Cycloferon for children: instructions for use

When the season begins viral diseases of the respiratory tract, increasing the relevance of drugs that can overcome malicious viruses or prevent the development of infection after contact with sick people. One of these drugs can be called "cycloferon". It is presented in several variants and can be used in childhood, but before starting treatment it is worthwhile to learn about some of the features of this medication and its regimen in order to use the medicine correctly.

The drug called "Cycloferon" is manufactured by the Russian pharmaceutical company "Polisan" in three forms.

• Ampoules with a solution that is injected intramuscularly or into a vein. Such a drug can be used to treat children older than four years. One vial contains 2 ml of a yellow clear liquid, and in one package 5 vials are sold.
• Pills. As well as injections, this form of "cycloferon" can be applied from 4 years of age. It is a round pill that has a yellow shell (it dissolves in the intestine) and a yellow core. They are packaged in blisters of 10-20 pieces and sell 10-50 tablets in one pack.
• Liniment. Unlike other forms, this "Cycloferon" is not used in children. The instructions for liniment noted that it is contraindicated at the age of 18 years, since its effect on the children's body has not been studied sufficiently.

The active ingredient of all forms of "Cycloferon" is acridone acetic acid. It is presented in the preparation in the form of meglumin acridone acetate. One tablet contains 150 mg of the active compound, and one milliliter of the solution for injections is 125 mg, that is, one ampoule contains 250 mg of acridone acetic acid.

Among the auxiliary components of the solid form you can see propylene glycol, hypromellose, povidone and other substances, due to which such medicine is dense and dissolves only after entering the intestinal lumen, and not in the stomach. The only additional ingredient in the injection solution is sterile water.

Given the curative effects of "Cycloferon", this tool is referred to as immunostimulating. According to the mechanism of action of the drug is a group of interferon inductors, because under its influence the production of interferon is activated. Due to this, the “Cycloferon” method provides the following positive phenomena.

• It has an immunomodulatory effect. It is associated with the effect of the drug on lymphocytes (B- and T) and macrophages - cells that are able to produce interferon. "Cycloferon" activates the work of these cells, and also increases the activity of the interferon produced by them. Under the influence of injections or pills, the patient’s nonspecific immunity is enhanced, so the body is better able to withstand the attack of viruses or bacteria.
• Affects viral particles, including pathogens of flu, herpes infection, hepatitis, mononucleosis, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. The drug can suppress the reproduction of the pathogen in the first days of infection. In addition, under the influence of Cycloferon, many new viruses become defective and die, which leads to a decrease in virulence.
• Reduces the activity of inflammation, thanks to which the severity of symptoms of influenza or other viral infections is reduced. After taking “Cycloferon”, the patient's well-being improves, and the need to use additional different symptomatic agents disappears.

Quite a frequent reason to prescribe "Cycloferon" in pills to a child is SARS or flu. With such diseases, it is recommended to start the reception as soon as possible after the onset of fever, sore throat, cough, and other symptoms. Tablets can also be used as a means of prevention, to prevent the development of acute respiratory infections or influenza during an epidemic or after contact with a sick person.

"Cycloferon" in solid form can also be included in the herpetic infection treatment complex. In addition, the drug is used for other viral diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis B, rotavirus infection or infection with cytomegalovirus. In such cases, the addition of "Cycloferon" in the course of therapy helps the immune system to quickly overcome the pathogen and speed up recovery.

As for the injection, the injections of “Cycloferon” are prescribed for children with:

• viral hepatitis;
• infections caused by herpes viruses;
• HIV infection.

Treatment with "Cycloferon" in any form is prohibited:

• for young patients under four years old;
• for children with individual intolerance to such a drug;
• for patients with severe liver cirrhosis (decompensation).

For diseases of the digestive system or susceptibility to allergic reactions, the use of Cycloferon should be monitored by a specialist. If a child has thyroid pathology, you need to consult an endocrinologist before taking Cycloferon.

When taking pills or injecting "Cycloferon", an allergic reaction may occur. It may develop after a single dose of the drug or manifest itself after a few days from the start of treatment. Such a reaction may be a rash, itchy skin and other allergy symptoms.

"Cycloferon" tablets should be drunk 30 minutes before meals once a day. The drug can not be chewed, as this will damage its shell. After swallowing, the tablet is washed down with water (approximately 1/2 cup is taken). A single dosage of the solid form of "Cycloferon" affects the patient's age:

• for children 4-6 years old, only one pill is given;
• young patients of 7-11 years old should swallow two tablets at once, and sometimes the doctor at this age prescribes to drink “Cycloferon” 3 tablets per reception;
• a child over 12 years old at a time give 3 or 4 tablets.

It is not necessary to take the “Cycloferon” tableted tablet every day, but according to a special scheme, which not only differs in different diseases, but also depends on the severity of the patient’s condition and the severity of the infection symptoms. For example, with a mild flu or ARVI pills are taken on the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth days. This scheme is indicated on the medication box in the form of a table with checkmarks.

If the course of ARVI or flu is more severe, the therapy is continued and the child is given Cycloferon on the 11th and 14th days, and then on the 17th, 20th and 23rd days from the start of treatment. It turns out that, depending on the course of ARD, tablets should be taken from 5 to 10 times.The same scheme is provided for prevention. If the child has been in contact with a sick person or attends a children's team during an epidemic season, the doctor may recommend the “Cycloferon” prophylactic course of 5-10 doses, and after two or three weeks it can be repeated.

