Cycloferon for children: instructions for use

When the season for viral respiratory diseases begins, the relevance of drugs that can overcome harmful viruses or prevent the development of infection after contact with sick people increases. One of these drugs can be called "Cycloferon". It is presented in several versions and can be used in childhood, but before starting treatment, it is worth learning about some of the features of such a medication and its regimen in order to use the medicine correctly.

Release form

The drug called "Cycloferon" is manufactured by the Russian pharmaceutical company "Polisan" in three forms.

Ampoules with a solution that is injected intramuscularly or into a vein. This drug can be used to treat children over four years old. One ampoule contains 2 ml of a yellow transparent liquid, and 5 ampoules are sold in one package.
Pills. Like injections, this form of "Cycloferon" can be used from 4 years of age. It is a round tablet with a yellow shell (it dissolves in the intestine) and a yellow core. They are packed in blisters of 10-20 pieces and sold in 10-50 tablets in one pack.
Liniment. Unlike other forms, this "Cycloferon" is not used in children. In the instructions for liniment it is noted that it is contraindicated under the age of 18, since its effect on the child's body has not been sufficiently studied.

Composition

The active ingredient in all forms of "Cycloferon" is acridoneacetic acid. It is presented in the form of meglumine acridone acetate. One tablet contains 150 mg of the active compound, and one milliliter of solution for injections - 125 mg, that is, one ampoule contains 250 mg of acridoneacetic acid.

Among the auxiliary components of the solid form, you can see propylene glycol, hypromellose, povidone and other substances, thanks to which such a medicine is dense and dissolves only after it enters the intestinal lumen, and not in the stomach. The only additional ingredient in the injection solution is sterile water.

Operating principle

Given the therapeutic effects of "Cycloferon", such a remedy is referred to as immunostimulating. According to the mechanism of action, the drug is a group of interferon inducers, because under its influence the production of interferon is activated. Thanks to this, the reception of "Cycloferon" provides the following positive effects.

It has an immunomodulatory effect. It is associated with the effect of the drug on lymphocytes (B- and T) and macrophages - cells that are capable of producing interferon. "Cycloferon" activates the work of these cells, and also increases the activity of the interferon produced by them. Under the influence of injections or tablets, the patient's nonspecific immunity is also enhanced, so the body is better able to withstand the attack of viruses or bacteria.
Affects viral particles, including causative agents of influenza, herpes infection, hepatitis, mononucleosis, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. The medicine is able to suppress the reproduction of the pathogen in the first days of the development of the infection. In addition, under the influence of Cycloferon, many new viruses become defective and die, which leads to a decrease in virulence.
Reduces the activity of inflammation, due to which the severity of the symptoms of flu or other viral infection decreases. After taking "Cycloferon", the patient's well-being improves, and the need to use additional various symptomatic remedies disappears.

It is important to note that addiction does not develop to Cycloferon, therefore its therapeutic effect does not decrease even with a repeated course of treatment. In addition, the drug does not accumulate in the body with prolonged use.

Indications

A fairly common reason to prescribe "Cycloferon" tablets to a child is SARS or flu. With such diseases, it is recommended to start taking it as soon as possible after the onset of fever, sore throat, cough and other symptoms. The tablet preparation can also be used as a preventive measure to prevent the development of acute respiratory infections or influenza during an epidemic or after contact with a sick person.

"Cycloferon" in solid form can be included in the complex of treatment of herpes infection. In addition, the drug is used for other viral diseases, for example, with chickenpox, hepatitis B, rotavirus infection, or infection with cytomegalovirus. In such cases, the addition of "Cycloferon" to the course of therapy helps the immune system to quickly overcome the pathogen and accelerate recovery.

As for the injectable drug, Cycloferon injections are prescribed for children with:

viral hepatitis;
infections caused by herpes viruses;
HIV infection.

Contraindications

Treatment with Cycloferon in any form is prohibited:

for young patients under four years old;
for children with individual intolerance to such medication;
for patients who have severe liver cirrhosis (decompensation).

If the child is over 4 years old, but it is difficult for him to swallow the pill, injections are used.

In case of diseases of the digestive system or a tendency to allergic reactions, the use of "Cycloferon" should be controlled by a specialist. If the child has thyroid pathology, you need to consult an endocrinologist before taking Cycloferon.

Side effects

When taking tablets or injecting Cycloferon, an allergic reaction may occur. It can develop after just one dose of the drug or manifests itself several days later from the start of treatment. This can include a rash, itchy skin, or other allergy symptoms.

If any negative symptoms appear, you should stop using the medication and consult your doctor for the selection of an age-appropriate antihistamine or other symptomatic agent.

Instructions for use

Cycloferon tablets should be drunk 30 minutes before meals, once a day. The drug should not be chewed, as this will damage its shell. After swallowing, the pill is washed down with water (take about 1/2 cup). A single dosage of the solid form of "Cycloferon" is influenced by the patient's age:

children 4-6 years old are given only one tablet each;
small patients 7-11 years old should swallow two tablets at once, and sometimes a doctor at this age prescribes to drink Cycloferon, 3 tablets per dose;
a child over 12 years old is given 3 or 4 tablets at one time.

It is not necessary to take tabletted Cycloferon every day, but according to a special scheme, which not only differs in different diseases, but also depends on the severity of the patient's condition and the severity of the symptoms of infection. For example, with a mild flu or ARVI, pills are taken on the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth days. This diagram is indicated on the medicine box in the form of a table with checkmarks.

