Suprax for children: instructions for use

Cephalosporin antibiotics are often used for various respiratory tract infections and other diseases provoked by bacteria. Many of them are released in injectable form, but there are also drugs that are taken by mouth. One of them is Supraks.

Is such an antibacterial agent used in the treatment of children when prescribed and in what doses are used? Can this antibiotic harm the body of a child and what analogues can be used as a substitute if necessary?

Suprax presented in pharmacies such options.

• Granules from which it is necessary to make a suspension. They are spherical in shape, small in size, white with a cream shade and are sold in dark glass bottles. If you dilute these granules with water, it turns white with a cream shade sweet liquid medicine with the smell of strawberries. A transparent plastic dosing spoon containing 5 ml of the medicine is attached to the bottle. It also has a mark on which you can measure 2.5 ml of the suspension.
• Capsules They have a white body and a purple cap, and inside is a yellow-white powder. On top of the capsule you can see the inscription H808. This Suprax is sold in packs of 6 capsules, placed in one blister.

Separately produced drug called Suprax Solutab. These are oblong, orange-orange dispersible tablets smelling of strawberries, which have a risk on each side (according to it, the drug can be divided into halves). Such a drug can dissolve to form a suspension with a strawberry flavor and a sweet taste. In one package Supraks Solyutab can be from 1 to 10 tablets.

The basis of Supraksa in granules and capsules is cefixime. This substance is micronized and is in the form of trihydrate (due to this compound, it does not break down in the stomach, but passes into the intestine, where it is absorbed into the blood). Its amount in terms of pure cefixime in 5 milliliters of the finished suspension is 100 mg, and in one capsule - 400 mg. The effect of the drug Solutab is also provided by cefixime, which is presented in a single tablet of such Supraksa dose of 400 mg.

Auxiliary inactive ingredients of the granules are xanthan gum and sodium benzoate. For a pleasant smell, strawberry flavoring is added to the preparation, and the sweetness of this type of Suprax is provided by sucrose. Carmellose calcium, colloidal silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate are added to cefixime contained inside the capsules. For the manufacture of capsules using gelatin, dyes and food ink.

Additional components of the solutab tablets are hyprolosis, magnesium stearate, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, and yellow dye. For sweet taste in such Supraksa there is calcium saccharinate, and the smell of the tablet is due to strawberry flavors.

Suprax is a representative of antibiotics, which are called cephalosporins, and belongs to their 3rd generation.It has a very wide range of bactericidal effects on various microbes associated with the properties of cefixime to block the formation of bacterial cell membranes, causing the pathogen to die. Note that beta-lactamase, which are produced by many harmful microorganisms, does not affect this drug.

Such an antibacterial agent can destroy:

• haemophilus sticks;
• pneumococci;
• E. coli;
• protea;
• shigella;
• salmonella;
• pyogenic streptococci;
• gonococci;
• citrobats;
• Klebsiella pneumonia;
• moraccella cataris;
• pasteurella;
• providence;
• serration.

However, enterococci, enterobacteria, clostridia, bacteroids, staphylococcus, some types of listerias and pseudomonads to the action of Supraks are insensitive. If you suspect the presence of such microbes, it is important to determine the cause of the infection and the sensitivity of the pathogen to cefixime.

The maximum amount of cefixime in the blood is detected 4 hours after taking any variant of the drug, and the half-life of the drug is 3-4 hours. Approximately half of the drug within 24 hours after taking leaves the body unchanged in the urine. The tenth part of cefixime is excreted in the bile.

Doctors prescribe Suprax for small patients if they have an inflammatory process provoked by bacteria susceptible to cefixime. The drug is used for:

• antritis and other types of sinusitis;
• angina, which provoked streptococci;
• pharyngitis or bacterial laryngitis;
• bronchitis with cough during which purulent sputum is emitted;
• bacterial pneumonia;
• otitis media;
• gonorrhea;
• intestinal infectionfor example, with shigellosis;
• urethritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis and other bacterial lesions of the urinary tract.

Since the drug does not work on viruses, Suprax is not used for ARVI, mononucleosis, chickenpox and other viral diseases.

For the treatment of children, Supraks granules are most preferred, since this form of medicine can be given from six months of age. It is convenient to use it in infants up to one year old and in older children. Because of the liquid form and sweet taste, such a suspension is often called syrup.

