What we are treated with: Anaferon. From colds to encephalitis

Anaferon instructions and mechanism of action

Anaferon is classified as a homeopathic remedy.
This drug has immunostimulating and antiviral effects. Materia Medica ROS is a pharmaceutical company that produces homeopathy. At the moment, you can find Anaferon in pharmacies for both children and adults. Doctors give very flattering recommendations for the drug, saying that it is effective in preventing the development of ARVI and influenza, plus it shortens the recovery time. Now quite often doctors prescribe anaferon. The instructions provide detailed information about the drug: composition, mechanism of action, use, indications, contraindications, etc. The action of anaferon is based on the activation of antiviral immunity. Each tablet contains 3 mg of affinity-purified antibodies to interferon gamma. It is antibodies that lead to stimulation of the body’s production of interferons. Plus, there is a secretion of biologically active substances, such as cytokines, which affect metabolic processes in cells.

Anaferon has an immunostimulating effect, and to be precise, it activates the function of humoral and cellular immunity. All this suggests that the drug is effective in the treatment and prevention of infections of a viral and bacterial nature. The drug gives a good effect against viruses that cause ARVI, herpes, viruses that promote the development of infections in the intestines (rotavirus), and tick-borne encephalitis. Anaferom helps to significantly reduce the virus content and increase the production of alpha, beta and gamma interferons, as well as cytokines at the site of infection.

In addition to all of the above, anaferon potentiates the formation of antibodies to pathogens, leading to its destruction.

Analogs

Anaferon analogues include the following drugs:

• Grippferon;
• Imunin;
• Imumod;
• Ergoferon;
• Amiksin;
• Galavit;
• Arbidol;
• Aflubin;
• Kagocel.

Grippferon is considered the cheapest remedy. This drug is universal and approved for use from infancy. Its price is on average 150 rubles.

A worthy replacement for Anaferon is the drug Aflubin. It contains the following herbal components:

• gentian;
• aconite;
• bryony.

Just like Anaferon, Aflubin is safe and is not suitable for treatment only in cases where children have hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

If we compare Anaferon with Ergoferon, then the second drug has antiallergic properties. It actively fights allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and swelling in the nasopharynx. Ergoferon is also able to reduce sneezing attacks and has a relaxing effect on the bronchi. Both drugs are effective in fighting bacterial infections, but Anaferon will only be effective at the initial stage of a cold. Ergoferon is able to improve the patient’s condition on days 2-3 of the disease. This drug is allowed to be used only from 6 months of age. In terms of safety, both drugs are identical.

Anaferon application

The drug is presented in the form of grayish lozenges. It is prescribed internally, regardless of the moment of food intake; 1 tablet is required per dose, which must be completely dissolved in the mouth, this is how anaferon should be taken. Application will also depend on the pathological process:

1. For acute respiratory viral infections, it is preferable to start taking anaferon when the disease is suspected. The dosage regimen will be as follows: in the first two hours, a tablet is taken every 30 minutes, for the next three days you need to take three tablets, calculating equal time intervals. In the future, Anaferon should be taken three tablets daily until all symptoms of the disease disappear;
2. As a preventive measure, the drug is prescribed for the entire epidemic period (from 1 to 3 months), 1 tablet once a day;
3. For acute genital herpes, the dosage regimen will be as follows: from the 1st to the 3rd day – 8 tablets per day; from the 4th to the 5th day – 7 tablets per day; from the 6th to the 7th day – 6 tablets per day; from the 8th to the 9th day – 5 tablets per day; from the 10th to the 11th day – 4 tablets per day; From the 12th day to the 21st day, the tablets are taken three times a day;
4. Prevention of recurrence of genital herpes will be 6 months, during this period of time you need to take 1 tablet once a day.

