There are not many medications that can cure diarrhea. Similar drugs may have different modes of action. There are compounds that inhibit intestinal function, which simply reduce its contractility. There are also medications that do not affect the functioning of smooth muscles in any way, but remove the true cause of the pathology. One of these is “Ecofuril”. Instructions for use of this medicine will be presented to your attention. From the article you will also learn what reviews patients leave about this medication.
What does the medicine consist of?
The instructions for use attached to the drug "Ecofuril" indicate that these are capsules. The main active ingredient in them is nifuroxazide. One tablet may contain 100 or 200 mg of this component, which is presented as a yellowish powder. The medicine is packaged in gelatin capsules and placed in cells. The consumer can purchase 16 or 30 tablets in one package.
The active substance of the described medication belongs to the group of antibiotics. However, it does not work as well as other antimicrobial compounds. You will learn about this later in the article.
Price
Average price in Russia
On average, one package of Ecofuril costs Russian residents 240 rubles. The final price is determined by the dosage and markups of specific pharmacy outlets.
Average cost in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Ecofuril is not sold in every pharmacy. Its analogue, Enterofuril, is much more common. Those who are lucky enough to find the drug in pharmacies in Kyiv will have to pay about 230-250 hryvnia for one package.
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"Ecofuril": price and substitutes
The cost of the drug directly depends on the number of capsules in the package and their dosage. Tablets in the amount of 30 pieces of 100 mg each will cost you 200 rubles. If you need to purchase a medication in a dose of 200 milligrams, then you can give preference to a pack of 16 or 30 pieces. For this type of medicine “Ecofuril” the price will be 250 and 350 rubles, respectively. When purchasing the drug, always tell the pharmacist about the dosage you are interested in.
The drug "Ecofuril" has analogues. The most popular of them are Ersefuril and Enterofuril. All of these formulations have the same active ingredient. It is worth noting that the drugs are similar even in dosage.
Composition and release form
In Ecofuril, the main component is nifuroxazide, an antimicrobial substance endowed with a wide spectrum of activity. Of the auxiliary ingredients, lactulose is of particular importance, promoting the growth of lactobacilli in the intestines.
Ecofuril is available in the form of capsules of 100 and 200 mg and in the form of a suspension for oral administration. The cost of a package of medicine is approximately 200 rubles. Produced in Russia.
Indications for use of capsules
The drug "Ecofuril" is prescribed to children and adult patients for indigestion, which is manifested by diarrhea. It does not matter whether the problem is caused by bacteria or viruses. In the first case, the capsules will eliminate pathological microorganisms, and in the second, they will prevent their reproduction.
Sometimes the composition is prescribed for various colitis, which is also caused by bacteria. If you experience the described symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor before using the drug.
Contraindications and development of adverse reactions
As you already know, the described medicine is not absorbed into the systemic circulation. That is why it has practically no contraindications. The medication is not prescribed if there is hypersensitivity to its components. It is also not recommended to give the composition to children under one month of age. In the first year of life, the composition is given to premature babies exclusively under the supervision of a doctor.
Many women are interested in whether it is possible to take medication while expecting a baby or lactation. After all, antibiotics are often contraindicated at this time. Doctors allow the prescription of the described medicine. However, for this there must be appropriate indications. Due to the fact that the composition works in the intestines, after which it is safely removed from there, the medicine cannot harm the developing fetus or pass into the mother's breast milk. It is much more dangerous not to treat acute diarrhea.
Adverse reactions are described very briefly in the annotation. The manufacturer indicates that the medication may cause allergies. This is where the troubles end. However, some consumers reported abdominal pain after using the composition. Doctors say that such a symptom always accompanies diarrhea and is not a reaction to the use of the medication.
Side effects
The use of Ecofuril (as well as other medications) can cause a number of side effects. As a rule, they are limited to minor allergic manifestations in the form of hives or skin rashes.
In rare cases (if the patient is allergic to drugs that contain nifuroxazide), a temporary increase in diarrhea, nausea, and pain in the abdominal cavity may occur. In this case, you must stop using the drug until the cause of side effects is determined.
If uncontrolled use of drugs has caused an overdose, it is necessary to stop further use of the drug, rinse the stomach and immediately begin treatment of symptoms. Also, in case of overdose, drinking large volumes of liquid is indicated.
Overdose
Episodes of severe cases of overdose with Ecofuril have not been described in medical practice.
The risk of negative reactions from various body systems when the dosage of the drug is exceeded increases if it is used in violation of the list of absolute contraindications. In case of individual intolerance to the drug, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrose deficiency, the consequences of an overdose will manifest themselves in the form of severe allergy symptoms. To eliminate this reaction of the immune system, symptomatic treatment is used, and the drug is discontinued.
Severe cases of overdose can provoke the following conditions:
- Quincke's edema;
- anaphylactic shock.
Contraindications
The instructions for the drug Ecofuril indicate a small list of contraindications. For example, it is not recommended to use the product to treat small patients under the age of one month and premature babies.
The second contraindication is intolerance to the components of the drug. As for the periods of bearing a child and breastfeeding, drugs can be used during this time, but only as directed by a doctor.
