Sore throat is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the tonsils and larynx. Often the disease is complicated and manifests itself as severe sore throat and fever. In 80% of cases, doctors recommend treatment with sulfonamides. These drugs include Biseptol 480. It has an affordable price, but at the same time has an excellent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.
Is Biseptol an antibiotic?
Some people believe that the drug is antibacterial. In fact, it is sulfonamide, an artificially produced antimicrobial agent. Synthetic medicines are not antibiotics. For example, Metrogyl and Furacilin are also sulfonamides.
These remedies are not as strong as antibiotics. Therefore, Biseptol for angina is prescribed only when antibacterial therapy is impossible. Sulfonamides are also inferior to antibiotics in the following characteristics:
- They are less active, affecting purulent discharge and blood, but not the area of infection.
- Their duration of action is shorter, and the course of treatment lasts longer.
- Many pathogenic microorganisms are resistant to this medicine.
Important! Some doctors believe that frequent treatment with Biseptol for sore throat in adults contributes to its transformation into a chronic form. And you can completely get rid of the disease only by removing the tonsils.
The effectiveness of Biseptol, including in comparison with antibiotics of the penicillin group
As a result, today the effectiveness of Biseptol in combating sore throat pathogens is very low. According to various studies, in 17-24% of cases, the main causative agent of sore throat - Streptococcus pyogenes - turns out to be resistant to both components of the drug, and therefore its use cannot be considered justified at all.
Streptococci engulfed by a neutrophil, a cell of the immune system
Biseptol also has other disadvantages:
- Even if the sore throat pathogen is sensitive to it, it does not completely destroy the infection in the body;
- Bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are almost always resistant to Biseptol. For example, according to several studies, bacteria resistant to penicillins are resistant to Biseptol in 75% of cases, and bacteria resistant to cefotaxime are resistant to Biseptol in 95% of cases. For this reason, it is completely irrational to use Biseptol in cases where antibiotics of the penicillin or cephalosporin groups do not have an effect - it is almost certain that Biseptol will not have an effect on bacteria in such a disease.
It is also useful to read: Will Amoxiclav help with purulent sore throat?
For comparison: the resistance of the angina pathogen to amoxicillin does not exceed 10%, and to macrolide antibiotics - 15%. The same amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid (the drugs Augmentin, Amoxiclav and others) is almost always effective for angina, since clavulanic acid neutralizes the protection of bacteria from amoxicillin itself. At the same time, both penicillins and macrolides are both safer than Biseptol and more affordable to purchase.
Doses and timing of therapy for children
- If a sore throat is diagnosed in a child aged 3 to 6 years, then children need Biseptol 240 mg 2 times a day. The single dose may vary: 2 tablets of 120 mg or half of 480 mg.
- Biseptol suspension is used to treat an infant. Its dose is 2.5 ml 2 times a day. A suspension of liquid consistency with a pleasant aftertaste.
- After 5-6 years of age, for angina in children, Biseptol can be used as tablets or suspension. At least 2 tablets of 120 mg are required per day, for a total of 240 mg. For a children's suspension, the dose is 5 ml 2 times a day.
Composition of Biseptol and the main mechanism of action
The main active ingredient of Biseptol is Co - trimoxazole - a combination drug consisting of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
- Sulfamethoxazole - a sulfonamide drug disrupts the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid in bacteria, due to this action, microbes stop multiplying and lose their activity.
- Trimethoprim enhances the effect of sulfonamide, preventing the restoration of substances responsible for cell division and reproduction.
Due to this combined action, Biseptol has a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity and can be used to destroy pathogens of several groups - staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, typhoid bacilli, and dysentery.
In addition to inhibiting the activity of pathogenic microorganisms, the medicine enhances the production of substances involved in suppressing the activity and proliferation of microbes. Biseptol is used to treat genitourinary and respiratory diseases; sore throat - sore throat is also among the ailments treatable with Co - trimoxazole.