Indications

1. Treatment and prevention of ARVI;
2. Treatment and prevention of influenza;
3. Complex treatment of infections caused by the herpes virus (chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, labial and genital herpes);
4. For complex treatment of bacterial infections;
5. Treatment and prevention of viral infections (tick-borne encephalitis, calicivirus, coronavirus, rotavirus, enterovirus). In this case, anaferon is prescribed in combination with other drugs;
6. For secondary immunodeficiency conditions and complications of infectious processes.

Contraindications

• hypersensitivity to the drug;
• People under 18 years of age can only be prescribed anaferon for children.

Can children take adult tablets?

The effect of the drug is not dose-dependent, since ultra-low doses of the active component are used in production. The medicine is used as a preventive measure and for the treatment of adults and children of different weights in the same dosage. The children's version differs from the adult version in a mixture of dilutions of the active ingredient. The children's form is more effective for small patients. Of course, you can give adult Anaferon to children, but it would still be more correct to purchase the second option.

Many women are interested in whether it is possible to take children's Anaferon if more than 24 hours have passed since the first symptoms of the disease appeared. Of course, in this case the therapeutic effect will be less pronounced, but positive dynamics are still present. Therefore, this technique is fully justified, especially during those periods when the child comes into contact with other sick people. Recently, recirculation of the virus has become common in the autumn-winter season. In this regard, re-infection is possible due to a weakened immune system.

Anaferon for children

It contains 0.003 grams of affinity-purified antibodies to human interferon gamma. Among the auxiliary components are magnesium stearate, lactose and cellulose. The mechanism of action is the same; it was described in detail in the paragraph “Anaferon instructions and mechanism of action.”

Children's Anaferon is produced in the form of lozenges. The jar may contain 20 or 50 tablets. Pediatricians like to prescribe it because it is effective and safe even for children under 1 month of age. For preventive purposes, anaferon can be prescribed for no more than 3 months and is not addictive, while the risk of getting sick is reduced by 2 times. Long-term use of the drug does not lead to depletion of the body's immune forces. Plus, children's anaferon has a pleasant sweetish taste. Clinical studies have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of anaferon, which deserves the trust of patients.

Additional information about children's anaferon

There have been no cases of overdose yet. The drug is well tolerated and does not react with other drugs, so it can be included in combination treatment regimens.

Cautions

Since one of the components of children's anaferon is lactose, it should be avoided in case of glucose malabsorption syndrome, congenital galactosemia and congenital lactase deficiency.

Side effects

This product is considered safe. Individual intolerance to the components occurs due to sensitivity to them. Individual dyspeptic complications may occur if the dosage prescribed by the doctor or indicated in the instructions is exceeded. As a rare exception, a slight laxative effect is possible.

It should be remembered that Anaferon contains lactose, which is not recommended for people suffering from diabetes.

The drug does not affect concentration and therefore there are no restrictions on driving.

Reference

Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky is a pediatrician of the highest category, born in Ukraine. He became widely known after a series of publications and books for adults about children's health. He has a rare talent for doctors - to explain complex things to parents who are far from medicine in simple language. Representatives of the media space noticed this; now Komarovsky is a well-known TV presenter, author of the program “Doctor Komarovsky’s School” and author of a column about health on Russian Radio. Lives in Ukraine. The doctor is extremely popular among millions of mothers and fathers in Russia and the CIS countries, as well as abroad.

About the drug

"Anaferon" is a homeopathic remedy. The doses of active substances in solutions in it are presented in negligible quantities.

Like any other homeopathic remedy, Anaferon has almost no side effects or contraindications, at least, this is what the instructions for use say.

This fact cannot but please a whole army of mothers and fathers who want to protect their offspring from the terrible and dangerous flu.

Pharmacies sell lozenges or chewable tablets “Anaferon” and “Anaferon for children”. You don’t have to be a great detective and have an incredible method of deduction to understand that the division into adult and children’s dosages is nothing more than a marketing ploy, since the concentration of the main active ingredient in them is absolutely the same - 3 mg. This is written on the packages.

