Hofitol for children: instructions for use

"Hofitol" is one of the very popular herbal choleretic drugs. Adults take this medication for hepatitis, cholecystitis and other diseases that manifest themselves with heaviness in the abdomen, belching, nausea, constipation and other discomfort symptoms.

Thanks to several medicinal forms, the medicine is also prescribed for children of different ages, including babies who have just been born. The drug is considered safe for kids, but it is recommended to give only as prescribed by a doctor.because he, like other medicines, has many contraindications.

"Hofitol" is produced in three different forms:

• Solution. This medicine is an opaque brown liquid in which a yellow precipitate can be seen (this is normal and not a sign of spoilage). The solution is placed in glass bottles of dark color in the amount of 120 milliliters.
• Pills. They are distinguished by a convex round shape and a dense brown shell. Such "Hofitol" is packed in blisters of 12-30 pieces or in plastic tubes. In one pack is 60 or 180 tablets.
• Ampoules They are sold in 5 or 12 pieces per pack and contain 5 ml of clear solution. Such a liquid usually has a yellow tint, which may be barely visible (the solution appears colorless) and darker.

All forms of "Hofitola" as the main component contain extract of artichoke field, which is obtained from the fresh leaves of this plant. There are 20 g of an aqueous extract per 100 ml of oral solution, and one tablet contains 200 mg of dry extract of artichoke. As for the solution for injection, in 1 ml there is 20 mg of the purified extract from the leaves of the artichoke, that is, one ampoule contains 100 mg of the active substance.

Auxiliary ingredients in different types of "Hofitola" differ. In a liquid preparation, it is ethanol in a small amount, methyl- and propyl-parahydroxybenzoate, orange flavoring, water and glycerin, in the solution for injections only sterile water. The core of the tablets, in addition to the dry extract, contains talc, corn starch, magnesium trisilicate and magnesium stearate. For the manufacture of the shell using sucrose, calcium carbonate, gummillak, carnauba wax and some other substances.

The therapeutic effect of any form of Hofitol on the human body is associated with the presence of active compounds in artichoke leaves, among which are vitamins (especially a lot of ascorbic acid and B vitamins), inulin, cinarin, carotene, phenolic acids and other substances. The drug leads to the following effects:

• accelerates the secretion of bile, because the main effect of "Hofitola" is choleretic;
• helps hepatocytes recover faster after exposure to various damaging factors, and also protects liver cells from adverse conditions (this effect is called hepatoprotective);
• has a positive effect on metabolic processes in the liver and other organs, especially on cholesterol metabolism and fat metabolism;
• helps to remove heavy metals, nitrates and other toxic substances from the body;
• has a diuretic effect and contributes to the removal of urea, which is important in case of impaired renal function.

The reason for the appointment of "Hofitola" children may be:

• physiological jaundice that develops in a newborn baby;
• unpleasant symptoms of the digestive tract (dyspeptic) - belching, bloating, nausea and others;
• elevated levels of acetone in the blood;
• decreased biliary tract function (called dyskinesia), which leads to bile stasis and increases the risk of cholecystitis or cholangitis;
• chronic inflammatory process in the gallbladder (the medication is prescribed in the absence of stone formation);
• chronic hepatitis caused by a viral infection, liver damage by toxins, or other factors;

• constipation caused by gallbladder disease;
• intoxication caused by poisoning or an infectious disease;
• skin diseases, including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and others;
• cirrhosis of the liver in the initial stage;
• Giardia infection;
• kidney disease, due to which the patient began mild to moderate renal failure;
• obesity.

Liquid form of the drug is allowed for patients of any age. Such "Hofitol" is even discharged to newborn babies, if there are grounds for this.

Treatment with Hofitol is not prescribed if:

• examinations found stones in the gall bladder or ducts;
• there is a suspicion of obstruction of the biliary tract;
• Hepatitis or cholecystitis in the acute phase was detected in a small patient;
• kidney or liver failure in a child has a severe degree;
• the baby has hypersensitivity to any component of the drug.

In some patients, after stopping Hofitol, the stool becomes more fluid. Such a reaction of the digestive system is usually observed with long-term therapy or with higher dosages. Since the basis of "Hofitola" are the active substances from the plant, sometimes the medication causes an allergic reaction, for example, urticaria. In this case, the treatment must be immediately abandoned, give the child an antihistamine and consult a doctor.

Before giving the solution to the child, it must be mixed, gently shaking the bottle, because during storage the artichoke extract settles to the bottom. The tablet should be swallowed with water. Since its active substances are hidden under the dense shell, it is impossible to crack such a drug. If a child has difficulty swallowing a pill, it is better not to divide the medication into parts, but go on to use the solution.

Both the liquid and tablet form of Hofitol should be taken before meals. Usually, the drug is prescribed to drink three times, and the duration of the drug is determined by the reason why Hofitol was prescribed to the baby. Often, the medication is prescribed for a course of 14-21 days, but sometimes the doctor may prescribe a medicine for a month or longer. Repeated courses of therapy can be carried out only after a doctor's prescription.

