Isoniazid is often used in the treatment of tuberculosis in adults, but not everyone knows if it can be given to a child. When it is prescribed to children and in what dosage it is prescribed - this will be discussed in this article.
Release form
Isoniazid is available in several forms:
- Pills, which in one box can be 10, 20, 50, 100 or more.
- Injection. It contains 10% of the active ingredient and is produced in 5 ml ampoules, of which there are 5 or 10 in one pack.
In addition, there is Isoniazid syrup, but it is rarely found in pharmacies, since it is produced by a Ukrainian company.
Composition
The active substance of the drug has the same name - isoniazid. Its dosage for 1 tablet can be 100, 150, 200 or 300 mg, and in one milliliter of solution for injections, such a compound is contained in a dose of 100 mg.
Operating principle
Isoniazid has a bactericidal effect against mycobacteria, which are the causative agents of tuberculosis. This substance inhibits the synthesis of membranes in the cells of such microorganisms, acting at the stage of their reproduction. In this case, isoniazid destroys bacteria both outside the affected cells and inside them.
The drug taken internally is absorbed very quickly, after which it is distributed throughout the body. After metabolic changes in the liver, most of the drug leaves the body in urine.
Its greatest effectiveness is noted in the acute process, and isoniazid weakly destroys atypical mycobacteria. If monotherapy is used, then in 70% of cases, the pathogen very quickly becomes resistant to such treatment.
Indications
"Isoniazid" is prescribed for the treatment of tuberculosis in various forms, and for the prevention of such a disease. The medication is given both after contact with patients with tuberculosis, and with a positive reaction to tuberculin (Mantoux reaction).
From what age is it allowed to take?
There are no age restrictions for the use of Isoniazid, but only a doctor should prescribe such a drug (both for infants and older children).
Contraindications
The drug is not prescribed for children with:
- Epilepsy.
- Transmitted poliomyelitis.
- Mental illness.
- Seizures in the past.
- Disorders of the kidneys.
- Liver diseases.
- Pathologies of the peripheral nerves.
- Hypersensitivity to the drug.
A reduced dosage of medication is required by small patients with psoriasis, bronchial asthma, pathologies of the nervous system, high blood pressure, exacerbation of eczema, hypothyroidism or porphyria.
Side effects
Treatment with Isoniazid can provoke:
- A skin rash or other form of allergy.
- Dizziness, sleep problems, headaches and other disorders of the nervous system.
- Vomiting or nausea. In rare cases, hepatitis develops.
- Heartache.
Instructions for use and dosage
Since the simultaneous intake of food interferes with the absorption of isoniazid, the tablets should be taken after meals. If the patient does not tolerate this form, the medicine is prescribed in the form of injections into a vein or muscle. In addition, the medication can be injected into the cavities in the lungs.
The dosage is determined based on the form of the disease and the nature of its course. In childhood, "Isoniazid" is prescribed 10-20 mg of active substance for each kilogram of body weight of a small patient. At this dose, the drug is given once a day.
Taking medication can be prescribed 2-3 times a week. In this case, the dose per 1 kg of the child's weight will be 20-40 mg of isoniazid. The duration of admission is determined individually, and the maximum dose per day is called 300 mg of the active ingredient of tablets or injections.
Bed rest is required after injection (at least 1 hour).
Overdose
If the patient takes Isoniazid in too high a dose, it will lead to vomiting, dizziness, disorientation, visual impairment, lethargy, seizures and other negative symptoms. For treatment, vitamin B6, barbiturates, diuretics, activated carbon, sodium bicarbonate and other symptomatic agents are used.
Interaction with other drugs
To reduce the risk of side effects of Isoniazid, it is often prescribed in combination with thiamine, glutamic acid, or pyridoxine. The drug can be combined with other antibiotics that act on mycobacteria. They are often prescribed together in order to exclude the rapid emergence of resistance of microorganisms to anti-tuberculosis treatment.
In this case, a combination with rifampicin can have a hepatotoxic effect (especially if the patient's liver function is impaired). The same side effect is possible when the drug is combined with Paracetamol. If you appoint "Isoniazid" and "Phenytoin" or "Carbamazepine", their concentration in the blood increases, which causes a harmful effect on the patient's body.
Terms of sale and storage
To buy Isoniazid at a pharmacy, you need a prescription from a doctor. To store the tablets, you should find a place hidden from children and direct sunlight, where the temperature will not be higher than 25 degrees Celsius, and ampoules with a solution require a lower storage temperature (up to +10 degrees). The shelf life of the tablet form is 5 years, and the ampoule is 2 years.
Reviews
There are different opinions about the use of Isoniazid. When treating tuberculosis, many reviews emphasize that the drug helped cure such an infection. At the same time, many parents are afraid of side effects and refuse to take this medication prophylactically, but experts note its good efficacy against mycobacteria and is called one of the most effective anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Negative responses from mothers contain complaints about the appearance of nausea, sleep problems, abdominal pain and other symptoms in the child while taking. However, there are also reviews in which parents note the good tolerance of the medication.
Analogs
Other anti-tuberculosis drugs can serve as a substitute - for example, capsules "Coxerin", "Terizidone", tablets "Pyrazinamide", "Kombitub", "Ftivazid", "Pizina", "Kombutol", "Metazid", PASK or "Phtizamax". Since such drugs have other active ingredients, and also have their own peculiarities of use, only a doctor should select an analogue (preferably an experienced phthisiatrician).
You will learn more about tuberculosis and how to protect yourself from it from the program of Dr. Komarovsky.
