While waiting for a baby, many women have to resort to the use of drugs, which can affect the development of the baby if they self-medicate or violate the dosage. One of the most common problems during pregnancy is the increased tone of the uterus. Often it occurs due to a lack of progesterone, but it can also be provoked by toxicosis, Rh-conflict, stress, thyroid disorders and other factors.
Hypertonia is manifested by pulling or aching pains in the lower abdomen or in the lumbar region. Such unpleasant symptoms are due to the involuntary contraction of the muscles of the uterus, due to which it is constantly tense. This poses a danger to gestation and the normal course of pregnancy, therefore doctors prescribe special drugs, which are able to relieve the increased tone of smooth muscles. One of the most famous is Papaverine.
Like any drugs, it should be used while waiting for the baby only as directed by your doctor. The specialist will take into account the indications, select the correct dose and method of administration. Treatment with "Papaverine" without prescription during pregnancy is undesirable, as well as self-administration of this drug for prevention.
Features of the drug
Papaverine is manufactured by several pharmaceutical companies in three different forms.
- One of the most popular are rectal suppositoriesthat sell ten in a pack. They are characterized by an elongated shape and a yellow-white color. The average price of one package of this OTC product is 50-80 rubles. Store it at home in a cool place, and the shelf life of such suppositories is 2 years.
- Papaverine is no less popular in tablets which have a round shape and a white tint. They are packed in boxes of 10, 20 or more tablets, they are also sold without a prescription and are the most affordable, since they cost about 10 rubles for 10 pieces. It is permissible to store such a medication at home at room temperature, and its shelf life is 3 years.
- The third form of "Papaverine" is solution intended for injection. It is transparent and often colorless, but it can also be greenish-yellow. One package of such a drug includes 5-10 ampoules of 2 milliliters of sterile liquid. Unlike the other two forms, you need a prescription from a doctor to buy an injection solution, and the cost of 10 ampoules is 30-70 rubles. To store such "Papaverine" you need a cool place, and its shelf life is 2 years.
The action of all forms of the drug causes the same substance, which is called "papaverine hydrochloride". For this reason, sometimes the word "hydrochloride" is included in the name of the drug. One candle contains this compound at a dose of 20 mg, one milliliter of injection solution at the same dosage, and one tablet at 40 mg.
In suppositories, in addition to the active ingredient, only a fatty base is present, due to which the suppositories have a certain shape and are easy to insert. The tablet form further comprises sucrose and stearic acid, as well as starch. In addition to papaverine, edetate disodium and methionine were added to the sterile solution, and the remainder was filled with water for injection.
How does it work?
Papaverine hydrochloride has an antispasmodic effect, since under its action the smooth muscles relax and their tone decreases. Thanks to this, the drug helps to get rid of pain that arose as a result of spasm of the smooth muscles of the intestines, bronchi, stomach, urinary and gall bladder. After taking it, painful sensations are eliminated, and the functions of organs are restored.
"Papaverine" also acts on the vascular walls, as a result of which the vessels expand and the blood pressure begins to decrease. Another organ-"target" of such an antispasmodic is the muscular membrane of the uterus. Under the action of its active substance, the spasmodic areas of the myometrium relax, and their blood supply improves.
Is it used during pregnancy?
In the instructions for "Papaverine" it is usually noted that the use of such a drug during pregnancy has not been studied enough, however, gynecologists have been prescribing this drug for women in a position for several decades and note that "Papaverine" has no harmful effect on the fetus.
Expectant mothers are most often prescribed medication, as noted above, for hypertonicity of the uterus. In the first or second trimesters, it helps to avoid termination of pregnancy and prolongs the gestation process until a period that is safe for the baby.
Late use of this medication not only reduces the risk of starting labor too early, but also prepares the cervix for dilation. In addition, the use of “Papaverine” at the beginning of labor can reduce pain due to severe contractions.
However, the increased tone of the walls of the uterus is not the only indication for women in position. In addition, the expectant mother can use Papaverine for other conditions caused by smooth muscle spasms, including:
- bronchospasmwhich manifests itself as a dry cough and can interfere with breathing;
- cramping abdominal pain related to the digestive tract, such as if it is caused by an intestinal disorder;
- headaches due to spasms of the vessels of the brain;
- biliary colic if the expectant mother has chronic cholecystitis;
- spasms in the bladder with an inflammatory process in this organ;
- renal colicprovoked by pyelonephritis and other factors;
- fever with ARVI and other infections, proceeding with a simultaneous spasm of peripheral vessels ("white" fever).
Contraindications
Although the drug is safe for a child who develops in the uterus, its use is unacceptable for some pathologies and health problems in the expectant mother.
Treatment with "Papaverine" is prohibited if a woman has:
- found hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the drug;
- liver function is seriously impaired;
- atrioventricular block was diagnosed;
- revealed glaucoma.
