In the modern world, medications play a big role in human life. Each family has its own first aid kit, and sometimes a huge pharmacy, which contains dozens of medications for many diseases. Almost everyone is sure that if they take just one more pill, the disease will immediately recede. But this approach is wrong.
Any medicine must be taken at a strictly defined time, in the right quantities and, of course, only on the recommendation of a doctor. Although many medications can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription. In this case, you must carefully read the instructions for the drug.
Many people have the drug Festal in their medicine cabinet. It is known that it can quickly help with digestive disorders, for example, on days of heavy holiday feasts.
How to take Festal correctly so that the effect of this medicine is the best? How to take a Festal tablet without harming your body? Is it possible to use this medication systematically? What drugs can it be combined with, and what drugs absolutely cannot? Will Festal help if a person drank alcohol at dinner or is this medicine useless in this case?
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
This enzyme agent can compensate for the insufficiency of the secretory function of the pancreas, as well as the biliary activity of the liver.
The enzymes contained in pancreatin - protease, amylase and lipase - help facilitate the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates, improving the absorption of these components in the small intestine.
It is known that the enzyme hemicellulase improves the breakdown of plant fiber and digestive processes, reducing the formation of gases.
Bovine bile extract is also characterized by a choleretic effect, improved emulsification of fats, normalization of absorption of fats or fat-soluble vitamins , and increased lipase activity.
Festal - composition of the drug
The medication is available in the form of white round dragees (tablets) coated with a special acid-resistant coating, which prevents the drug from dissolving in the stomach and ensures its activation when it enters the small intestine, where the environment is alkaline. In the intestinal lumen, the active substances of the drug are released and fulfill their therapeutic purpose, without being absorbed into the systemic circulation.
Let's take a closer look at the composition of Festal. It contains the following active ingredients:
- Pancreatin is an extract of the contents of the pancreas, including the enzymes amylase, lipase and protease, which is obtained from pigs and cattle.
- Hemicellulase is an enzyme that breaks down hemicellulose (plant fiber).
- Ox bile powder.
Additional components (including those included in the shell):
- sodium chloride;
- calcium carbonate;
- cellulose acetate phthalate;
- ethyl vanillin;
- sucrose;
- Castor oil;
- methylparaben;
- glucose solution;
- propylparaben
- gelatin;
- talc;
- glycerol;
- acacia gum;
- macrogol;
- titanium dioxide
Indications for use of Festal
The main indications for the use of Festal are insufficiency of the pancreas, accompanied by chronic pancreatitis , as well as biliary insufficiency with impaired digestion of food, flatulence, constipation , and so on in the treatment of:
- diffuse liver diseases, for example, liver cirrhosis , alcoholic and toxic liver damage;
- large losses of bile acids, for example, after cholecystectomy ;
- disruptions in the circulation of bile acids, as a result of biliary dyskinesia, dysbacteriosis and malabsorption;
- deviations in the digestion of food in people with normal gastrointestinal tract function due to changes in nutrition, problems with chewing function, a sedentary lifestyle, and so on;
- violations of the neurohumoral regulation of various processes of bile formation or bile secretion, accompanied by chronic gastrointestinal diseases, for example, chronic forms of gastritis, duodenitis or cholecystitis;
- as well as in preparation for an abdominal ultrasound or x-ray.
Contraindications for use
Main contraindications to the use of Festal:
- high sensitivity to its components;
- hepatitis;
- acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of its chronic form;
- liver failure , coma or precoma;
- hyperbilirubinemia;
- intestinal obstruction, empyema of the gallbladder, tendency to diarrhea ;
- patient age under 3 years;
- obstructive jaundice and various gallstone diseases.
Possible health effects
Long-term use, beyond the recommended course, overdose or drug poisoning, have harmful consequences for health:
- uric acid diathesis,
- increased levels of uric acid in the blood plasma,
- disturbance in the balance of enzymes of the stomach and intestines,
- chronic urticaria,
- swelling,
- swelling of the gallbladder.
These consequences require medical therapy; just stopping taking Festal will not be enough to correct an overdose or poisoning.