Pills | 1 table |
active substances: | |
sulfamethoxazole | 100 mg |
trimethoprim | 20 mg |
excipients: potato starch; talc; magnesium stearate; polyvinyl alcohol; methyl parahydroxybenzoate; propyl parahydroxybenzoate; propylene glycol |
Pills | 1 table |
active substances: | |
sulfamethoxazole | 400 mg |
trimethoprim | 80 mg |
excipients: potato starch; talc; magnesium stearate; polyvinyl alcohol; methyl parahydroxybenzoate; propyl parahydroxybenzoate; propylene glycol |
Biseptol is available in the form of tablets, syrup or solutions for injection. The tablet form of the drug is widely known; it is prescribed for the treatment of tonsillitis. Babies after three months are prescribed the drug in suspension or syrup, and up to 6 years old Biseptol cannot be used in injections.
Both components of Biseptol are absorbed into the bloodstream in the digestive tract and excreted by the kidneys and housing and communal services. The maximum concentration of the drug in the body is determined after four hours.
This is a combination drug that includes two components: trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. Another name for this combination is Co-trimoxazole, it includes these substances in a ratio of 1 to 5.
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The main component of the drug is sulfamethoxazole. It blocks the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid in the human body, thereby depriving pathogens of the nutrient. Microbes cannot multiply under such conditions, which leads to the cessation of inflammatory processes.
After taking the medicine orally, its active components quickly penetrate the patient’s bloodstream. It begins to act approximately three hours after administration. By this time, the concentration of the substance in the blood becomes highest, after which it gradually decreases over seven hours.
Proper use of the medicine allows you to reduce the severity of inflammatory processes in the tonsils in a few doses.
Rules for taking when developing sore throat
If you strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations for taking the drug, it will be very useful and will not cause harm. Here are the basic rules for treatment with Biseptol for adults and children:
- If you have a sore throat, you should drink Biseptol only after meals; during treatment, completely avoid animal proteins and vegetables with a laxative effect. If this is not done, the medicine will not be fully absorbed and will not show the expected results.
- It is important to maintain a drinking regime - drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
- It is prohibited to drink alcoholic beverages during treatment - such a compound in the body provokes severe poisoning and allergies.
- During treatment, it is recommended to take multivitamin complexes - they will enhance the properties of the drug, helping it to be better absorbed.
- Shake the bottle before using the suspension.
Contraindications
Despite the frequent prescription for the treatment of sore throat, the drug has a large number of contraindications. The medicine is prohibited:
- During pregnancy and lactation. The active components of the drug easily penetrate the fetus through the placenta and into breast milk, harming the baby’s health.
- For children under 2 years of age, Biseptol 480 is not prescribed due to its high toxicity.
- Iron-deficiency anemia. The active components of the drug have a negative effect on the quality of the blood. In this regard, during treatment, people prone to or suffering from anemia experience a significant deterioration in their health. To prevent this negative effect, Biseptol for sore throat is prescribed together with vitamin complexes, which include folic acid.
- Kidney failure - Biseptol therapy is a contraindication for people with kidney problems. But if necessary, the doctor reduces the dose of the drug by 2 times.
- Bronchial asthma and thyroid dysfunction. Then the treatment is clarified by the doctor. While taking the medication, constant supervision by a specialist is required.
Is it possible to use Biseptol for sore throat in adults and children?
Sore throat is a rather unpleasant disease that can affect not only the mucous membrane of the throat, but also be accompanied by symptoms of general intoxication of the entire body. It is worth noting that it is this symptom that seriously complicates the course of the disease. In order for the treatment of sore throat to be correct and effective, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the very cause of the development of this disease. Therefore, the appearance of the first symptoms of tonsillitis in children and adults should be a reason to visit an appropriate specialist.
It is possible that after the examination, the doctor will prescribe you Biseptol for a sore throat - a drug that has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. You will learn how to use this medicine correctly and what side effects it has from the contents of this article.
Composition and pharmacological action of the drug "Biseptol"
This medicine contains two main substances - trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. Hence the name of this drug: “bi” - double + “septol” - infection, infection or antiseptic.
What effect do the chemicals contained in Biseptol have on sore throat? Sulfamethoxazole is the main component of the drug, which has the ability to block the production of dihydrofolic acid in the body. This acid is vital for pathogenic microorganisms, since in its absence, bacteria lose the ability to reproduce and divide. Trimethoprim does not have such a pronounced bactericidal effect, but only enhances the pharmacological effect of the main drug substance.
