Drops "Maltofer" for children: instructions for use

If a child has anemia caused by iron deficiency, doctors recommend taking iron supplements. One of them is Maltofer.

For the treatment of children, such a remedy is most often chosen in the form of drops, because it is very convenient to give them to young patients. The effectiveness of the drug has been confirmed by many studies. However, before using such a drug, it is necessary to study the instructions for use.

Release form

"Maltofer" in drops is presented as a dark brown solution placed in polymer tubes or glass bottles equipped with a plastic dispenser. One tube / bottle contains 10 or 30 ml of medicine. The drug is also available as a syrup, in ampoules for intramuscular injections, chewable tablets and a solution that is taken orally.

Composition

The main ingredient in any form of "Maltofer" is ferric iron in the form of polymaltose hydroxide. In 1 ml drops, such a compound is presented in a dosage of 178.6 mg. If we take into account the conversion to iron, then the content of such an element per milliliter of the drug will be 50 mg. Since each milliliter of "Maltofer" includes 20 drops, one drop contains 2.5 mg of iron.

Additionally, the solution contains sodium hydroxide, methyl parahydroxybenzoate and sodium propyl parahydroxybenzoate. A subtle sweet aftertaste and a pleasant smell to the drops are given by a creamy flavor and sucrose. The remainder of the medication is represented by purified water.

Operating principle

The active ingredient "Maltofer" has a multinucleated structure reminiscent of the protein ferritin, which is a physiological depot of iron in the human body. In this form, the compound is stable and does not immediately become a source of large quantities of iron ions. In this case, the medication is very well absorbed in the intestines.

Once in the bloodstream, the iron from "Maltofer" combines with transferrin and is transferred to the bone marrow, where it is involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin. In addition, it combines with ferritin, after which it is transferred to the liver and stored there until the moment when it is required for the formation of hemoglobin. That iron "Maltofer", which is not absorbed in the intestine, leaves the body with feces.

Indications

Maltofer is most often prescribed for iron deficiency. The drug is in demand both with latent deficiency (when anemia has not yet developed, but the risk of its occurrence is very high), and with the appearance of clinical manifestations of anemia, called iron deficiency. In addition, "Maltofer" can be used for prophylaxis, for example, if a child does not eat meat or has an increased need for minerals.

From what age is it allowed to take?

"Maltofer" in the form of drops is used in the treatment of both infants and older children. This form of medicine is prescribed at any age, if there are reasons for this, whether it is a 3-month-old toddler or a 14-year-old teenager. It can even be given to premature babies.

Contraindications

The drug is not prescribed for children:

with detected hypersensitivity to any component of "Maltofer";
with hemochromatosis or hemosiderosis;
with anemia, the cause of which is not iron deficiency (hemolytic, megaloblastic, and others);
with fructose intolerance;
with problems with iron utilization - for example, with thalassemia or sideroachrestic anemia;
with impaired absorption of glucose / galactose;
with a lack of isomaltase or sucrase in the body.

Side effects

The child's body often reacts to treatment with Maltofer in drops by changing the color of feces, but such darkening does not affect the child's well-being or the results of treatment. In some patients, taking this medication will cause loose stools, headaches, skin rashes, and nausea. In rare cases, the medication can cause constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, itching, or discoloration of the teeth.

Instructions for use and dosage

Since the iron from "Maltofer" is better absorbed in the presence of food, the drug is advised to be given to children during feeding or immediately after a meal. To accurately measure drops, the tube or bottle should be placed vertically. If the liquid does not appear immediately, you can knock on the package a little until drops begin to stand out. Do not shake the tube or bottle.

The recommended daily doses of the medicine are noted in the annotation. They are presented in the table, which indicates the patient's age and the reason for admission (treatment of anemia, admission with iron deficiency in the absence of anemia, and prevention of iron deficiency). A child under one year old is given 2 to 4 drops per day to prevent iron deficiency, and in case of clinical manifestations of anemia, the dosage is increased to 10-20 drops.

The daily dose of the drug can be taken once or divided into several doses. The drops can be added to vegetable or fruit juice, formula milk, or other baby food. Although the food is slightly colored, the taste of the drink or food does not change. Such staining also does not affect the effectiveness of the drug.

The duration of taking "Maltofer" is influenced by the reason for using such an iron preparation. If it is anemia, then the medicine can be prescribed for 3-5 months in a therapeutic dose, and then for a few more months in a preventive dose. To determine when therapy can be completed, a complete blood count is performed (determine the amount of hemoglobin). If the patient has an iron deficiency, but has not yet developed anemia (or he needs prevention of such a deficiency), Maltofer is usually prescribed for 1-2 months.

Overdose

Cases when "Maltofer" in a high dose caused poisoning, have not been registered until this time. The manufacturer assures that the iron compound in such a medicine has low toxicity, therefore, there is no overload with such an element or intoxication even with an exceeded dose of drops.

Interaction with food and other drugs:

Drops should not be administered at the same time with any other iron preparations, as this will reduce the absorption of its active substance.
The medication can be prescribed together with aluminum hydroxide preparationsas well as with tetracycline antibiotics. Studies have shown that the active ingredient "Maltofer" does not interact with such drugs.
In addition, there was no incompatibility of drops with vitamins (E, D, A), choline, soybean oil, oxalic acid, tannins and other food components. This means that meals do not affect treatment with Maltofer.

Terms of sale

If you are going to buy "Maltofer" drops in a pharmacy, you need to consult a doctor and get a prescription from him. The average price of one bottle of such a medicine is 250-260 rubles.

Storage conditions

Keep the drops at home at temperatures below +25 degrees, hiding them from small children and sunlight. The shelf life of this form of medication is 3 years.

Reviews

Many parents are satisfied with the use of "Maltofer" for children. They praise such a drug in the form of drops for its effective action, reasonable price, ease of dosage. Among the disadvantages, stool staining and other side effects are usually mentioned, since in some babies, the medication provokes an allergy or a negative gastrointestinal reaction.

Analogs

The drug has the same active compound as Maltofer drops. "Ferrum Lek", which is available as a syrup, injectable and chewable tablets. In addition, other preparations containing one or another form of iron can be substituted for "Maltofer".

Popular among them "Totem", "Ferlatum", "Tardiferon", Sorbifer Durules, "Aktiferrin" and others. Before using any of these drugs, you first need to visit a doctor in order to find the best analogue suitable for a small patient in age.