The instructions indicate that Anaferon has an immunomodulatory effect and an immunostimulating effect against viruses. In addition, it is emphasized that the drug enhances the immune response at the cellular level, however, the mechanism of such an effect is not indicated at all, as is done in the instructions in official pharmaceutical preparations.

Manufacturers recommend starting to take the drug as early as possible - at the first signs of the onset of influenza or acute respiratory viral infection according to a special regimen - the first 2 hours - a tablet every half hour, then three more doses at equal time intervals, and then - a tablet three times a day until recovery.

For the purpose of prevention, “Anaferon” is recommended to be taken twice a year for 1-6 months, 1 tablet per day during periods of increased incidence of acute respiratory infections.

Efficiency

It should be noted that all antiviral drugs with clinically proven effectiveness have a big problem. And for homeopathic remedies it is twice as much. If you believe the information posted on the website, the drug was still clinically tested, despite the fact that homeopathic remedies are usually not studied in the laboratory, since they contain minimal doses of active ingredients, and such a study becomes simply impossible for this reason.

Birth of a new one

And let's start our acquaintance with the history of the creation of the medicine. In the early 90s, when the barriers between domestic and Western pharmaceuticals collapsed, the popularity of hitherto almost inaccessible alternative medicines and supplements, including homeopathic remedies, sharply increased in the territory of the former Soviet Union. One of the first to respond to the wave of time was the young Russian company Materia Medica, whose specialists were closely involved in the development and implementation of complex homeopathic medicines.

By the beginning of the 21st century, Materia Medica Holding has developed a potentially new class of drugs that have no analogues not only in the Russian Federation, but throughout the world. They contained ultra-low doses of natural antibodies, and, according to the developers, had unique properties.

In 2002, the first representative of these drugs, Anaferon Children’s, entered the market.

Consumers received the debutant with delight. Sales of Anaferon for children broke all records, and mothers never tired of giving their children sweetish and completely safe tablets. The manufacturer, inspired by the success of its firstborn, launched Anaferon for adults on the market two years later. Today the drug is registered not only in Russia, but also in many countries of the former USSR. It is interesting that in 2009 Anaferon was patented in the USA, although it was never able to gain Russian fame overseas, despite the loud statements of Materia Medica about innovative developments and a unique composition. By the way, it's time to meet him.

Komarovsky about “Anaferon”

Evgeniy Komarovsky treats Anaferon rather ironically, emphasizing that the demand for the drug rests not on its effectiveness, but on customer demand. Evgeniy Olegovich considers this homeopathic remedy to be completely useless. This is not a categorical denial, but a statement of facts - Komarovsky is sure that his fellow pediatricians prescribe Anaferon so often because they are well aware of its uselessness, and therefore complete harmlessness.

As a result, the doctor is calm, because, as they say, “there is no harm and no benefit,” and the parents are calm - the baby is receiving “treatment.” The placebo effect is triggered. As a result, the child’s immune system copes with viruses on its own, as would be expected, and the positive outcome is attributed to the sweetish Anaferon tablets.

And here is actually Dr. Komarovsky’s episode where the pediatrician will tell us everything about children’s antiviral drugs.

If you believe the reviews of those mothers whose children were helped by Anaferon, their viral infection subsided within 4-5 days. Komarovsky confirms that this is exactly the amount of time a child’s immunity needs to cope with a pathogenic invasion from the outside. If the baby’s immune defense is weak, then the disease drags on, and parents write about such cases on the Internet that Anaferon did not help. In other words, the same effect would have occurred if the parents had not given the child any medications at all.

Komarovsky generally protests about the prophylactic use of the drug, since no remedy, including homeopathic, can be taken for six months.

The famous doctor emphasizes that the amount of active ingredient is extremely small to cure anything, but the sugar content in each tablet is quite high. It seems that they are trying to treat the child with sugar. And this is complete absurdity.

We invite all parents to watch Dr. Komarovsky’s episode about self-medication.