In severe diseases of the kidneys, thyroid gland, heart and other organs, it is permissible to use this medication only under the supervision of a specialist. He should examine the pregnant woman and make sure that taking "Papaverine" in the presence of such concomitant diseases is justified.
Side effect
Like any medicine, "Papaverine" can provoke unwanted side effects, even if there are no contraindications to its use, and the dosage is not exceeded. For example, after taking such a remedy, some expectant mothers develop an allergic reaction, which is why the drug is immediately canceled.
Sometimes this medication provokes a drop in blood pressure, AV block, extrasystoles, constipation, or drowsiness. In blood tests after treatment with such a medication, eosinophilia or increased activity of liver enzymes may be detected.
If a pregnant woman has any of these symptoms, it is necessary to stop taking the medication and consult a doctor.
How to use?
Suppositories
The most demanded form of "Papaverine" during pregnancy can be called suppositories, since the tablets begin to act later, and with increased tone, the therapeutic effect must be obtained as soon as possible. They are indicated for home use and improve the condition of a pregnant woman 10-15 minutes after administration. In addition to the fact that the active substance is absorbed from the suppository faster than from the tablet, it also acts for a longer time.
The drug should be used only after consulting a doctor who will determine a single dosage suitable for a particular woman. After removing from the package, the suppositories are introduced into the rectum, preferably after natural emptying. The manipulation is performed while lying on its side.
The standard single dose is 1 suppository.
The introduction of suppositories should be performed at equal intervals, 2 times a day, and sometimes three times a day.
Pills
"Papaverine" tablets are swallowed without biting and crushing, washed down with water. This form is in demand for headaches, intestinal cramps and other conditions. Meals do not affect the time of its use, but if the reason for using such "Papaverine" are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to drink the drug 30 minutes before meals.
Typically, a single dose for a pregnant woman is one tablet. Such a tool is used as needed, but not more often 3-4 times a day.
Injections
If an immediate antispasmodic effect is required, the doctor will prescribe "Papaverine" injections, since its effect begins to develop a few minutes after the active substance enters the woman's body. Injections are usually given intramuscularly, but the drug can be injected into a vein or under the skin.
Which method is preferable in a particular case, the doctor must determine. For example, if there is a high risk of termination of pregnancy, a woman is hospitalized and immediately given an intravenous injection so that the drug works as quickly as possible.
The procedure must be performed by a medical professional. If the drug is administered intravenously, then the Papaverine solution is additionally diluted with isotonic sodium chloride solution.
In order not to provoke a strong decrease in blood pressure, disturbances in the rhythm of the heartbeat and other side effects, droppers are often prescribed. Intramuscular injections are performed twice to three times a day, while 20-40 mg of the active substance is used for one injection. There should be a break of at least four hours between two injections.
The duration of use depends on the therapeutic effect: in an acute condition, the drug is prescribed for 2-5 days, and for the treatment of chronic pathologies, a longer course of administration is used, for example, 1-2 weeks.
Reviews
Women who used Papaverine while waiting for a baby leave a lot of good reviews about such a remedy. Among the advantages of such a medicine are the effectiveness, availability and safety. Candles are especially praised, as they have a simple composition, and it is very simple to use this form of "Papaverine".
According to most expectant mothers, this medicine helped them with the threat and hypertonia, eliminating the discomfort in the lower abdomen.
What to replace?
"No-shpa"
The most famous analogue of "Papaverine" can be called "No-shpu". This drug belongs to the same group of drugs, since its main ingredient (drotaverine) is also able to relax smooth muscles and eliminate spasms.
"No-shpa" is in demand for hypertonicity of the uterus, it is considered a more modern and safe medicine, it is available in tablets and solution for injections. This medication can be used for headaches and intestinal cramps. It is allowed at any stage of pregnancy, since it does not interfere with the development of the fetus.
The main contraindication to the use of "No-shpy" is hypersensitivity. The drug is also not prescribed if the expectant mother has kidney problems, liver function is impaired, or heart failure has developed.
Replacing "No-shpu", after consulting a doctor, you can use any other medicine with the same active compound, for example, take "Drotaverin", "Spazmol", "Spazmonet".
"Viburkol"
Another remedy that can be used instead of Papaverine for increased uterine tone is Viburcol. It is a homeopathic preparation with a natural complex composition, produced in the form of rectal suppositories. He has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic and some sedative effect due to chamomile and belladonna.
Expectant mothers can inject such suppositories not only for hypertension, but also for diseases of the bronchi or genitourinary organs, as well as for flatulence and ARVI. They do not harm the baby in the tummy and can even be used in newborn babies.
The only prohibition on the use of "Viburkola" is individual intolerance.
The tool is used rectally, and side effects are extremely rare.
For more information on uterine tone, see the next video.