The dosage of the drug depends primarily on the age of the patient:

• Children of the first year of life are given only the solution.. It is dosed in drops and diluted in 5 ml of water, after which the drug should be given to the baby on an empty stomach from a bottle or spoon. Babies from birth to 12 months are prescribed no more than 10 drops per dose.
• Little patients aged 1 to 5 years you can also give only the liquid form "Hofitola."The dosage for such babies is slightly increased and ranges from 10 to 20 drops, and to dilute the medicine, take more water - about 15 ml.
• A child over 6 years old You can continue to give liquid "Hofitol." A single dose for patients of this age is 40-60 drops, which are dissolved in 15 ml of water. It is also possible to dose the solution with a teaspoon (one half of a spoon is taken at one time) or with a syringe without a needle (2-3 ml is considered a single dose). If it is more convenient to use solid medicine, then this drug is usually given one tablet at a time.
• Children over 12 years old most often prescribed tablet drug. Depending on the disease, the child takes this medicine one pill or drinks 2 pills at a time. If a teenager is hard to swallow the medicine, you can give "Hofitol" in a solution of 0.5-1 teaspoon per reception. Usually, before swallowing this amount of solution, as for younger children, is mixed with 15 ml of water.

Hofitol injections are prescribed less frequently than other forms of medication. Usually they are one of the means of complex treatment in a hospital, for example, in chronic cholecystitis. They can be made intramuscularly or slowly inject the drug into the vein. A single dose of an injection drug for a teenager is usually 2.5-5 ml, but the doctor should prescribe a more accurate dosage, taking into account the patient's body weight. Injection "Hofitola" do once a day, and treatment lasts an average of 8 to 15 days.

As noted above, one of the indications for prescribing Hofitol in solution in infants from the first days of life is physiological jaundice, caused by the breakdown of hemoglobin after birth. For many babies with this problem, no treatment is required, but sometimes when the bilirubin level is too high, the baby is prescribed medications and phototherapy sessions. In this case, Hofitol can be used, because it is a herbal preparation that has worked well for the treatment of young patients.

In hemolytic jaundice, this medicine will help to more quickly eliminate bound bilirubin through the biliary tract and at the same time protect the liver cells from the toxic effects of indirect bilirubin. The dosage for each newborn is chosen individually and can be from one to ten drops of the solution. The drug is diluted in water and given to the toddler on an empty stomach.

The use of "Hofitola" in the newborn is shown to complete disappearance of the manifestations of jaundice. For many babies, improvement is noted within 7-8 days, after which the drug is canceled.

If a child accidentally drinks the solution in a large dose or swallows several pills at once, this will cause diarrhea. In the event of a significant overdose, when there is a threat of dehydration, rehydration solutions should be given to the child in order to replenish lost fluid and minerals. Other negative symptoms when exceeding the dose of "Hofitol" often do not reveal.

The drug can be used together with any other medicines. Indications about the incompatibility of the solution or tablets with other drugs in the instructions to the "Hofitol" no.

To buy "Hofitol" in pills or in solution for oral administration, a prescription from a doctor is not needed, but a specialist's examination is recommended. Injectable form sold by prescription. On average, one bottle of liquid medicine costs 400 rubles, for 60 tablets you need to pay about 300 rubles, and for 180 pieces you need to pay about 750 rubles.

The shelf life of Hofitol is different for different forms of the drug.Oral solution can be stored for up to 4 years from the date of manufacture, tablet medicine - 3 years, ampoules with a solution for injections - only 2 years. Keep the medicine at home should be at a temperature not higher than 25 degrees in a dry place. The drug should not be freely available for small children.

Most of the reviews about "Hofitol" notes that such a tool is effective and safe. According to moms, the drug helped with biliary dyskinesia, dyspepsia, jaundice, atopic dermatitis, giardiasis and other problems. In most cases, after a 2-week course of treatment, the child feels better, appetite normalizes, and the symptoms of the disease disappear or become less pronounced.

Liquid form is praised for the possibility of use at any age, ease of dosing and vegetable base. The disadvantages of the solution include its bitter taste, unpleasant smell, ethanol in the composition and high cost. The advantages of tablets are called small size, sweet shell and a lower price.

If you need to replace "Hofitol" medicine with the same active substances in the composition, you can use the drug "Artichoke extract." It is produced by several manufacturers in the form of pills, coated tablets or capsules, and the content of the extract from the artichoke in this tool is 100, 200 or 300 mg. Depending on the dose, it is prescribed from 6 or 12 years.

If necessary, give choleretic means to younger children usually choose drugs "Flamin"Or" Holosas ". Due to the convenient in use in childhood form of granules "Flamin" can be used even in the smallest patients. The suspension prepared from them is contraindicated only to newborns. The action of the drug is due to biologically active compounds that are obtained from the flowers of immortelle. There are also Flamin tablets, but they are not prescribed to children under 12 years of age.

As for the drug "Kholosas", this is a sweet syrup containing extract from the berries of wild rose. It has a choleretic effect and the ability to protect liver cells from damage. Such a remedy may be given to children in the same cases when “Hofitol” is discharged, but it is contraindicated for children under the age of 3 years.

Not less popular analogue "Hofitola" can be called "Ursofalk". The action of this tool provides ursodeoxycholic acid, which has strong hepatoprotective properties. In the form of a suspension, this medicine can be given even to newborn babies, and tablets and capsules are prescribed for children over three years old.

For older patients, the replacement for “Hofitol” can also become “Allohol". The composition of these tablets can be seen dry bile and activated charcoal, and the vegetable components of the drug obtained from garlic and nettle.

Instructions for use of the drug "Hofitol", see the following video.