In addition, children are often prescribed soluble tablets, for which only a weight limit is prescribed - such a medication is not given to patients with a body weight less than 25 kg. If the weight of a small patient is lower, it is acceptable for him to give only a suspension. As for the capsules, due to the high dose and the impossibility of separating the capsule, this Suprax is prescribed from the age of 12 on patients weighing more than 50 kg.

It is forbidden to give any form of Suprax to children with intolerance to its active substance or allergy to cephalosporins. Do not prescribe such a medicine and patients with hypersensitivity to penicillin antibiotics.

Precautions in the use of the drug require children with renal insufficiency (they need an individual dose selection, taking into account violations of the excretory function) and pseudomembranous colitis.

Among them are the following.

• In the treatment of Suprax, various allergic reactions can occur from pruritus and redness to urticaria and anaphylactic shock.
• In young patients taking Suprax, nausea, flatulence, dry mouth, changes in stool, abdominal pain and other unpleasant symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation may occur.
• Some children react to the drug by the appearance of tinnitus, dizziness or headaches.
• Prolonged use of the drug often causes dysbacteriosis.
• Taking the medication sometimes affects blood formation, which is manifested by a decrease in the number of cells in the blood test, as well as the appearance of bleeding.
• Due to treatment with Suprax, cholestasis can develop and possibly impaired liver function.
• The drug can provoke candidiasis, stomatitis or pseudomembranous colitis.
• Occasionally, the drug impairs the function of the kidneys.

This form of Supraksa is considered the most optimal for the treatment of children under twelve years of age. Before the start of the application, water is added to the medicine in order to form a suspension from the granules. It is recommended to plant granules only when the need arose for treatment with Suprax, because the finished suspension has a short shelf life. The diluted drug is taken orally in a dose that must be calculated by weight.

At first the bottle is turned over and the balls placed inside are shaken. Opening the lid, inside, you need to pour boiled chilled water. The best thing to do is not immediately, but first pour in half of the desired volume of water, mix the preparation, and then add the remaining water and vigorously shake the closed bottle. Only one bottle of Supraksa is required to pour 40 ml of water.

It is convenient to use a 5-10 ml syringe for dosing the fluid injected. In order to dissolve the contents of the vial and the foam that appeared after agitating slightly sat on the bottom, it is recommended to set the bottle aside for about 5 minutes immediately after dilution of the granules.

Since the components of the suspension gradually settle to the bottom, such a Suprax must be shaken before each use. Next, take the drug measuring spoon and give the child to swallow, after which the patient can drink the medication with a small amount of regular water. Next, you need to rinse and dry the spoon, leaving it stored in a box with a bottle until the next dose.

The amount of medication that is prescribed to the child is determined based on the weight and age of the patient. In addition, changes in dose require children with pathologies of the kidneys. It is best if the physician calculates the required dosage of the suspension for a particular patient. The localization of the infectious process and the severity of the course of the disease do not affect the daily dose of Suprax.

A child under 12 years of age requires 8 mg of cefixime per kilogram of weight.

Average dosages consider:

• for children under one year - 2.5-4 ml;
• for babies 2-4 years old - 5 ml of suspension;
• for patients 5-11 years old - from 6 to 10 ml of medication.
• for children weighing more than 50 kg, the medicine is given either at a dose of 400 mg once (20 ml of suspension), or twice a day, 200 mg (10 ml of the preparation per reception).

Most often, Suprax is prescribed in a course of 7 to 10 days, but when a pyogenic streptococcus is detected, the medicine is recommended to be taken longer (10-14 days). It is impossible to stop taking it before 7 days, because it threatens with incomplete cure and the appearance of resistance to such an antibiotic in bacteria.

This form of Suprax is used in adolescents over 12 years of age, provided that the patient's weight exceeds 50 kg. If the child is already 12 years old, but his body weight is lower, the use of capsules is prohibited. This patient is given either soluble tablets or suspension. In addition, Supraks capsules are not used in the treatment of children aged 12 years and weighing more than 50 kg, if the patient is diagnosed with impaired renal function.Due to the reduced dosage, this child is also prescribed either Solutub or Supraks in suspension.

Capsule should be swallowed whole. Open its shell and take only the contents can not. The diet does not affect the time of taking the capsules, however during the whole course of treatment it is recommended to drink the capsules at the same time, for example, if the patient first drank the medicine at 9 am, the next day he should take the capsule in the morning at about 9 o'clock.

A single dose is 1 capsule Supraksa, and since it is taken only once, it is also the daily dose of the drug. The duration of treatment is influenced by a disease in which an antibiotic was prescribed, for example, with gonorrhea, the capsule is taken only once, with infection with Streptococcus pyogenes, daily for two weeks, and for other infections from one week to 10 days.