Once in the stomach, the active components of biseptol are broken down and enter the patient’s bloodstream. The therapeutic effect occurs 3 hours after taking this drug. It is during this period of time that the concentration of the active substances of the drug in the patient’s blood reaches its maximum.
The pharmacological effect of biseptol persists for another 7 hours, so the next dose of this medication should be taken no earlier than 12 hours later.
The medicine effectively eliminates inflammation in the throat caused by the activity of pathogenic bacteria.
Is Biseptol an antibacterial drug?
It should be noted that although this drug has antibacterial properties, it does not belong to the group of antibiotics.
Antibiotics are drugs that contain medicinal components of natural origin (microbial, animal or plant). These substances completely suppress the vital activity, reproduction and growth of bacterial microflora. Nowadays, the pharmaceutical industry also produces antibacterial drugs with a semi-synthetic composition.
If you study the instructions for this drug more carefully, it will become clear that Biseptol is not related to the group of antibiotics at all:
- Firstly, the chemical components of this medicine are completely synthetic substances.
- Secondly, the main active ingredient - sulfamethoxazole - belongs to the category of sulfonamide drugs.
Therefore, this medicine is a sulfonamide drug with an antibacterial effect. But this does not mean that Biseptol for sore throat can be used uncontrolled.
Sulfonamide medications are quite serious drugs and should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. If the conditions for using these medications are not followed, unpleasant consequences will not take long to occur.
In particular, a possible complication of the disease may be the development of resistance in bacteria to the action of certain antibacterial drugs. In this case, treatment of a disease such as tonsillitis or pneumonia may take a long time.
Release form and dosage of the drug
Biseptol is available in the form of injection solution, suspension and tablets. For the treatment of sore throat, preference is given to the tablet form of the drug. It is available in the following dosages: 100\20 mg and 400\80 mg (the ratio of the active ingredient sulfamethoxazole to trimethoprim).
Dosage according to the patient's age:
- adults and adolescents – 960 mg twice a day;
- children under 12 years of age – 280 mg twice a day;
- children under 6 years old – 240 mg twice a day.
Adults and children are allowed to take Biseptol for a sore throat for 5-14 days. If there is a need to extend the medication beyond the prescribed period, the patient undertakes to take a blood test for hemoglobin, since with long-term use of Biseptol, the development of anemia is possible.
It is recommended to store this medicine out of the reach of children. The duration of one treatment course in children and adults is usually from 5 to 7 days.
Important! The doctor should adjust the dose and duration of use of this medication, based on test data, the patient’s age and concomitant diseases with angina.
Indications for use of the drug
Will Biseptol help cope with a sore throat? It depends on the cause of the disease. This medicine has a detrimental effect on a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms - gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
These include:
- salmonella;
- staphylococcus;
- toxoplasma;
- streptococcus;
- chlamydia;
- coli.
The effectiveness of this drug has also been proven in the fight against fungal infections. For sore throat, Biseptol is used to eliminate the cause of the disease and reduce inflammation in the throat.
It is not advisable to use this drug to treat:
- leptospirosis;
- tuberculosis;
- pathologies caused by viruses, spirochetes and hemolytic streptococcus.
Typically, respiratory tract diseases are caused by gram-positive bacterial flora - streptococcal or staphylococcal. It is for this reason that Biseptol is actively used not only for angina, but also for:
- pharyngitis;
- pneumonia;
- tracheitis;
- laryngitis.
As for bronchitis, it can be not only bacterial, but also viral. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to consult a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis. This medicine is also sometimes used to treat sinusitis and sinusitis.
Adverse reactions
When taking the drug Biseptol for a sore throat, you must strictly adhere to the dosage and conditions of its use. Usually this drug is quite well tolerated by the patient's body.
The development of any side effects occurs relatively rarely and is characterized by a decrease in the performance of certain systems and organs:
- Nervous system – apathy, headaches, depression, dizziness.
- Urinary system – nephrotic syndrome.
- Digestive system – nausea, abdominal pain, dyspeptic disorders.
- Allergic reactions - skin rash, itching.
If any skin changes, worsening cough, or joint pain occur, you must stop using the medication. All side effects disappear after discontinuation of the drug.
