Immunomodulatory drugs are designed to strengthen the body's defenses to prevent viral, fungal or bacterial diseases. If the infection does appear, they help to cope with it faster. One of the drugs in this group is Likopid. Is it used in childhood and is it prescribed for prophylaxis in children?
Composition and form of release
The medication is available only in solid form, which is white flat round tablets. They are sold in packs of 10, packed in one blister. Likopid does not have such forms as syrup, suspension, ointment, capsules or injections.
The active ingredient in such tablets is a compound called "glucosaminylmuramylpeptide". Its dosage in each tablet is 1 mg. Additionally, the preparation contains lactose monohydrate and methylcellulose, as well as calcium stearate, potato starch and sucrose.
Operating principle
The main component of Likopid, due to which the drug has an immunomodulatory effect, has the same structure as the membranes of bacterial cells.
Once in the human body, such a compound activates both acquired and innate immunity, as a result of which protection against harmful microbes, fungi and viruses increases. It binds to proteins that are found inside macrophages, neutrophils and other phagocytes, which leads to an increase in the functional activity of these cells. It also activates the formation of B and T lymphocytes, antibodies, interleukins, and other factors important for immune defense.
Indications
In childhood, Likopid is in demand:
- as a treatment chronic respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, sinusitis, adenoiditis, laryngitis, etc.), as well as a prophylactic agent prescribed in remission to prevent recurrence of such diseases;
- with furunculosis, pyoderma and other purulent-inflammatory diseases msoft tissues and skin. The medicine is used both in the acute process and for the treatment of chronic forms of such diseases;
- With herpes infection, for example, with sore throat caused by the herpes virus, eye damage or "cold" on the lips.
For adults, pills can also be prescribed to prevent infection with ARVI as the season of respiratory diseases approaches. However, in children, according to the instructions for the pills, such a prophylactic method is not used.
From what age is it allowed to take?
Children are prescribed only a drug containing an active ingredient in a dose of 1 mg. He is discharged from the age of 3. Tablets in which the active compound is presented in a dosage of 10 mg are not used until the age of 18.
Contraindications
Do not give Likopid to the child:
- with hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the drug;
- with exacerbation of autoimmune thyroiditis, as well as with other autoimmune pathologies;
- with temperatures above +38 degrees;
- with metabolic disorders, in which you should not consume lactose and sucrose.
Side effects
The manufacturer calls Likopid a non-toxic drug and assures that such a drug does not harm the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system, and does not provoke mutations or changes in internal organs.
However, some children may have a fever when they start using the medicine. Often this is a short-term rise to subfebrile numbers, but sometimes the fever is febrile. In such a situation, the child is prescribed one of the antipyretic drugs, and it is not required to cancel Likopid.
Also, in extremely rare cases, taking pills provokes diarrhea.
Instructions for use
The child is invited to keep the tablet under the tongue or swallow half an hour before meals. A single dose for children is one tablet, and the method and regimen of administration depends on the disease:
- For chronic infection respiratory tract, the drug is dissolved under the tongue, one tablet per day for 10 days. To eliminate relapses, the medication is prescribed in three courses with a break of 20 days.
- With inflammatory and purulent skin pathologies or soft tissues, the medicine also needs to be taken only once a day, dissolving the tablet in the oral cavity. The duration of treatment is 10 days.
- When infected with herpes, Likopid can be either kept in the mouth or swallowed. In this case, the medicine is taken three times a day, and the course of treatment lasts 10 days.
It is best to take the medication at the same time. If, for some reason, the next dose was missed, but less than 12 hours have passed since the time when it was necessary to drink Likopid, the child is given the missed pill. Further, the medication is continued to be drunk according to the prescribed scheme.
If a pass is found after 12 hours or later, you do not need to drink the missed drug.
In such a situation, the medication is taken according to the original regimen without a missed dose.
Overdose
Although there were no cases where an excess of the dose of Licopid led to a deterioration in the child's well-being until this time, the manufacturer suggests that after an overdose, a small patient may have a rise in body temperature. In such a situation, it is recommended to give the child a sorbent and antipyretic medicine.
Interaction with other medicines
- Likopid is often prescribed together with antiviral drugs, antifungal agents, or antibiotics because it increases the effectiveness of such drugs.
- Simultaneous reception sorbents or antacids will reduce the bioavailability of the active compound of Likopid.
- Upon appointment together with glucocorticosteroid drugs, the therapeutic effect of Likopid is weakened.
Terms of sale
Likopid is an over-the-counter medicine and therefore does not require a prescription to purchase it from a pharmacy. However, it is undesirable to buy these pills for a child, like any other immunostimulating agents, without consulting a doctor. The average price of one pack of tablets containing the active ingredient in a dose of 1 mg is 250-280 rubles.
Storage conditions
So that the medicinal properties of the tablets do not deteriorate, the manufacturer recommends keeping them in a place hidden from light, where it is not too humid, and the temperature will not exceed +25 degrees. In addition, such a place should be inaccessible to babies. The shelf life of Likopid is 5 years. If the date marked on the package has passed, the drug must be discarded.
Reviews
On the use of Likopid in children, there are mainly good reviews from both mothers and immunologists. In them, parents note the high efficiency and praise the tablets for their low cost, absence of side effects and pleasant taste.
According to mothers, the child after the course of Likopid began to hurt less or the drug helped to cure the infectious disease faster. Since the medicine is small and sweet, there are often no difficulties with taking it in small patients.
However, there are also negative reviews in which they complain about the lack of effect from taking the pills. In addition, some parents are intimidated by the child's reaction to the initiation of treatment for fever.
You will learn more about the use of "Likopid" for the treatment of children in the following video.
Analogs
Other medications that affect the child's immune system can replace Likopid, for example:
- Groprinosin. Such tablets contain inosine pranobex and are used for herpes, mononucleosis, mumps and other viral infections. For children, they are allowed from 3 years old, but with a weight of at least 15 kg.
- Imunofan. This medicine in the form of rectal suppositories, nasal spray and solution for injection is in demand for viral diseases and immunodeficiency conditions. Children are most often prescribed candles that can be used from 2 years old.
- Derinat. Such a drug based on sodium deoxyribonucleinate is produced in ampoules, spray and nasal drops. For children, drops and spray are prescribed for ARVI, prolonged rhinitis, hay fever, burns, stomatitis and many other problems. The medication is allowed at any age.
- Viferon. The action of such a drug is provided by alpha interferon, therefore it is prescribed for infections with viruses or for the prevention of such infections. In childhood, rectal suppositories are most in demand, which are used from birth. In addition, the nasal mucosa of a child at any age can be treated with Viferon gel, and the ointment is used in children over a year old.
- Galavit. Such an immunomodulatory agent has 3 forms of release - solution for injections, lozenges and rectal suppositories. Suppositories and injections with a dose of 50 mg can be used in the treatment of burns, boils, tonsillitis, adenoids, otitis media and other pathologies in children over 6 years old, and preparations with a dosage of 100 mg and tablets are prescribed from the age of 12.
