Kids often suffer diseases of the respiratory tract (both upper and lower), ENT organs. In this case, pediatricians prescribe the Zedex antibiotic (suspension for children). Reviews of mothers confirm that this medicine helps to recover with minimal consequences (while taking medications to restore intestinal microflora and, if necessary, anti-allergic medicines).
Among the advantages, parents note a single dose of the drug (both in suspension and in capsules), an effective fight against protracted bronchitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media, and chronic rhinitis. But among the main disadvantages are the high cost of the drug. We will study in more detail the composition, instructions, side effects of this medication.
general characteristics
The medicine according to the pharmacological group belongs to the third generation cephalosporins. This means that the negative effects on health compared with antibiotics of the first or second generation will be less in the medicine "Zedex". This drug is also called "Ceftibuten", which is associated with the same name of the active substance in its composition. This antibiotic is produced by Italy, Sweden, USA (in Russia, Shering-Plau is responsible for the production of these products).
The drug “Zedex” is approved by the Russian Ministry of Health and is available on prescription. For children from ten years, the doctor prescribes this antibiotic in capsules, and for infants from six months to ten years - in powder. Capsules are available in a blister pack of five pieces or in separate bags. A measuring cup and a measuring spoon are attached to the suspension package. Capsules and powder of the drug are light yellow or white (rather milky).
Please note that the numbers in the name of the medicine mean the dosage. That is, if “Zedex 400” is written, then this drug is available in capsules, each of which contains four hundred grams of ceftibutene (more than this dose per day should not be taken either by children or adults). To prepare the suspension, the powder is available in 30-ml bottles (the dosage of the main substance is 36 milligrams per milliliter).
You can store the antibiotic at a temperature of two to 25 degrees above zero. An unpacked drug can last two years. However, the diluted suspension must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2-8 degrees for only two weeks.
The drug "Zedex": instructions, price
The antibiotic powder can be from light yellow to dark in dry form. When diluted, it acquires a milky hue and a cherry smell. The composition of the drug includes ceftibutene dihydrate (36 milligrams per milliliter of diluted suspension and 144 milligrams per gram of dry powder), sucrose, gum (resin) xanthan gum, titanium dioxide and silicon, simethicone, sodium benzoate, polysorbate 80, flavoring (cherry). Keep diluted medicine only in the refrigerator. For more than ten days, do not use Zedex suspension. The price of the powder averages 475 rubles.
Capsules have a slightly different composition. It includes ceftibutene (400 milligrams per capsule), magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, starch sodium glycolate. The shell itself consists of gelatin, titanium dioxide and sodium lauryl sulfate.
The drug in capsules is represented by a powder of white, milk or light yellow color, the shell has the inscription of the name of the drug (the composition of pharmaceutical ink includes special glaze, simethicone, lecithin, black iron oxide (E 172), ethylene glycol monoethylate). The Zedex medication (the price in capsules will be higher), like other tablets, is stored on the refrigerator door or in a cabinet where the temperature does not exceed 25 degrees above zero.
Drug action
This drug is called antimicrobial and antibacterial in action. It destroys the membrane of all bacteria that are resistant to other drugs belonging to the group of cephalosporins. This drug is resistant to most penicillinases and cephalosporinases. But an antibiotic is useless when fighting strains that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (for example, penicillin-resistant streptococci).
The Zedex 400 medication and suspension destroy such bacteria as streptococcus, pneumococcus, moraxella cataralis, indole-positive protein, hemophilic and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Providencia, Salmonella. This occurs due to inhibition of the transpeptidase and disruption of the biological synthesis of the mucopeptide of the cell wall. The action of this antibiotic does not apply to anaerobic microorganisms, staphylococci, group B streptococci, enterococci.
It is rapidly absorbed from the intestinal tract, however, food intake slows down the flow of this process when using a suspension (this does not apply to the drug in capsules). The peak accumulation of antibiotic in plasma is reached two hours after its administration. The active substance of an antibiotic penetrates into tissues and fluids in a short time (46-81% of the drug concentration in plasma). The drug is excreted from the body in an unchanged state with urine.
Indications for use
The drug "Zedex" (suspension, capsules) is used for the following diseases:
- pharyngitis;
- scarlet fever;
- tonsillitis;
- pneumonia;
- chronic and acute bronchitis;
- otitis media;
- sinusitis;
- urethritis;
- cystitis;
- enteritis;
- gastroenteritis caused by Escherichia coli, shigella, salmonella.
