Isoprinosine for children: instructions for use

In viral diseases, drugs are needed that have activity against viruses, as well as the ability to stimulate the immune system of a sick person so that it can cope with the infection quickly. One of them can be called izoprinozin. Is such a medicine permitted for the treatment of children, when it is used and in what dosage is prescribed for a particular disease?

Isoprinosine is available in only one form, which is almost white tablets that have a slight amine odor. They are distinguished by their oblong convex shape and the presence of risks on one side, according to which the drug can be divided into halves. One blister includes 10 tablets, and in one pack from 2 to 5 blisters can be contained. Izoprinosin does not have such dosage forms as a suspension, powder, dragee, syrup, capsules or injections.

The active component of the drug is a substance called "inosine pranobex", which is also called "inosiplex" or "isoprinosine." This is a complex of several compounds, presented in a single tablet at a dose of 500 mg.

In addition, the medicament includes wheat starch and magnesium stearate. Also inside the medicine there is povidone and mannitol. Thanks to these additional ingredients, tablet hardness is ensured, but occasionally allergies can occur to them, so it is important to consider these substances when choosing medicines for allergic children.

In isoprinosine, an immunostimulating effect is noted, which consists in the following effects:

• Recovery of depressed lymphocyte function.
• Stimulation of the formation of monocytic cells.
• Activation of receptors on T-helper membranes.
• Prevention of decrease in lymphocyte activity in the treatment of glucocorticoid hormones.
• Normalization of inclusion in thymidine lymphocytes.
• Stimulation of the activity of natural killer cells, as well as T-cells with a cytotoxic effect.
• Supporting the function of such T cells as helpers and suppressors.
• An increase in the production of immunoglobulin G.
• Activation of the formation of interleukins (types 1 and 2), as well as gamma-interferon.
• Blocking the synthesis of cytokines that increase inflammation.
• Enhancement of chemotaxis of macrophages and other white blood cells.

Due to this effect, the drug helps to fight viral infections, affecting:

• The causative agent of measles.
• Poliovirus.
• Herpes viruses.
• Flu causative agents.
• ECHO viruses.
• Cytomegalovirus.
• T-lymphoma pathogens and some others.

In addition to enhancing the immune response, the drug acts on RNA and enzymes in the cells of some pathogens, which blocks their replication. Inosine pranobex affects other viruses through increased production of alpha and gamma interferon, which has antiviral activity.

The reason to assign Isoprinosine is:

• Flu or any other ARVI.
• Chickenpox with severe or moderate course.
• Shingles.
• Measles, if the course of such an infection is severe.
• Herpetic keratitis.
• Herpes on the lips.
• Cytomegalovirus infection.
• Infectious mononucleosis.
• Contagious mollusk.
• Warts and papillomas caused by papillomaviruses.

The medicine is not given in such cases:

• If the child has hypersensitivity to some of its ingredients.
• If the work of the kidneys of the baby is severely impaired (chronic insufficiency is diagnosed).
• If a small patient has an arrhythmia.
• When urolithiasis or gout.

Some patients may have negative symptoms such as:

• Pruritus
• Feeling nauseous.
• Pain in the upper abdomen.
• Pain in the head.
• Attack of vomiting.
• Feeling weak.
• Dizziness.
• Pain in the joints.

After taking the pills in the blood test, there may be an increase in the level of urea, as well as an increased activity of liver enzymes. Sometimes the drug provokes constipation or loose stools, insomnia or drowsiness, an increase in urine volume.

The pill should be given to the child after eating, offering to drink the medication with clean water in a small amount. If the small patient still cannot swallow the whole preparation, the tablet can be crushed in a spoon to the state of powder, and then given to the child in a crushed form, mixed with a small amount of non-carbonated water.

To determine the desired dose in childhood, it is important to know the weight of a small patient in kilograms. It is multiplied by 50 and receive a daily dose of isoprinosine in mg, which is then divided into 3 or 4 doses.

You can also focus on this ratio - half a pill for every 5 kilograms of child's weight. For example, a child weighs 30 kilograms, which means that he needs 50 * 30 = 1500 mg of active compound per day. These are 3 tablets of Isoprinosine, therefore, such a patient should be given one tablet three times a day.

If a child over 12 years old has an infectious disease, The doctor may prescribe a higher dosage of the drug per day at the rate of 100 mg of the active substance per kilogram of weight. The resulting number of milligrams is divided into 4, 5 or 6 receptions. For example, body weight is 40 kg. Multiplying 40 * 100, we get 4000 mg, that is, 8 tablets of Isoprinosine per day. It turns out that this child can be given medication with 2 tablets four times a day or one and a half tablets 6 times a day.