If the course of ARVI or influenza is more severe, therapy is continued and the child is given Cycloferon on the 11th and 14th days, and then on the 17th, 20th and 23rd days from the start of treatment. It turns out that depending on the course of acute respiratory infections, pills should be taken from 5 to 10 times. The same scheme is provided for prevention. If the child was in contact with a sick person or attends a children's team during the epidemic season, the doctor may recommend a prophylactic course of Cycloferon of 5-10 doses, and after two to three weeks it can be repeated.

With herpes infection, the tablet is given to the child 7 times - on the first, second, fourth and sixth day, and then on the 8th, 11th and 14th days. If the next dose is accidentally missed, the pill is given immediately when it is detected, but if it is time for the next dose, the dosage is not doubled.

As for "Cycloferon" in injections, such a medicine can be injected into muscle tissue or into a vein. The injection is done once a day, and the daily dosage is calculated by the patient's body weight, multiplying the weight in kilograms by 6-10 mg. Like tablets, injections are prescribed according to a special scheme.

If a child has been diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis, he is prescribed 15 injections of Cycloferon. Injections are not done daily, but every other day. If necessary, the course is repeated after 10-14 days.
If the patient's viral hepatitis has passed into the chronic stage, 10 injections are prescribed every other day. Then Cycloferon is administered three times a week for three months.
If a medication is prescribed for herpes infection, usually 10 injections are prescribed, which are given every other day. After that, the activity of the virus is determined and, if required, the therapy is continued for another 4 weeks, making one injection every three days.
If a child is diagnosed with HIV, Cycloferon is administered every other day until the patient receives ten injections. Then they switch to a maintenance regimen, which provides one injection every 3 days. Such treatment lasts 3 months, and a second course is allowed after a 10-day break.

Sometimes the doctor recommends doing inhalations with an injection solution for which a nebulizer is used. Inhalations can be prescribed for colds, sore throats, laryngitis, adenoids, bronchitis and other diseases, as an addition to the main treatment. The amount of medication for the procedure and the inhalation schedule are prescribed by the doctor on an individual basis. As a rule, the solution is additionally diluted with sterile water or saline, the inhalation itself lasts up to 5-7 minutes, and the course of treatment is 7-10 procedures.

Interaction with other drugs

According to the instructions for the medicine, "Cycloferon" is combined with many other drugs that are prescribed for viral infections, for example, with vitamins or anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, Cycloferon has the ability to enhance the therapeutic effect of interferon preparations or nucleoside analog drugs. When used together with interferons or when prescribed during chemotherapy, Cycloferon helps to reduce the likelihood of side effects.

Overdose

There have not yet been cases when the excess of the dose adversely affected the condition of the child. If an overdose is detected and the state of health of a small patient deteriorates, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Terms of sale

To purchase tablets "Cycloferon" in a pharmacy, you do not need to get a prescription from a doctor, but a specialist consultation is desirable. But the injectable form of this medication is a prescription drug, so a doctor's examination is mandatory. For 10 tablets you need to pay an average of 180-200 rubles, and the approximate price of a pack of ampoules is 300-340 rubles.

Storage conditions

The recommended storage temperature for both the solution and the tablets is no higher than +25 degrees Celsius. Preparations should be kept in a dry place, hidden from small children. The shelf life of the solid form is 2 years, the solution in ampoules is 5 years.

If, during storage, the color of the injection solution changes or a precipitate becomes noticeable inside the ampoule, injections cannot be performed, even if the expiration date has not yet expired.

Reviews

About 80% of the reviews about "Cycloferon" are positive. They confirm the effectiveness of both forms of the drug for various viral diseases or for their prevention. The advantages of the medication include a minimum of contraindications and good tolerance, since parents note that side effects during the Cycloferon course are very rare (even in children with a tendency to allergies).

Among the disadvantages of the remedy, a complex scheme is noted (sometimes the next dose is missed because of it) and the high cost of a course of therapy if the child is a teenager. There are also negative reviews with complaints about the lack of the expected effect, when the child could not avoid infection or the condition of the little patient after the Cycloferon course did not improve, which is why the drug had to be changed.

Analogs

Medicines that include the same active ingredient are not released. Therefore, if you need to replace "Cycloferon" with an analogue, the doctor will recommend one of the immunomodulating or antiviral drugs.

"Viferon". The basis of such a drug is a-interferon, therefore its use directly affects the immune system and helps in the treatment of many infections. In childhood, rectal suppositories are most in demand. They are safe and can be prescribed from birth, including for premature babies. There are also local forms of "Viferon" - gel (allowed at any age) and ointment (prescribed from the year).
Orvirem. This medicine can replace "Cycloferon" with influenza and other acute respiratory infections. It acts on viral particles thanks to rimantadine and is represented by syrup, which is used in children over 1 year old.
"Kagocel". This tablet preparation belongs to interferon inducers, therefore it acts like "Cycloferon". In childhood, he is appointed from the age of 3.

"Tsitovir-3"... This immunostimulating agent especially for children is represented by powder (a solution is prepared from it) and syrup - in these forms, "Tsitovir-3" is prescribed from 1 year. The drug in capsules is allowed from the age of 6.
"Acyclovir". Such a drug can be used instead of "Cycloferon" for infections provoked by herpes viruses, since it is most effective against these pathogens. It comes in many forms (tablets, ointment, powder, and others) and is prescribed for children with herpes infection at any age.
"Arbidol". Such a suspension based on umifenovir is used from 2 years of age in case of infection with influenza or other acute respiratory infections. Arbidol tablets and capsules can be used in children over 3 years old.

Sometimes, to replace Cycloferon, parents choose different homeopathic medicines, among which Ergoferon, Aflubin and Anaferon are especially popular.

However, such drugs cannot be called analogues of antiviral drugs, because they have a completely different mechanism of action, and due to the significant dilution of active substances, many doctors consider them ineffective.