Festal during pregnancy
It should be noted that Festal is prescribed with extreme caution pregnancy As a rule, you should check with your doctor to find out whether pregnant women can take this or other medications. According to the instructions, the use of this drug during breastfeeding and pregnancy is allowed if the benefit for treating a woman significantly outweighs the risk of developing undesirable effects for the baby.
Festal and alcohol
When using this drug and alcohol in parallel, a twofold picture can be observed:
- In the first case, a person who combines these two ingredients experiences a delayed onset of alcoholic intoxication, which helps to feel alert the next morning.
- But there is also a significant disadvantage in such a tandem. A person can consume a significantly larger dose of alcohol, which can seriously affect the condition of his liver and intestines.
Therefore, you should not combine alcoholic drinks with enzymatic preparations.
Instructions for use of Festal (Method and dosage)
This medicine is intended to be taken orally as a whole, together with or immediately after eating, with water.
The average daily dosage is 1-2 tablets for 3 times a day. Increasing the dose is possible only as prescribed by a doctor. Before an x-ray or ultrasound, the drug is taken 2-3 days before the examination, 2 pieces 2-3 times a day.
At the same time, the instructions for using Festal for children indicate that when prescribing the drug to a small patient, the dose is determined by the attending physician.
The duration of therapy depends on the complexity of the disorder and can range from several days to years.
special instructions
Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery
Festal has not been found to have a negative effect on psychomotor reactions and the nervous system.
Pregnancy and lactation
The manufacturer warns of the need to take precautions when taking Festal during pregnancy. The decision to prescribe the drug should be made by the doctor after a comprehensive examination of the woman and determining the potential risks or benefits. When using the medication during lactation, it is recommended to stop breastfeeding for the duration of therapy.
Use in childhood
In pediatric practice, Festal is prescribed to children from the age of three. Dosages and duration of therapy are determined individually. Supervision by a specialist is required.
For impaired renal function
The instructions do not contain information about limiting the use of Festal for kidney pathologies. This nuance is not a basis for self-medication (examination by a specialist is required).
For liver dysfunction
Festal is prescribed for liver dysfunction and intoxication with harmful substances (cirrhosis, consequences of alcoholism, impaired biliary functions, etc.). Exceptions are liver failure, coma or precoma, obstructive jaundice and hepatitis of various etiologies. For these pathologies, the drug is contraindicated for use.
Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies
Over-the-counter sale in pharmacies.
How to give Festal to children?
Children often have various problems in the gastrointestinal tract and therefore they may be prescribed enzyme preparations.
Festal often helps eliminate bloating, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, and problems with bowel movements. This drug can be used for children only from 3 years of age. In this case, the dosage for children is determined by the attending physician.
The medicine should be given immediately with food or a short time after. If the tablets are difficult for a child to swallow, they can be pre-dissolved in liquid.
Interaction
The combination of the drug with sulfonamides, antibiotics and iron supplements can have different effects on their absorption.
Antacids containing magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate can reduce the effectiveness of Festal.
Simultaneous use with Cimetidine may enhance its effect.
Release form and composition
The dosage form of Festal is a combination of various chemical and biological components that help the proper absorption of food.
Main active ingredients of Festal:
- Pancreatin. A substance obtained by processing animal pancreas. Participates in the process of breakdown of proteins and fats. It has an effect on the human pancreas, helping to stimulate enzymatic activity (192 mg).
- Ox bile. It is synthesized from natural bile of cows or bulls. Under the influence of this enzyme, food processing is enhanced (25 mg).
- Hemicellulose. Its enzymatic activity is aimed at breaking down fiber (50 mg).
- Lipase. Helps process fatty foods.
- Amylase. Its action in the body promotes the absorption of starch.
- Protease. Participates in protein metabolism.
In addition to the active ingredients, Festal tablets include:
- Gelatin.
- Sucrose and Glucose.
- Medicinal talc.
- Castor oil.
Festal is available in foil plates of 10 pills. Cardboard packages contain from 20 to 100 tablets, which are coated with a white coating, which creates an obstacle to premature dissolution in the esophagus (enteric-soluble).
Recently, pharmaceutical companies have been producing Uni-Festal , the active ingredient of which is Pancreatin. Available in tablet forms No. 10.
