Epistat is one of the medicines that helps to get rid of both dry and wet coughs. Such a product of the company "Gedeon Richter" is presented in two dosage forms, but in childhood it is prescribed only in the form of a syrup. The drug acts on the respiratory tract in several ways, which makes it possible to quickly eliminate the uncomfortable cough in many diseases of the respiratory tract.
Release form and composition
Liquid "Epistat" is a yellowish transparent syrupy liquid that has a specific smell and sweet taste. It is housed in a 150 ml light-proof bottle and is sold with a graduated cup holding up to 20 ml of syrup.
The main ingredient of such a drug is fenspiride hydrochloride... Its amount in each milliliter of solution is 2 mg. Additionally, a dry extract of licorice roots, glycerol, citric acid and water are added to the medicine. In addition, the auxiliary components of the syrup are sucrose, vanilla tincture, propyl and methyl parahydroxybenzoate, honey flavor, sodium saccharinate and potassium sorbate.
Operating principle
Once in the body, fenspiride blocks the formation of certain active substances released during inflammation and allergies, thereby preventing the development of bronchospasm and an inflammatory reaction. Under the action of fenspiride, the smooth muscles of the bronchi relaxes, and the release of exudate and swelling of the mucous membrane are reduced.
Indications
The reason to prescribe Epistat to a child is one of the respiratory tract diseases, the symptoms of which are sore throat, barking cough, hoarseness, runny nose, wet cough and other signs of respiratory tract damage. The medication is used in the treatment of:
- bronchitis (including obstructive pathology);
- rhinopharyngitis;
- laryngitis;
- laryngotracheitis;
- flu;
- laryngeal stenosis;
- bronchial asthma;
- ARVI;
- tracheitis;
- adenoiditis;
- otitis media;
- sore throats;
- sinusitis;
- whooping cough.
In these diseases, Epistat affects the processes that have caused viral particles, allergens, pathogenic microbes and other factors in the child's body. Due to the effect on several pathogenetic mechanisms at once, the drug helps to quickly eliminate inflammation, reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, prevent or eliminate bronchospasm, and also reduce the viscosity of the secretion of the respiratory tract. As a result, the child's condition is relieved, breathing is restored, the illness lasts less.
At what age is it prescribed?
The annotation attached to the Epistat bottle contains information that this form of medicine is intended for patients over 2 years old. Application at an earlier age is prohibited, therefore, if treatment is required by a child of a year or a younger patient, the doctor must find an adequate replacement that will help you recover and be completely safe.
Replacing the syrup with a tablet form is possible only from the age of 18. For the treatment of adolescents and schoolchildren, only liquid Epistat is used.
Contraindications
The medication is prohibited not only at an early age, but also with intolerance to any component of the syrup. Due to the presence of sucrose in the preparation, the treatment of small patients with diabetes should be monitored by a pediatrician.
With a deficiency of enzymes that affect carbohydrate metabolism, as well as with glucose-galactose malabsorption and fructose intolerance, the use of liquid Epistat is not recommended.
Side effects
Some children react to syrup with negative symptoms, including nausea, tachycardia, drowsiness, diarrhea, dizziness, skin rash, low blood pressure, severe fatigue, itchy skin, and other disorders. With such side effects, the use of Epistat should be suspended and a specialist should be consulted.
Instructions for use
The syrup treatment regimen is selected individually, because the list of diseases for which Epistat is prescribed for children is quite large. Taking the medication is recommended before meals, and the drug should be dispensed with a measuring cup, which is in the package. It has a graduation from 2.5 to 20 ml, so it is convenient to measure the dose for both the smallest patients and adolescents.
The daily dosage of the drug should be calculated by weight, so it should be checked with your doctor. Usually, for each kilogram of the child's body weight, 4 mg of fenspiride is prescribed, for example, if a child weighs 15 kg, then he needs 60 mg of the active substance per day. He can get such an amount from 30 ml of syrup, so Epistat gives him 10 ml at a time. The smallest patients can be offered medicine together with baby food.
The duration of admission is influenced by various factors, therefore it is set for each baby separately. If the drug is used for acute respiratory viral infections, then the course of application will be small, and with bronchitis or other serious illness, it will take much longer to drink the syrup.
It is permissible to use "Epistat" repeatedly only after agreement with the attending physician, who will establish what the break between courses of therapy should be.
Overdose and drug interactions
Drinking too much syrup can lead to drowsiness, severe nausea, increased heart rate, and other negative symptoms. If an overdose occurs, it is recommended to immediately show the little patient to a doctor. If his condition worsens, his stomach will be flushed, an electrocardiogram will be made, and his breathing and heart rate will be monitored.
In cases where the child has already been prescribed any other drugs, treatment with Epistat should be started after clarifying their compatibility. The syrup should not be combined with any sedative drugs, as this will increase the depression of the nervous system. Simultaneous use with mucolytics and antibacterial agents is permissible.
Terms of sale and storage
You can buy Epistat liquid in a pharmacy after presenting a prescription written by a doctor. The average price of one package of the drug is 150 rubles. Its storage at home should be at a temperature below 25 degrees Celsius. The bottle should be placed out of the reach of babies. The shelf life of the sealed drug is 2 years, after opening the bottle - 28 days.
Reviews
Most of the reviews about taking Epistat in childhood call such a syrup an effective remedy for a debilitating cough, runny nose, sore throat and other symptoms. Since the medicine is sweet, most children take the medicine without any problem.
Among the advantages of the syrup are also noted the affordable cost and easy-to-use bottle. In negative reviews, you can read complaints about the lack of effect, the presence of a large list of chemical additives in the composition, the short shelf life of the opened drug and side reactions.
Analogs
When it becomes necessary to replace Epistat with another fenspiride-based medicine, they usually choose "Erespal". This medication is also represented by syrup, is used from 2 years of age in the same daily dosages, has the same contraindications and restrictions in use, but costs a little more.
Other drugs that also contain fenspiride and are available as syrup are Sirep, Eladon and Erispirius. All of them can be replaced by drugs with another active substance, but with a similar effect on the respiratory tract, for example, ambroxol drugs ("Halixol", "Ambrobene", "Flavamed", "Lazolvan", etc.) or herbal remedies ("Bronchipret", "Prospan", "Bronchikum").