This form of antibiotic is permitted for children weighing more than 25 kg. The medicine can be taken in two ways:

• Swallow without chewing, and drink 50-100 ml of plain water (other liquids are not recommended).
• Dissolve in water and drink the drug in suspension.

The drug can be taken at any convenient time, regardless of when the child has eaten. The dosage is not affected by the patient’s age, but by his weight.

• If a child weighs from 25 to 50 kg, then he needs to take 200 mg of cefixime per day, which corresponds to half a tablet (the medicine is broken down at risk).
• With a weight greater than 50 kg, the daily dose will be 400 mg, that is, the whole tablet.

Accidental overdose of the drug can cause diarrhea, nausea, headaches, constipation and other negative symptoms. To eliminate them, wash the baby’s stomach and consult a doctor for maintenance therapy.

If Suprax is given along with penicillins or some diuretics, an overdose may develop (the concentration of cefixime in the blood will increase).

Using Supraksa affects the prothrombin index, so this antibiotic can enhance the therapeutic effect of anticoagulants. Combined use with carbamazepine will increase the concentration of this drug. When taken simultaneously with antacids, Supraksa absorption will slow down.

If the medication is prescribed with diuretics or drugs that can worsen the condition of the kidneys (for example, with aminoglycosides), the risk of kidney side effects increases.

All forms of medication are prescription. This means that before buying any of the types of such antibiotics, a medical examination is necessary. The average price of one bottle of Supraks granules is 600-650 rubles. For a package of 6 capsules you need to pay about 700 rubles.

Sealed granules can be stored for the entire shelf life (3 years) in a dry place where the drug will not be accessible to children. After opening the bottle and adding water, the medication should be used within 14 days.

If more than two weeks have passed after the dilution of the granules, the medicine should be discarded, even if the entire contents of the bottle have not been spent. Storage of the finished suspension does not require refrigerator conditions, the drug can be left at room temperature.

Most reviews of Suprax confirm its high efficacy in otitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and other infections. The advantages of drugs in suspension include ease of use in children and the possibility of use at an early age.

Moms like that this drug is taken orally, but it acts just like the painful injections of other cephalosporins. The disadvantages of the medication include its frequent side effects, small shelf life of the suspension after reconstitution, as well as the high price.

Suprax is often selected as a replacement suspension. Pancef, since one of the forms of such a preparation is also granules, from which a white-yellow suspension with an orange flavor is prepared. The basis of this drug is also cefixime trihydrate in the same dosage as in the finished suspension Supraks. This medication is used from 6 months of age with the same indications, and the side effects and contraindications for Pantsef and Supraks are the same. As for the price, the Panzef in the form of a suspension is cheaper.

Note that Pancef is also produced in solid form in tablets that have a shell. Since one tablet contains 400 mg of the active compound, it is an analogue of Supraksu capsules and is also prescribed from the age of 12.

Another analogue of Supraksa on the active substance is Ixim Lupine. Such a medicament made in India is represented by a single form - a powder for the preparation of strawberry suspension. The average price of one bottle of this medicine is 480 rubles.

Instead of Supraksa in any given situation, the doctor may prescribe another antibacterial medicine, including the following.

• Suspension Zinnat. This is also a cephalosporin antibiotic, since cefuroxime acts as the basis of the drug. This medicine can be used from the age of three months and is also available in tablets that can be given to patients over 3 years old.
• Suspension Sumamed. The effect of this medication is provided by azithromycin. It is prescribed to babies from 6 months. In childhood is also in demand Sumamed in dispersible tablets, which are discharged from 3 years. Patients over 7 years old can also be given coated tablets.
• Suspension Macropene. This antibacterial drug on the basis of midecamycin allowed from birth. It is also available in tablets prescribed to patients weighing more than 30 kg (usually from the age of three).
• Soluble tablets Vilprafen Solutab. This drug, containing josamycin, can be used in infants weighing more than 10 kg. For older patients, for example, at 4 years or 6 years, it can be replaced with pills. Vilprafen.
• Augmentin Suspension. The effect of such an antibiotic is provided by amoxicillin, to which clavulanic acid is added. The drug can be used in the treatment of infants, and tablets Augmentin appointed from 12 years.

These medicines act quite effectively against bacteria that provoke otitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and other infections.

For information on how to use this drug, see the next video.