Festal Neo. Also has the main ingredient Pancreatin, in a volume of 192 mg. Its activity is 5000 amylolytic IU. Available in 10 tablets per currency. Cardboard packs contain 2 currency notes and an annotation (instructions) for the use of the drug.
Festal NEO
Festal in foil packaging
Uni Festal tablets
Festal's analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Digestin
Creon
Pancitrate
Mezim
Pankreoflat
Pancreazim
Enterosan
Panzinorm Forte
Panzinorm
Micrasim
Enzistal P
Pancreatin
Penzital
Pangrol
Hermital
Abomin
The main analogues of Festal: Digestal, Pancreatin, Creon, Mezim Forte and Pangrol.
Festal or Creon - which is better?
Before you think about which of these drugs to take, you need to find out what Festal helps with, what it is needed for, and what disorders does Creon ? To do this, you need to compare the symptoms of the disease and the indications for which these drugs are prescribed. Of course, for this it is better to consult a doctor.
As for the effectiveness of these two drugs, according to experts, Creon is higher, and it has more advantages. Creon is offered in a more convenient form of release - capsules, and has an improved principle of action - granules dissolve well in the small intestine.
In addition, Creon has more indications for use and fewer contraindications. This remedy can also be taken by children from 1 year of age.
Reviews about Festal
As numerous reviews of Festal show, it is extremely popular among patients of various groups. According to many patients, this is an excellent, highly effective remedy that helps improve digestion and eliminate many unwanted symptoms. There are also many people who have to take Festal N for many years, for example, with constant functional deficiency in the digestive system. Due to the natural origin and high degree of purification of this drug, it is often used as a substitute for its own enzymes.
In addition, there are many messages on the Internet from users who take such drugs for any digestive disorder. At the same time, they are trying to choose the best medicine for themselves and are interested in the forums about Festal tablets, why they help, how to take them before or after meals, and so on.
It is possible that some people are using this remedy for other purposes, since they do not know exactly what it helps with. It should be noted that they will not immediately feel the development of undesirable effects if used incorrectly, but over time this will certainly appear. If a person regularly has digestive problems, then you need to contact a gastroenterologist, who will conduct a full examination and write a prescription in Latin prescribing the necessary treatment.
Side effects of Festal tablets
List of side effects:
- Frequent use of Festal tablets, which occurs when the dosage is not observed. Leads to the development of side effects. They can occur in various organs and systems.
- Most often, allergies to the ingredients of this medicine occur. The patient experiences redness of the skin, runny nose, and watery eyes.
- Disruptions may occur in the digestive system , which are accompanied by symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, and cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
- Sometimes symptoms of metabolic disorders appear ; a high level of uric acid is found in the blood of patients (hyperuricemia).
- and redness of the skin in the anus area may occur And stomatitis develops in the oral cavity.
Festal price, where to buy
The price of Festal in Moscow is 120-590 rubles.
In Ukraine, the medicine can be bought in Kyiv, as well as in cities such as Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, etc., the cost of the drug varies between 53-75 UAH.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Festal - tablets 40 pcs., three-component enzyme agentAventis Pharma/Sanofi India
RUB 257 order - Festal other intestinal digestions. 10 pcs. Sanofi India Limited
84 rub. order
- Festal - tablets 20 pcs., three-component enzyme agentAventis Pharma/Sanofi India
166 RUR order
- Festal - tablets 100 pcs., three-component enzyme agentAventis Pharma/Sanofi India
RUR 793 order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Festal dragee No. 40Aventis Pharma
RUB 233 order
- Festal dragee No. 20Sanofi Aventis
RUB 153 order
- Festal dragee No. 100Aventis Pharma
RUR 624 order
- Festal dragee No. 100Sanofi Aventis
RUR 744 order
- Festal dragee No. 20Aventis Pharma
136 RUR order
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Pharmacy24
- Festal Neo 10000 N20 tablets LLC "Pharmex Group", m. Boryspil, Ukraine
60 UAH. order
PaniPharmacy
- Festal neo tablets Festal Neo 10000 tablets. No. 20 Ukraine, Pharmex Group LLC
69 UAH order
show more