown in the reproduction and growth of microbes, that is, the effect of the drug is bacteriostatic. However, in high dosages, the drug can also destroy infectious agents (act bactericidal).

The drug is effective against many types of bacteria, including pneumococcus, legionella, pyogenic streptococcus, moraxella, hemophilic bacillus, clostridium, staphylococcus, chlamydia, borrelia, gonococcus, and other microorganisms. However, some staphylococci and streptococci may be resistant to Sumamed. The drug does not work on bacteroids and enterococci.

The drug is prescribed for infectious diseases that provoke pathogens that are part of the spectrum of action of azithromycin. Medicine give:

• with sinusitis, sore throat, inflammation of the middle ear and other lesions of the upper respiratory tract, including bacterial complications after SARS;
• with pneumonia, inflammation of the bronchi and other diseases of the respiratory tract, the symptoms of which are high fever and cough with purulent sputum;
• bacterial infections of soft tissues and skin;
• with the initial stage of borreliosis;
• inflammation of the urogenital tract caused by chlamydia.

All types of Sumamed are prohibited for children of the first 6 months of life. Infants older than six months are allowed to give only the drug in suspension. At the same time, Sumamed suspension is prescribed to patients younger than three years old, since for older children its volume will be too large. As for the drug Forte, it can also be given from 6 months of age, but only to those children whose weight exceeded the figure of 10 kg. This medication is prescribed to preschool children, and children 6-9 years old, and adolescents, and even adult patients.

Sumamed solid forms are not used in the treatment of babies up to 3 years. Children older than three years, the medicine is selected taking into account the required dose and the ability of the child to swallow the drug. Children 3-4 years are more likely to be given dissolving tablets with a dosage of 125 and 250 mg. Dispersible tablets are also in demand for the treatment of children of 5-11 years old, but if the child is able to easily swallow the medicine in the shell, this form can be given at a dosage of 125 mg.

Sumamed treatment is prohibited:

• if the child has intolerance to its main component or any of the excipients;
• if the patient has previously been allergic to other macrolides;
• if the patient's liver function is impaired due to severe diseases of this organ;
• if the child has severe kidney disease.

Suspension is also not used in children with fructose intolerance and other disorders in the absorption of sugars.Dispersible tablets can not be taken with phenylketonuria, because they contain aspartame. Careful administration of the drug is required for patients with dehydration, diabetes mellitus, heart rhythm disturbances, myasthenia, and certain other pathologies.

The body of young patients sometimes reacts to Sumamed with diarrhea, nausea, or headaches. In addition, the use of drugs often affects the blood, reducing the number of some cells and increasing the number of others. In more rare cases, the drug provokes back pain, allergies such as rashes, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, swelling, increased sweating and other symptoms.

For the preparation of liquid medicines use a measuring syringe. With it, they take the right amount of water (it is noted in the instructions for the powder), poured into the bottle, close it with a cork and actively shake. Since the active substance eventually settles to the bottom of the vial, the medicine should be shaken again before each use.

The suspension is taken once a day at a dosage that the doctor must calculate, taking into account the weight of the child and his illness. The medication is taken either after a meal (approximately 2 hours), or one hour before any meal. The interval of application of the suspension should be 24 hours.

You can give medicine to a child directly from the dosing syringe by typing the suspension to the desired mark. Also in some packages there is a measuring spoon, allowing you to collect 2.5 and 5 ml of medicine. Dilute the finished suspension with water is not recommended. If such a drug is too sweet for a child, it is better to give him to swallow the medicine first and then offer some pure water to wash down the drug. Syringe and spoon after taking the medication must be washed and dried.

The dose of the drug per day for a particular child must be calculated separately. If a small patient has an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract, the skin or the respiratory tract, then for each kilogram of its weight you need 10 mg of the active ingredient. In this amount, the medication is taken 3 days. For example, a baby’s body weight is 12 kg, then he is discharged 120 mg of azithromycin per day, which corresponds to 6 ml of suspension per dose and 18 ml of medicine for the entire course of therapy. Sumamed Forte can also be given to such a child - his one-time portion, taking into account double the amount of azithromycin, will be only 3 ml.

If the cause of the disease was pyogenic streptococcus, the drug is also prescribed a 3-day course, but a single / daily dose will be 20mg / kg. In case of Borreliosis, Sumamed is administered for 5 days, while on the first day the child must take the medicine at the rate of 20 mg / kg, and the remaining treatment period, the daily dose is calculated by multiplying the patient's weight by 10 mg.

Dissolving tablets can be swallowed and taken with water, or you can dissolve one tablet in 50 ml of water and let the child drink such a liquid medication. Tablets in the shell and capsules should be swallowed, not biting, drinking clean water.