Overdose
In case of careless intake of a large amount of this drug, the development of poisoning of the body is possible. This patient’s condition requires urgent emergency care.
Overdose can be determined by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of drowsiness, apathy, disturbances of consciousness.
- Lack of appetite, vomiting or nausea.
- Dizziness, fever.
- In a later period, jaundice may appear.
Providing first aid to a patient involves removing any remaining medication from the body. In this case, gastric lavage is effective only in the first 2 hours after consuming a large dose of the drug. The victim needs to drink plenty of fluids and urgently call an ambulance.
You should always remember that it should only be used under the supervision of your doctor.
Many experts recommend using Biseptol for tonsillitis and other inflammatory diseases, since this drug exhibits fairly high activity in the fight against harmful microorganisms.
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special instructions
If a person is prone to allergic reactions and long-term treatment is required, he will need to undergo regular blood tests due to the risk of hematological disorders. Such changes are reversible with a timely start of a course of folic acid at 3-6 mg per day. This will not interfere with the activity of the drug, but will reduce the danger of the developing condition.
Important! Use Biseptol 480 with caution to treat elderly people or patients with a lack of folate in the body. In such cases, treatment with folic acid also helps. In addition, a course of folic acid during long-term therapy in large doses is advisable.
Cases of overdose
If you violate the rules for taking the medicine, carry out treatment not according to the instructions, or significantly exceed the dose, an overdose is possible. The patient develops pathological complications of varying severity - from vomiting to fainting.
Specific symptoms of the pathological condition depend on the level of overdose. In an advanced situation, toxic damage to the kidneys and liver occurs, and coma rarely occurs. An overdose in a child can sometimes be fatal.
The drug Biseptol is an antimicrobial agent that helps speed up recovery in acute tonsillitis. The medicine destroys the pathogenic microflora that caused the inflammatory process of the larynx and tonsils. If antibacterial treatment is prohibited for some reason, Biseptol for sore throat can come to the rescue and replace it. But still, it is considered an outdated drug, so its numerous modern analogues are increasingly used. Despite this, the medication remains one of the most effective methods of treating sore throat in adults and children.
Does Biseptol help with sore throat? Reviews, indications for use and contraindications
Sore throat is a dangerous disease that manifests itself not only in general intoxication of the patient’s body, but is also characterized by the development of local inflammatory foci that can affect large areas of the larynx and palatine tonsils.
This disease requires an integrated approach to treatment, which involves the use of drugs that not only relieve symptoms, but also eliminate the causative agents of the disease.
Features of the drug Biseptol
The following are used as additional means in the manufacture of the drug:
- propylene glycol;
- potato starch;
- propyl parahydroxybenzoate;
- talc;
- methyl parahydroxybenzoate;
- polyvinyl alcohol;
- magnesium stearate.
Some of these components also have therapeutic effects, while enhancing each other's effectiveness.
Thanks to this, the solution is recognized as one of the best broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, which can successfully fight against different groups of pathogens of sore throat and other diseases (typhoid bacilli, staphylococci, dysentery, pneumococci, streptococci).
The principle of action and effectiveness of biseptol
The two active substances in Biseptol have different effects.
Sulfamethoxazole, when it comes into contact with the affected areas, directly affects the causative agents of sore throat at the cellular level, disrupting the processes of acid synthesis in them, as a result of which such microorganisms lose their reproductive abilities.
In turn, trimethoprim also has a weak antibacterial effect, but its main function is a synergistic effect (increasing the effect of the first component).
As a result of this interaction, biseptol in the treatment of sore throat is effective not only at the initial, but also at later stages of the development of pathology, since it not only reduces the activity of microflora, but also prevents its further reproduction.
Biseptol for sore throat: method of use in adults and children
Depending on the age, the drug is taken by patients in certain quantities:
- Children under six years of age can take no more than 240 milligrams of the drug twice a day.
- For children under 12 years of age, the dosage increases to 280 milligrams when divided into two parts to be taken twice daily.
- After 12 years, the dosage is equal to that of an “adult”: you can also take Biseptol twice a day, but already at 960 milligrams.
