It is especially important for women in position to maintain their immune defenses, because any infections can harm the fetus and cause serious problems. The issue of preserving immunity and preventing viral infections is especially acute for pregnant women who carry crumbs in winter and spring, when the risk of contracting ARVI increases many times over.
One of the most popular and proven medicines for the prevention of colds and viral diseases is Oxolinic Ointment. Such a remedy protects against infection and helps to quickly get rid of the pathogen if ARI could not be avoided.
However, the use of such a drug while carrying a child without consulting a doctor is undesirable. Use "Oxolinic ointment" during pregnancy should only be prescribed by a specialist, because such a remedy has its own contraindications and limitations.
Features of the drug
"Oxolinic ointment", which is also called simply "Oxolin", is a thick, fairly dense translucent mass. It is usually white, but it can be pinkish, yellowish, or grayish. The consistency of the preparation is homogeneous, there are no visible inclusions.
One tube usually contains 10 grams of medicine, but jars and tubes with a different amount of ointment are also produced - from 5 to 50 grams.
It should be noted that Oksolin ointment is two types, depending on the concentration of its active ingredient (its long chemical name "dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene" can be replaced by the word "oxoline").
- For external use a more concentrated product is intended, which can only be lubricated on the skin. Each gram of this medicine contains 30 mg of oxolin, that is, 3% of the total weight.
- Nasal ointment is used to treat not only the inner surface of the nasal passages, but also other mucous membranes, including the eyes and mouth. The concentration of the active substance in such "Oxolinic ointment" is 0.25%, which corresponds to a dosage of 2.5 mg in each gram of the drug. The inactive ingredients in both ointments are the same and are represented by vaseline oil (also called liquid paraffin) and petroleum jelly.
Buying "Oxolinic Ointment" in a pharmacy does not cause any difficulties, since both the skin treatment agent and the 0.25% medicine are classified as over-the-counter medicines. And since these are medicines of domestic production, they are available in all cities.
For a tube with 10 g of ointment, you need to pay about 40 rubles. Store the medication at home at a temperature of + 5 + 15 degrees, so it is often kept in the refrigerator, and the shelf life of "Oxolin" is 2 years.
Operating principle
"Oxolinic ointment" has an antiviral effect, since it can affect the ability of viral particles to reproduce. The drug acts on infected cells and prevents the formation of new pathogens, due to which the disease stops spreading, and viruses that have managed to enter the body cannot infect healthy tissues and die. Under the influence of Oxolin, the ability of viral particles to bind to cell membranes is also impaired. This mechanism determines the preventive effect of the drug.
In both forms of ointment, activity is noted in relation to:
- herpes viruses;
- viruses that provoke influenza;
- adenoviruses;
- a virus that causes molluscum contagiosum;
- papillomaviruses.
Is it allowed during pregnancy?
While waiting for the baby, the mother's body protects the baby from any negative influences and provides the fetus with nutrients for normal growth. And therefore, any viral infection can pose a serious danger, especially in the early stages, when the use of drugs with antiviral and antipyretic effects is seriously limited.
Oxolin is not contraindicated in the 1st trimester, but should be used with caution. The use of such an ointment is allowed if indicated and only after a medical examination. If a specialist decides that such treatment is necessary, the drug can be applied to the skin or mucous membrane without fear. The active substance of the medication is absorbed in a very small amount (from nasal ointment - less than 20%, and from ointment for skin treatment - up to 5%) and cannot harm the baby in the mother's womb.
Treatment with "Oxolin" in 2-3 trimesters is also not contraindicated, but on the contrary, it helps to quickly get rid of viral diseases.
In the early and late stages, the drug can also be prescribed prophylactically, for example, if a pregnant woman has to be in crowded places, travel by public transport, attend kindergarten or school during a seasonal rise in the incidence of ARVI.
When is it prescribed for expectant mothers?
Nasal ointment is used primarily for a cold that has arisen as a result of a viral infection. In addition, this type of "Oxolin" is in demand in the treatment of stomatitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis of a viral nature. Such a medication is also indicated for the prevention of these diseases.
As for the 3% medicine, it is prescribed for women with:
- molluscum contagiosum;
- papillomas or warts;
- labial herpes;
- scaly lichen;
- chickenpox;
- shingles;
- eczema;
- psoriasis (as an additional treatment).
Contraindications
The use of "Oxolinic Ointment" is prohibited in case of hypersensitivity to its ingredients. The use of a drug with a concentration of 3% is not recommended for lesions of the mucous membranes, as this can lead to local irritation, and the active substance will be absorbed into the bloodstream at a higher dose. Smearing the skin with an ointment that contains only 0.25% of the active substance is also not worth it, since this will be ineffective.
Side effects
Some women notice the appearance of redness, itching and other symptoms of irritation after the first use of Oxolin. In such a situation, further treatment must be abandoned. In rare cases, the drug can cause allergic manifestations (for example, dermatitis), which also forces you to stop using the ointment.
Instructions for use
Treatment with nasal ointment is usually prescribed 2-3 times a day for therapeutic purposes, once - for prophylactic purposes (usually before leaving home). The drug is applied with cotton swabs or fingers, and then gently spread in a thin layer so as not to affect nasal breathing.
The duration of treatment depends on the indication, for example, in case of influenza "Oxolin" is often used for 3-4 days, and for prevention, the ointment can be used for up to 25 days in a row, which is important during an epidemic.
"Oxolinic ointment" with a concentration of 3% is also applied in a thin layer, lubricating those areas of the skin that have become inflamed due to an attack of viruses. Processing is carried out twice a day, sometimes three times. Having squeezed out a little ointment on the skin, the drug is distributed with light movements, without rubbing it into the skin.
If necessary, a bandage can be applied over the top. The course of treatment with such a drug can last up to 8 weeks and depends on the therapeutic effect. For warts, treatment may be longer.
In the case of viral stomatitis, lubrication of the oral mucosa in the affected areas is performed with 0.25% ointment 3-4 times during the day. Before treatment, the oral cavity is cleaned with an antiseptic, for example, rinse with Miramistin. It is recommended to use "Oxolin" for stomatitis for so long until all ulcers completely heal... In case of eye inflammation, the ointment is applied 1-3 times a day until the normal function of the organ of vision is fully restored.
Review overview
The use of "Oxolin" during the period of childbearing is generally responded positively. The advantages of the drug include its availability and the low price of the ointment, as well as the possibility of using it even in the early stages. In addition, among the advantages of the drug are neutral aroma, good tolerance and low absorption.
However, you can also find reviews in which they note low efficiency, as well as the appearance of irritation of the mucous membrane after lubricating the nasal cavity.
Analogs
If you need to choose a replacement for "Oxolinic Ointment", the doctor will take into account the indications and prescribe the most suitable drug. One of them might be "Viferon"... Such a remedy is presented in various forms, among which there is an ointment. She has a slightly different mechanism of action, although the indications for "Viferon" and "Oxolin" are similar.
Under the influence of the active substance present in "Viferon", represented by interferon alpha-2b, the immune system is stimulated, as a result of which viruses that have entered the body are destroyed faster. Like Oxolin, Viferon ointment can be prescribed even in the first trimester. In this case, the drug can be applied both to the skin and mucous membranes. It can be replaced by other means ("Grippferon", "Kipferon", "Genferon", "Anaferon", "Ergoferon" and so on), but the choice of such an analogue must be entrusted to the doctor.