Any of these variants of Sumamed is taken once a day, and a single dose and duration of treatment depend on the diagnosis, the age of the child and his weight. In most cases, the drug is discharged at the rate of 10 mg azithromycin per 1 kg of patient weight and used in this dose for 3 consecutive days:

• If the weight of the child is from 18 to 30 kg, he is given at one time 2 dispersible tablets of 125 mg or 1 dispersible tablet of 250 mg. Also, such a patient can be given 2 tablets in a 125 mg shell if he is able to swallow them without chewing.
• If the child weighs 30-45 kg, then at one time he needs 375 mg of azithromycin, which corresponds to three soluble tablets of 125 mg or 1.5 tablets of 250 mg (they can be divided by risk). In addition, a patient with this body weight can take three tablets at once in a 125 mg shell. Usually, patients 7-8 years old and older do not have problems with swallowing such Sumamed.
• If the weight of the child is more than 45 kg or he is already 12 years old, then 500 mg of azithromycin is considered to be a single dose of the drug, that is, he can be given 2 Sumamed capsules at once, one tablet in a 500 mg shell or one dispersible tablet of 500 mg. If forms with a lower content of azithromycin are used, they are drunk in larger quantities in order to get the required dose, for example, if a teenager bought tablets in a 125 mg shell, a teenager should swallow 4 of them at once.

When infected with pyogenic streptococcus, chlamydia or borrelia, the dose and duration of treatment will be different. The maximum dosage of Sumamed per day for children under 12 years old is 500 mg.

Excess suspension or a higher dose of tablets causes vomiting, temporary hearing loss, severe nausea, diarrhea, and other negative symptoms. If an overdose is detected, it is recommended to consult a doctor and give symptomatic medications to the child.which he will appoint.

Sumamed treatment can affect the intake of certain other medications, which are indicated in the instructions for the chosen form of the drug.

All forms of Sumamed, like other antibacterial agents, are purchased by prescription. To acquire them, you must first show the child to the doctor and get a prescription from him for the right medication. The price of the drug affects its form and dosage. A bottle of suspension costs about 200 rubles, and for a bottle of raspberry or strawberry powder Forte you need to pay about 550 rubles.

The average price of 6 tablets in a 125 mg shell is 300-330 rubles, the packaging of dispersible tablets of 125 mg is 400 rubles, and six capsules are approximately 460 rubles.

Sumamed in any form can be stored at room temperature, including the prepared suspension. The drug must be kept out of the reach of children. The shelf life of sealed powder bottles and dispersible tablets is 2 years, and the coated tablets and capsules are 3 years. After cooking, the Sumamed and Banana Forte suspension can be stored for only 5 days, and the Forte preparation with raspberry or strawberry flavor can be stored for up to 10 days.

Many parents and doctors (including Komarovsky) speak positively about Sumamed. They confirm that such an antibiotic helps with infectious diseases and begins to act on pathogens very quickly, thanks to which the condition of the sick child improves soon after the start of treatment. Of all forms of the drug in the treatment of children most often use the suspension, because it is sweet to the taste, easily dosed and swallowed by children.

One of the main disadvantages of Sumamed’s parents is its high cost, which is why they often choose the Russian counterpart, which is not so expensive. In addition, there are complaints about side effects from such a medicine, for example, the appearance of diarrhea after taking a suspension or an allergic rash after taking the pills. In such cases, the drug is often also replaced by another antibacterial agent.

Sumamed can be replaced by various antibacterial agents. If you did not succeed in buying the drug or the mother is interested in the remedy cheaper, first of all the doctor will suggest analogues that also contain azithromycin. These drugs are Azitrox, nitrolide, AzitRus, Azitral, Hemomycin, Azithromycin Zentiva, ZI-factor, Ecomed other. They are made in different forms, including suspensions for the youngest children, and capsules or tablets in the shell for older patients.

In some situations, other macrolides may be prescribed instead of Sumamed, because the effect of these antibacterial agents is the same as that of azithromycin preparations. Among them, for the treatment of children are often used:

• Klacid. Such a drug based on clarithromycin is available in suspension, prescribed for babies older than 6 months, and in tablets, which are prescribed for children 3 years and older. There is also an injection form, but it is not used in childhood. The drug is in demand in the treatment of chlamydia, pneumonia, purulent otitis, sinusitis and other infections.
• Vilprafen Solutab. This antibiotic is made in the form of dispersible tablets (after dissolving in water, strawberry suspension is obtained from them). The effect of this drug provides josamycin, effective for scarlet fever, tonsillitis, blepharitis, laryngitis and other infections. Medicine is given to babies weighing more than 10 kg.
• Macropene. This medicine in the form of granules contains midecamycin and is used from birth to fight chlamydia, streptococcus, causative agents of diphtheria, whooping cough and other infections. It is also available in tablets approved for the treatment of children who weigh more than 30 kg.

If a child has an allergy to macrolide antibiotics, the pediatrician will recommend antibacterial drugs of other groups, for example, cephalosporin preparations. Zinnat or Suprax. Also often prescribed drugs containing amoxicillin - Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Ospamox, Flemoxine Solutab other.

They are used in cystitis, pharyngitis, otitis media, obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia, urethritis and many other diseases caused by harmful bacteria.

To learn how to prepare the suspension, see the next video.