- to reduce side effects during treatment, you need to drink up to two liters of water per day;
- the menu should not include fermented milk products, fatty meats, overly sweet desserts, beets and legumes;
- to avoid neutralization of the drug, it is necessary to abstain from alcohol during treatment;
- simultaneously with taking Biseptol, it is recommended to take a course of multivitamin complexes;
- the patient should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun while he is taking Biseptol. The active components of the drug increase the risk of developing erythema and dermatoses under the influence of natural light.
The duration of treatment is determined by the attending physician and can range from 4 to 14 days.
Contraindications and side effects
Their number is not comparable with a relatively small or average therapeutic effect, and during treatment, patients while taking Biseptol may develop:
- colic in the abdomen;
- development of nephrotic syndrome;
- allergic reactions;
- dizziness and headaches;
- hyponatremia;
- depression;
- hyperkalemia;
- apathy;
- hypoglycemia;
- tremor;
- scleral hyperemia;
- bronchospasm;
- angioedema;
- choking and coughing;
- increased body temperature;
- nausea and vomiting;
- drug fever;
- diarrhea;
- renal dysfunction;
- gastritis.
If the symptoms manifest themselves particularly strongly, it makes sense to visit a doctor and raise the issue of replacing the drug with a similar drug, and if after stopping Biseptol the side effects disappear within a day, then this is the right decision.
Remember! If no side effects occur as such, but the dosage of the medicine is exceeded, the patient may experience symptoms such as apathy, drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, fever, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
In such cases, in the first two hours it is necessary to perform gastric lavage, and then call an ambulance, since further detoxification must be carried out in a hospital setting.
If the following contraindications are present, Biseptol is not prescribed:
- pathological changes in liver tissue;
- anemia with iron deficiency;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- diseases of the thyroid gland and asthma (in such cases, the drug is prescribed with caution and taken under the supervision of the attending physician).
If renal function is impaired, the drug may be prescribed in some cases, but the dosage should be halved.
If the patient has an allergy, the drug is also prescribed, but regardless of the allergen, during treatment the patient’s condition is under strict control, and at the first sign of allergic reactions the drug is discontinued.
Biseptol analogues
- Bactrim.
An antimicrobial agent of combined action based on the same components that are part of Biseptol. This type of medicine is available in the form of syrup, suspension, infusion solution and tablets. When taking such a drug, the functions of the cells of pathogenic microorganisms are inhibited, during which their metabolism slows down and reproduction becomes impossible. - Groseptol.
The basis of this medicine is the same synergists trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. The drug is an effective antimicrobial agent that actively eliminates sore throat pathogens, which are gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms resistant to sulfonamide-based drugs. - Septrin. A similar antimicrobial and bactericidal drug that destroys the causative agents of sore throat, rather than relieving the symptoms of the disease.
Patient reviews
“When my son was diagnosed with a sore throat for the first time in his life, I was concerned that the medications prescribed by the doctors were not working.
Experts, in turn, explained this by saying that it is necessary to give the product time to activate. A pediatrician I know explained to me that this is nonsense: any antimicrobial drugs either work or they don’t, and this can be detected literally in the first day.
It was she who recommended that I treat the child with Biseptol in combination with the antibiotics that had already been prescribed, and after such an adjustment to the course of treatment, the child quickly began to recover.”
Svetlana Dyuzheva, Samara.
“As far as I know, in modern medical practice, biseptol is very rarely used to treat adults, since many common pathogens of sore throat have already developed immunity to this remedy.
Although this medicine helped me, and perhaps this happened because I have a fairly strong immune system, and the disease was recognized in time: in my life I have had a sore throat about 7-8 times and can perfectly distinguish the symptoms of this disease from a cold or flu.”
Semyon Matyukhov, Balashikha.
Useful video
From this video you will learn how to quickly cure a sore throat:
Biseptol helps well if pathogenic microorganisms are sensitive to it: in such cases, the drug quickly eliminates foci of harmful bacteria and infections, preventing the remnants of microflora from developing.
But only the attending physician can determine whether Biseptol is suitable for a particular person, so you should not neglect the examination, which will help you choose the right drug and treatment regimen, because it may turn out that Biseptol cannot help, and time will be wasted.
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