• The duration of use in acute diseases, for example, in the treatment of mononucleosis, is usually 5-14 days. The pills are given to the child until the symptoms of the disease disappear and for another two days.
• If Isoprinosine is treated for chronic pathology with relapses, the drug is prescribed courses lasting from 5 to 10 days, and between them take a break of 8 days.
• Treatment of herpes infection is often carried out according to this scheme - pills give in a therapeutic dose of 5-10 days, and then to prevent relapse continue taking in the individually determined maintenance dosage up to 30 days.
• If the child has a human papillomavirus infection, monotherapy is prescribed by izoprinosine for a course of 2-4 weeks.
• In cases where the drug is prescribed for a long period, After two weeks from the beginning of the reception it is important to do a blood test to find out the concentration of uric acid. Four weeks after the start of treatment, you need to evaluate the performance of the kidneys and liver, and then repeat these tests every month.

The manufacturer does not mention cases when an excessively high dose of the pills has harmed the health of the child or an adult patient. However, in case of accidental use of the drug in large quantities, it is recommended to induce vomiting and consult a doctor.

• The efficacy of isoprinosine will be reduced if at the same time the drugs of the immunosuppressant group are given at the same time as this medicine.
• The joint appointment with acyclovir, zidovudine or drugs interferon-alpha enhances the effect of treatment with such funds.
• If izoprinosine is administered together with diuretics or xanthine oxidase inhibitors, it will increase the risk of increasing the concentration of uric acid in the blood of a small patient.

To buy a pack of izoprinozin in a pharmacy, you first need to visit a doctor and get a prescription for this medicine. The average price of a pack of 20 tablets is 700 rubles, and for a pack in which 50 tablets are placed, you need to pay about 1,400 rubles.

Isoprinosine home should be kept in a place hidden from children, where sunlight does not fall. The recommended storage temperature of the drug is below +25 degrees Celsius. The shelf life from the date of release of the drug is 5 years and must be marked on the pack. If the marking is erased or the period has expired, it is unacceptable to give tablets to the child.

On the use of izoprinozin in children there are very different reviews. In positive mothers say that the drug helped to recover quickly with cytomegalovirus infection, herpes conjunctivitis, ARVI and other diseases. Parents note that the general condition of the child after taking the pills returned to normal, and the unpleasant symptoms of the infection soon disappeared.

However, there are also negative opinions that mention the ineffectiveness of the drug for some children. Also, many mothers complain about the high cost of the drug, and the form of the medication is called very inconvenient, since many children find it hard to swallow a hard tablet, and it crumbles in a spoon with great difficulty. In addition, in some reviews, the deterioration of health status after a course of isoprinosine is noted. In such patients, after treatment, more frequent acute respiratory viral infections or liver problems began.

The attitude of doctors towards Isoprinosine is also different. Some doctors often prescribe it for influenza, mononucleosis, measles or herpes, noting a good therapeutic effect in some patients.

Positive opinions about such a drug are found mainly on the part of practitioners who prescribe medicine to patients and monitor the condition of patients. They emphasize that the pills are effective, but not always, therefore, situations where izoprinosin does not help are not uncommon.

Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky on immunomodulatory drugs in the video below.

Replace the drug is capable of medicine from the company Gedeon Richter called Groprinosin. This medicine also contains inosine pranobex in each tablet of 500 mg. It, as well as Izoprinozin, is authorized to be given to children older than three years, provided that the child weighs more than 15 kilograms. Contraindications, recommended doses, possible side effects and indications for such drugs are the same. The price of these funds is also about the same.

Also, as a replacement for Isoprinosine, a specialist may recommend drugs with a different composition, but with a similar effect on the body of a sick child.

It may be:

• Syrup Amizonchik. This antiviral medication is effective against influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. It is prescribed to children aged 3 years and older.
• Pills Kagocel. They are recommended for children older than 3 years of age with ARVI, influenza and other viral diseases, as well as for their prevention.
• Syrup Orvirem. This medicine, containing rimantadine, is used for influenza and ARVI in children older than a year.
• Capsules Ingavirin. Such medicine in children's dosage is allowed for children over 7 years old. It is discharged when infected with influenza virus, PC-virus, adenovirus and other pathogens.
• Pills Acyclovir. This drug is effective against herpes viruses, so it is often used when infected with one of the causative agents of this species, for example, in severe chickenpox or herpes on the lips. The drug is also available in the form of ointment, cream, eye ointment and powder for injection. It is used in children of any age.
• Suspension Arbidol. Umifenovir in the composition of this drug affects coronaviruses and influenza viruses. The drug is allowed from the age of two, but is also available in solid form (capsules, tablets), which is prescribed to children over 3 years old.
• Tablets Amiksin. The effect of this medication is provided by tilaran, thanks to which the drug stimulates the immune response to virus infection. Medication prescribed from 7 years of age.

In addition, quite often children with viral diseases are prescribed interferon medications (Genferon Light, Viferon, Grippferon), however, it is up to the physician to determine which medicine is best for a particular pathology. It is not recommended to give these preparations to babies on their own.