During pregnancy
There is no information on the relative adverse effects of Ecofuril on the fetus. Therefore, if necessary, the drug can be prescribed to nursing and pregnant women. Taking the drug during pregnancy and lactation should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician, in strictly defined doses.
"Ecofuril": instructions for use
The drug is prescribed depending on the age of the patient. For children from the first month of life, the composition is prescribed 100 mg of the active substance three times a day. In this case, it is preferable to choose a suspension or dissolve the contents of the capsule in clean water. For children over 3 years of age, the drug is prescribed 600 mg per day in three doses. For children over 14 years of age and adult patients, capsules are prescribed 200 mg every 6 hours.
The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. If the doctor has not given individual instructions, the drug can be used for no more than one week.
Contraindications for use
Capsules are recommended for use by adults and children over 3 years of age. Children under 3 years of age should be treated only with a suspension. General contraindications to taking the drug are:
- increased hypersensitivity to nifuroxazide or to auxiliary components;
- galactose-glucose malabsorption syndrome;
- acquired or congenital fructose intolerance.
The manufacturer recommends using Ecofuril with caution for diseases and injuries of the brain, chronic alcoholism, and for women during the lactation period.
The drug is considered safe during pregnancy. But women expecting a child should use it only according to indications, adequately assessing all the risks.
Current opinions
The medicine "Ecofuril" has good reviews. It is a safe remedy for treating bacterial and preventing viral diarrhea. Consumers report that already on the third day of use it becomes significantly easier. However, you should not interrupt treatment at this point. The antibiotic should be used for 5-7 days without interruption.
Doctors report that during the treatment period it is necessary to take formulations that help restore salt and fluid balance in the body. Also, in some cases, the described product is combined with sorbents. Reviews about the drug "Ecofuril" say that it should be taken separately from such drugs. The break between them must be at least two hours.
special instructions
The therapeutic effect of Ecofuril depends not only on the severity of the intestinal infection, but also on how accurately all the features of using this drug are observed. During treatment with Ecofuril, you need to adhere to a number of recommendations:
- Taking the drug should be supplemented with rehydration therapy. That is, the patient must receive a sufficient amount of fluid, which will help avoid dehydration. These can be pharmacy or self-prepared saline solutions.
- You should not drink alcohol during treatment. The combination of nifuroxazide with ethanol leads to disulfiram-like reactions - a feeling of heat, dizziness, vomiting, respiratory depression, and palpitations.
- For bacterial diarrhea with symptoms of general damage to the body, treatment with antibacterial agents with systemic action is necessary. General damage is indicated by high temperature, severe weakness, headache, and severe symptoms of intoxication.
- The drug does not affect psychomotor reactions. Therefore, while using it, it is not prohibited to drive vehicles and work with complex mechanisms.
- Capsules of the drug should be stored in dark places at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees. Violation of storage conditions leads to the fact that the antidiarrheal effect of the drug is reduced.
- The suspension is also stored where the temperature does not exceed 25 degrees. But you need to keep in mind that the shelf life of an opened bottle is only 7 days.
- It is not recommended to take Ecofuril in combination with medications that can lead to disulfiram-like symptoms or depress the functioning of the central nervous system. Disulfiram is mainly found in medications used to treat alcoholism.
After treatment with Ecofuril, you should adhere to a special diet that helps restore the functioning of the digestive organs; you should be on it for at least another week. The sudden introduction of familiar dishes into the diet often leads to the reappearance of diarrhea and other signs of indigestion.
Brief summary
You have learned about the medicine "Ecofuril". Remember that such formulations must be prescribed by a specialist. In some cases, you will first need to undergo appropriate tests. Such studies help determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to a particular substance. Despite the fact that the medicine does not enter the blood, it is a medicinal substance. Take a responsible approach to treating the current problem. After the course and during the recovery stage, be sure to take complexes of beneficial bacteria. Best wishes!
Mechanism of action
Ecofuril is an intestinal antiseptic that inhibits reproduction (in small doses) or completely destroys bacteria (in high dosages). Under the influence of nifuroxazide, biochemical reactions in the microbial cell are inhibited, the bacterial membrane is destroyed, and at the same time the production of toxins by pathogenic microorganisms is reduced.
Ecofuril affects both gram-negative and gram-positive microflora. The antiseptic acts only in the lumen of the large intestine, does not enter the blood, 20% of the drug is excreted unchanged.
The main features of Ecofuril are:
- rapid development of therapeutic effect;
- eliminating the underlying cause of diarrhea;
- resumption of growth of its own beneficial microflora under the influence of lactulose;
- no need to take prebiotics and probiotics after the course;
- increased phagocytic activity of leukocytes, which helps improve immunity.
After treatment with Ecofuril there is no risk of growth of Candida fungi. The drug restores stool, removes symptoms of intoxication, improves overall well-being, and relieves pain and cramps in the abdomen.
A course of taking Ecofuril reduces the risk of developing bacterial complications due to intestinal infection.
Ecofuril can also be given to children older than one month, for which the medicine has been developed in the form of a suspension. For premature babies, pediatricians calculate the dose of medication based on body weight.
