Aktiferrin for children: instructions for use

If the child is detected Iron-deficiency anemia or there is a high risk of its development, iron preparations come to the rescue. One of them is Aktiferrin. From what age is it permissible to give it, what form of release to choose, what dose to use and what side effects to expect?

Aktiferrin is available in the following forms:

• Drops. This form is most preferred for infants, but can be used at an older age. It is a clear solution with a creamy raspberry flavor and a green or yellowish-brown hue. One bottle, on which there is a stopper-dropper, contains 30 ml of the drug.
• Syrup. This form is often chosen for children over 2 years. The syrup is also represented by a clear liquid with a creamy raspberry smell, as well as a brown-yellow or greenish color. In one bottle is 100 ml of syrup.
• Capsules They are used in the treatment of children 6 years and older. Capsules have brown color, oblong shape and light beige oily content. This medicine is available in packs of 20 and 50 capsules.

• The main component in Aktiferrin is iron sulfate, which acts as a source of ferrous iron. The second important ingredient is serine.
• Additional ingredients of the drops and syrup are 96% alcohol, sugar syrup, water, flavors and ascorbic acid. Potassium sorbate is also present in the drops.
• Actiferrin capsules contain oils, lecithin and wax, and the capsule itself is made of gelatin, sorbitol, glycerol, and dyes.

Aktiferrin is one of the iron preparations prescribed for the lack of such an element. When it enters the child's body, iron affects the formation of red blood cells and is involved in some oxidative and reducing reactions. In addition, it becomes a component of myo- and hemoglobin, as well as some enzymes.

The presence of serine in the medication helps the gland to more actively absorb and enter the blood faster. This amino acid can reduce the dosage of iron, so that the drug is better tolerated. The medicine quickly compensates for iron deficiency, with the result that the clinical and laboratory signs of anemia gradually disappear.

Instructions for use Aktiferrin includes information that the drug is acceptable to appoint in infancy. This medicine is allowed to be given in drops even to newborns, children aged 1 month and older.

It is impossible to give a child Aktiferrin if he has:

• There is intolerance to any component of the drug.
• Anemia is not triggered by iron deficiency.
• Identified thalassemia.
• A violation of Fe absorption due to lead or sideroachrestic anemia was diagnosed.
• The iron content in the body has increased, for example, due to hemolytic anemia or hemochromatosis.
• There are problems with the tolerance of galactose, lactose or fructose, as well as disorders in carbohydrate metabolism.

In addition, the appointment of Aktiferrin requires the increased attention of the doctor if the child has diabetes, allergic diseases, pathologies of the kidneys or the liver, bronchial asthma, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

For many children who are given Aktiferrin, the color of the feces becomes dark. At the same time, blackening of feces does not indicate digestive problems.

Actiferrin may also be accompanied by:

• Loss of appetite
• The appearance of an unpleasant bitter taste in the mouth.
• Constipation or, conversely, loose stools.
• Meteorism.
• Headaches.
• Vertigo.
• Redness of the skin.

Rare adverse symptoms triggered by Actiferrin are abdominal pain, toothache, allergic rash, nausea, irritability, sore throat, feeling of weakness, vomiting, pruritus, and pressure in the chest. In isolated cases, an anaphylactic reaction or encephalopathy is possible.

Aktiferrin should be drunk before meals or during meals. To dilute drops or syrup, a small amount of water or fruit tea is needed (so that the medicine does not leave a dark patina on the teeth). Capsules should be swallowed whole, not clever, and then drink plenty of water. The duration of therapy with Aktiferrin is established by the doctor, but after normalization of the tests, the medicine in the maintenance dosage is recommended to give the child another 2-3 months.

If the medicine is given in drops, it is calculated according to the weight of the child - 5 drops of Aktiferrin are needed for each kilogram. This daily dose is divided into two or three doses. On average, babies are given three times a day for 10-15 drops of medicine, for a preschooler from 25 to 35 drops to an appointment, and for a schoolchild to about 50 drops.

The dosage of the syrup is also determined on the basis of the body weight of the child - for every 12 kg of weight, 5 ml of the drug is required. On average, a child of 2-6 years old is given 5 ml twice a day, and a child over 6 years of age is offered such a single portion of syrup three times a day.

Actiferrin capsules give children who are six years old. This form of medication is prescribed one capsule per day, and in adolescence, one capsule 2-3 times a day.

Exceeding the dose of any iron preparations is a serious danger to the health and even to the life of the child. If you accidentally give crumbs of the drug in excess dosage, it will lead to fatigue, pallor, weakness, as well as reduced blood pressure, pain in the abdomen, weakening of the pulse, fever and other symptoms. In severe cases, seizures, coma, necrosis of the liver and kidneys are possible.

A child with an overdose of Aktiferrin is washed in the stomach, given a raw egg or milk, after which it is necessary to call an ambulance. Specific treatment is the use of deferoxamine, since such a drug binds iron. In severe cases, it is possible to appoint another antidote, unithiol.

• Do not drink Actiferrin drinks such as milk, coffee or black tea. They will impair the absorption of the active substance.
• Other dairy products, bread, eggs, or any solid food have the same effect. To prevent such foods from affecting the absorption of the medicine, a pause of 1–2 hours should be made between their use and the administration of Aktiferrin.
• With the addition of citric or ascorbic acid, the absorption of Fe from Actiferrin will improve.
• Actiferrin reduces the effectiveness of tetracyclines, levodopa, ofloxacin, methyldopa, levothyroxine, ciprofloxacin and some other drugs.
• If calcium supplements, antacids or magnesium preparations are additionally prescribed to a baby taking Actiferrin, this will worsen iron absorption.
• Do not give the child at the same time Aktiferrin and zinc. Between these additives should be an interval of 2 hours.
• With the simultaneous appointment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Aktiferrin, the risk of damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract increases.
• The use of iron will reduce the effect of taking vitamin E, so between these additives should be a break of 3-4 hours or more.

To purchase the drug at the pharmacy will require a prescription. The average price of Actiferrin drops is 300 rubles, the syrup is about 270 rubles, and the packaging of capsules is 150-300 rubles.

For storage of Actiferrin, a cool and dry place should be picked up where the temperature will not rise above + 25 ° C. It is very important that such children have no access to such a place.

The treatment with Aktiferrin can be heard mostly positive reviews. Parents who gave such an iron preparation to babies, It is noted that the child quickly passes weakness, fatigue disappears, the heart rate normalizes, the skin becomes less dry. Among the side effects of mothers often note the negative reaction of the child's digestive tract. But, if the dosage is slightly reduced, most of the children have such side effects of the medication.

If it is not possible to give the child Actiferrin, the agent can be replaced with some other iron preparation.

The most popular are such analogues:

• Ferrum Lek - It is a source of ferric iron in the form of a syrup (allowed from birth) or chewable tablets (appointed from the age of 12).
• Hemofer - such drops containing ferric chloride, are given from birth, even to premature babies.
• Tardiferon - tablets with ferric sulfate, prescribed from 6 years of age.
• Sorbifer Durules - in these tablets for children over 12 years old, iron sulfate is supplemented with ascorbic acid.