The medication is prescribed by a doctor and in the treatment of other infections that are destroyed by the action of ceftibutene. According to the instructions, children from six months and adults can be prescribed treatment with the Zedex drug. The use of this antibiotic is possible with side effects in persons with renal failure, gastrointestinal diseases, chronic colitis, and an allergy to penicillins.
The effect of this drug on the fetus during fetal development in the treatment of pregnant women has not been studied. Also, studies have not been conducted to determine the proportion of ceftibutene in breast milk, so lactating mothers are also not recommended to take this antibiotic. But, judging by the reviews of women, many took this drug during pregnancy, during lactation in the treatment of prolonged sinusitis and did not notice any negative consequences for the health of children. However, self-medication in this case is unacceptable!
Contraindications
Infants up to six months, regardless of the severity of the disease of the ENT organs, upper or lower respiratory tract, are strictly forbidden to take the medicine “Zedex” (suspension for children). Reviews of experts explain that this drug in infancy has a negative effect on the unformed central nervous system, causes a predisposition to allergies, problems of the digestive, circulatory system.
Also, you can not take an antibiotic for children who are sensitive to any components of the drug or have congenital pathologies of carbohydrate metabolism. If children have fructose intolerance, isomaltose deficiency, sucrose, there are problems with the absorption of galactose or glucose, then the Zedex preparation (suspension) is contraindicated in these cases.
Please note that for children under ten years of age, the antibiotic in capsules is strictly prohibited. And from the teenage period, the suspension does not contribute to recovery due to insufficient ceftibutene. For children whose weight exceeds forty-five kilograms, the daily norm of the antibiotic is recommended, as for an adult, namely one capsule (four hundred milligrams). Therefore, follow strictly medical advice on the use of the drug.
Side effects
Any antibiotic has negative consequences for the body, including the Zedex remedy. The instruction for the drug says that with an overdose of this antibiotic, a child may experience headache, nausea, diarrhea (diarrhea). These symptoms are common and appear when taking any other antibiotics.
Based on pharmacological observations, patients rarely experience side effects such as vomiting, abdominal pain, gastritis, dyspepsia, drowsiness, rash, nasal congestion, taste change, decreased hemoglobin in the blood, thrombocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, increased activity in serum AST, ALT and LDH, seizures.
In young children, other signs of an overdose may appear: agitation, insomnia, dehydration, chills, muscle stiffness, melena, fever, toxic skin necrosis, hyperkinesia, aphasia, hematuria, jaundice. These are rare negative phenomena that can occur after prescribing the Zedex preparation to children. Instructions for the use of any other antibiotic belonging to the group of cephalosporins also describes a number of identical side effects.
- Immune disorders are characterized by the appearance of allergic reactions, bronchospasm, rash, shortness of breath, anaphylaxis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, pruritus, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, light sensitivity, angioedema.
- In a laboratory study, the indicators of prothrombin time and INR change.
- From the gastrointestinal tract, colitis and diarrhea are possible when taking the “Zedex” preparation (the dosage in this case does not matter, since these are the general consequences of taking antibiotics of any pharmacological group).
- From the urinary and hematopoietic systems, kidney dysfunction, anemia (aplastic, hemolytic), toxic nephropathy, internal bleeding, a positive Coombs reaction, hyperbilirubinemia, agranulocytosis, glucosuria, neutropenia, pancytopenia can be observed.
Despite a long list of side effects, there were no signs of intoxication with an accidental overdose. In addition, a detailed list of side effects indicates the degree of knowledge of this drug in the field of medicine. The absence of undesirable effects in a medicinal product may indicate insufficient study of the effects of its components on the human body.
The drug "Zedex" (suspension): instructions
For children under ten years of age, a powder is prescribed for the preparation of the suspension. To do this, pour twenty-five milliliters of boiled water at room temperature into a measuring cup (attached to the package) and pour into a bottle with powder. Shake until antibiotic is completely dissolved. Add another five milliliters of water and shake well.
Give medicine as prescribed by a doctor using a measuring spoon or syringe. Please note that the measuring spoon is two-sided: round and oval measure. On each side, two divisions with different values. Look at the division and pour the indicated amount of suspension. That is, if 90 ml is written on one side and 135 ml on the other, then turn the spoon with the necessary division and measure out the required amount of antibiotic.