In case of a herpetic infection, the tablet preparation is given to the child 7 times - on the first, second, fourth and sixth day, and then on the 8th, 11th and 14th days. If the next dose is accidentally missed, the pill is given immediately when it is detected, but if the time of the next dose comes up, the dosage does not double.

As for the "cycloferon" injections, this medicine can be injected into muscle tissue or into a vein. The injection is done once a day, and the daily dosage is calculated by the patient’s body weight, multiplying the weight in kilograms by 6-10 mg. As tablets, injections are prescribed by a special scheme.

• If a child has been diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis, he is prescribed 15 injections of “Cycloferon”. Injections do not daily, and every other day. If necessary, after 10-14 days the course is repeated.
• If the patient has viral hepatitis turned into a chronic stage, first appoint 10 injections every other day. Then for three months, “Cycloferon” is administered three times a week.
• If the medication is prescribed for herpes infections, usually 10 injections are given, which are done every other day. After that, the activity of the virus is determined and, if required, the therapy is continued for another 4 weeks, making one injection every three days.
• If a child has HIV infection, Cycloferon is injected every other day until the patient receives ten injections. Next, go to the support scheme, providing one injection in 3 days. Such treatment lasts 3 months, and the second course is allowed after a 10-day break.

Sometimes the doctor recommends inhalation with a solution for injection, for which the nebulizer is used. Inhalations can be prescribed for colds, sore throats, laryngitis, adenoids, bronchitis and other diseases, as an addition to the main treatment. The amount of medication for the procedure and inhalation scheme is prescribed by the doctor individually. As a rule, the solution is additionally diluted with sterile water or saline, inhalation itself lasts up to 5-7 minutes, and the course of treatment is 7-10 procedures.

According to the instructions for the drug, "Cycloferon" is combined with many other drugs that are prescribed for viral infections, for example, with vitamins or anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, Cycloferon has the ability to enhance the therapeutic effect of interferon drugs or nucleoside-analog drugs. When used together with interferons or when administered during chemotherapy, Cycloferon helps reduce the chance of side effects.

There have not yet been cases when the dose overshoot had a negative effect on the child’s condition. If overdose is detected and the young patient deteriorates, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

It is not necessary to get a prescription from a doctor to get a pre-stocked Cycloferon in a pharmacy, but specialist advice is desirable. But the injectable form of this medication refers to prescription drugs, so the examination of the doctor is required. For 10 tablets you need to pay an average of 180-200 rubles, and the approximate price of a vial package is 300-340 rubles.

The recommended storage temperature of the solution and tablets is no higher than +25 degrees Celsius. Preparations should lie in a dry place hidden from small children. Shelf life of solid form - 2 years, the solution in ampoules - 5 years.

About 80% of Cycloferon reviews are positive.They confirm the effectiveness of both forms of medication for various viral diseases or for their prevention. The advantages of medication include a minimum of contraindications and good tolerability, as parents note that side effects during the course of "Cycloferon" are very rare (even in children with a tendency to allergies).

Among the shortcomings of the remedy they note a complicated scheme (sometimes they miss another dose because of it) and the high cost of a course of therapy if the child is a teenager. There are also negative reviews with complaints about the lack of the expected effect, when the child could not avoid infection or the condition of the little patient did not improve after the course of “Cycloferon”, which caused the drug to be changed.

Medicines that include the same active ingredient, do not release. Therefore, if you need to replace "Cycloferon" analogue, the doctor will recommend one of the immunomodulatory or antiviral drugs.

• "Viferon". The basis of this drug is a-interferon, so its use directly affects the immune system and helps in the treatment of many infections. In childhood, rectal suppositories are most in demand. They are safe and can be administered from birth, including premature babies. There are also local forms of "Viferon" - gel (allowed at any age) and ointment (appointed from the year).
• «Orvirem». Such a medicine can replace "Cycloferon" for flu and other acute respiratory infections. It acts on viral particles due to rimantadine and is represented by syrup, which is used in children over 1 year old.
• «Kagocel». This tableted drug belongs to interferon inducers, therefore, acts like "Cycloferon". At children's age he is appointed from 3 years.

• «Tsitovir-3». This immunostimulating agent specifically for children is represented by powder (a solution is prepared from it) and syrup - in these forms, Tsitovir-3 is prescribed from 1 year onwards. The drug in capsules is allowed from 6 years of age.
• «Acyclovir». Such a drug can be used instead of "Cycloferon" for infections caused by herpes viruses, because it is most effective against these pathogens. It comes in many forms (tablets, ointment, powder, etc.) and is prescribed for children with herpes infection at any age.
• "Arbidol". Such a suspension based on umiphenovir is used from 2 years of age when infected with influenza or other acute respiratory infections. Arbidol tablets and capsules can be used in children over 3 years old.

Sometimes, parents choose various homeopathic medicines to replace “Cycloferon”, among which Ergoferon, Aflubin and Anaferon are especially popular.

You will learn more about the drug "Cycloferon" by watching the following video.