Despite the fact that the bottle is designed for thirty milliliters of suspension, the doctor can change the amount of water and powder, based on the nature of the disease, the age and weight of the child. Then the preparation “Zedex” (suspension for children under ten years of age and capsules for older children) is given on the recommendation of a doctor.
If you are confused by the large number of side effects of the drug, then ask to replace the medicine with a more gentle one. If you do not trust the competence of your attending physician, then consult with other specialists about the treatment.
Based on the severity of the disease, the drug is given from one to three times a day for five days. For example, in case of acute bacterial enteritis, the medicine is given twice a day; in case of pharyngitis or purulent otitis media, the preparation “Zedex” is given once. Dosage instructions should be agreed with your doctor.
In any case, an antibiotic of any pharmacological group is prescribed for five to ten days (no more than three times a day before meals or after) with the parallel use of prebiotics and live microorganisms that improve the intestinal microflora, and anti-allergic drugs (since many children have an allergic rash on medicine).
Be sure to adhere to medical recommendations when taking the Zedex medication (suspension for children), reviews of some mothers indicate their incompetence. Many of them determine the dosage “by eye”, dilute the prepared suspension with warm water to obtain the optimum temperature.
Because of this, either an overdose occurs, or the effectiveness of the drug's effect on the body decreases due to an insufficient amount of the active substance. Remember, if you do not cure the infection, then it will adapt to the action of the antibiotic, then the next time you need to use a medicine with a stronger effect (and frequent treatment with antibiotics by doctors is not welcome).
The use of the drug in adolescence
Standard treatment is prescribed for a period of five to ten days. Children under ten years of age and weighing less than 45 kilograms are prescribed a suspension of nine milligrams per kilogram. Teenagers, whose weight is more than forty-five kilograms, are prescribed in capsules the preparation "Zedex". Instructions for use emphasize dependence on the severity of the disease. For example, in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, bacterial sinusitis or urinary tract infections, it is enough to take one capsule (400 mg) per day, and with pneumonia, two capsules with a dosage of 200 mg are allowed (i.e., the dose is divided into 2 doses).
Taking the drug of this form of release does not depend on food intake. He is also prescribed with the simultaneous administration of drugs aimed at restoring intestinal microflora. In some schoolchildren, swallowing tablets and capsules causes vomiting, so many mothers advise mixing the contents of Zedex for children with water (the instruction is silent about this method of use, so check with the pediatrician).
For children with kidney problems, the doctor determines their medication schedule. In any case, when making a diagnosis, it is necessary to tell the doctor about allergic reactions to drug components, congenital diseases and taking any medications at the time of the disease.
Analogs and interactions with other medicines
Despite the long list of side effects of the Zedex preparation, the instruction does not provide a detailed description of the interaction of this drug with other medicines. So, while taking an antibiotic with antacids, ranitidine and theophylline, no signs of mutual influence have been detected so far.
Sometimes cephalosporins can change prothrombin activity, therefore, in patients of this category it is necessary to measure INR and prothrombin time, as well as introduce vitamin K before taking Zedex. The dosage (40 μg / ml) of this drug in pharmacological studies did not give information about any violations in the chemical and laboratory parameters of the blood.
However, people who are allergic to penicillin often have a cross-reaction to cephalosporins, resulting in anaphylaxis. Persistent diarrhea can also indicate severe disorders, which requires immediate medical attention.
Most mothers ask to replace the Zedex antibiotic for children (suspension), reviews do not indicate negative health effects, but the high price of this medication. The analogues of this drug in the spectrum of action are Azran, Axon, Bestum, Vicef, Iksim Lupin, Kefoteks, Lendacin, Medaxon, Oritax, Rocefin, and Sulmover ”,“ Suprax ”,“ Khizon ”,“ Cetax ”,“ Cefaxon ”,“ Cefodox ”. However, without medical advice, do not replace the drug.
Summarizing
Thanks to the active substance ceftibutene, this third-generation antibiotic has an antibacterial and antimicrobial effect. Despite a long list of side effects, accidental overdose does not lead to intoxication. If this happens, then urgent gastric lavage and the help of a doctor are necessary.
If the child has at least some disposition to allergies, then be careful when taking the Zedex antibiotic. The instruction (suspension, capsules are taken, it doesn’t matter) warns that this drug should not be used by people who are allergic to penicillin or antibiotic components, carbohydrate metabolism disorders. , .
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