"Phosphalugel" refers to antacids. The drug is produced in the form of a milky, opaque, homogeneous gel for oral administration with a pronounced aroma and taste of orange. The gel is packaged in sachets, 6 and 20 sachets per package. The structure of the drug includes aluminum phosphate, as well as a number of additional substances:
- pectin substances;
- potassium salt of sorbic acid;
- flavoring;
- agar-agar;
- sorbitol;
- water.
What indications for use and contraindications does Phosphalugel have?
Pharmacodynamics
The medicine has an adsorbent, enveloping and antacid effect. After taking it, pepsin activity decreases. The active substance removes excess hydrochloric acid. At the same time, the physiological characteristics of digestion remain unchanged.
After administration, the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines is enveloped, resulting in a protective layer that prevents the negative effects of external factors and promotes its healing.
Also, the medication is able to suppress gases, eliminate toxic and harmful microorganisms in the stomach, stabilizing the passage of the gastrointestinal tract.
The medicine does not affect the electrolyte balance in any way. There is currently no verified information on pharmacokinetics.
Conditions for storing the drug in pharmacies and clinics
Each pharmacy structure ensures proper storage of the drug, in accordance with GOSTs and pharmacological standards. Specifically, Phosphalugel does not require a refrigeration chamber or a block with specific temperature conditions; room temperature is suitable for it. However, on the counter Phosphalugel should only be in its original packaging, away from sunlight and moisture.
In accordance with Russian GOSTs, drugs for the gastrointestinal tract are stored with drugs of similar or similar properties.
Of course, expired packages of Phosphalugel in pharmacies are not thrown into the trash. They are destroyed according to the standards prescribed in the “Rules for the destruction of substandard medicines, counterfeit medicines and counterfeit drugs”, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation in September 2010.
When to take Phosphalugel: before or after meals
If a person has a peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, then the medicine is taken 2 hours after eating or during the manifestation of severe pain. Patients with diaphragmatic hernia take the medicine after meals or before bed. For colon disease, you need to drink the medicine in the morning on an empty stomach and before bed. For gastritis and dyspepsia, the drug is drunk before meals.
Children under six months are prescribed ¼ sachet or 1 tsp. Should be taken after feeding (no more than 6 times a day). A child from six months of age is prescribed ½ sachet 4 times a day after feeding.
If between doses the pain returns again, then you can take the remedy again.
As stated in the instructions, before opening the bag, its contents must be kneaded well so that the gel becomes homogeneous.
Shelf life before and after opening the drug
Phosphalugel is stored 3 years unopened (in cardboard packaging) and only 24 hours after opening a separate bag with contents.
The shelf life refers to the period during which the drug retains its medicinal properties. To determine the shelf life, detailed laboratory tests are carried out, and, which is important, it is customary to count it not from the date of purchase or start of treatment, but from the date of manufacture.
Phosphalugel is recommended to be used within three years from the date of manufacture. It is produced in multi-layer heat-sealed bags intended for single use. Twenty such sachets of 16 grams of medicinal substance are packed in cardboard boxes.
Phosphalugel should not be stored in the freezer.
Is it possible to use the drug if the period expires in 5-10 days? It is advisable not to delay until the last days of expiration, since the period may be shortened, for example, if stored incorrectly. However, officially, the drug can be used until the last day of expiration.
What happens to the medicine over time? Over time, some components of Phosphalugel may lose their medicinal properties, which negatively affects the effectiveness.
How to understand that a drug is defective and not suitable for use, how to identify an expired drug?
First of all, make sure that the date of manufacture is indicated on the packaging and count three years from it. If there are only a few days left before the end of the three-year period, refuse to purchase such a drug. Next, inspect the cardboard box; there should be no marks left on it from contact with water or areas that have been faded by the sun's rays.
Each drug must be accompanied by instructions for use.
Finally, make sure that all medication pouches are airtight and factory sealed. If someone has already opened the medicine, it is worth returning it.
The drug has expired, can it be used? Can using expired products cause harm?
Not a single manufacturer can guarantee that Phosphalugel with an expired expiration date will help you or not harm you at all. The patient can take the medicine at his own risk, but doctors are against such experiments.
Contraindications and negative effects
You should avoid taking the drug in case of increased susceptibility to the constituent components of the drug, as well as in persons who have kidney pathologies. The medicine has no other contraindications.
Negative manifestations after administration appear in rare cases. Elderly people and bedridden people may experience constipation.
Since the composition contains many aluminum ions, intestinal motility may deteriorate. In case of overdose, you need to take a laxative.
When is the medicine prescribed?
"Phosphalugel" is intended for oral use, the main indications are:
- stomach ulcer (damage to the gastric mucosa that appears under the influence of hydrochloric acid);
- gastritis (inflammatory or dystrophic changes in the gastric mucosa, a long-lasting disease characterized by dystrophic and inflammatory changes);
- protrusion of abdominal organs;
- reflux esophagitis (inflammatory lesion that affects the mucous cavity of the esophagus due to the constant reflux of stomach contents);
- constant heartburn (discomfort or burning behind the sternum, which spreads upward from the epigastric region, sometimes extending to the neck area;
- belching sour;
- diarrhea;
- gastroenteritis (a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the stomach and small intestine, the source of which can be bacterial, as well as viral or protozoal damage);
- enterocolitis (acute and chronic diseases of the digestive system, which are characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines);
- intoxication of the body with ethanol, drugs, as well as alkali or acids.
The drug can also be prescribed as part of a combination treatment for allergies and skin rashes.
special instructions
The medication should be taken with extreme caution in case of such problems and pathologies: cirrhosis of the liver, diseases of the cardiovascular system and kidneys.
Elderly patients and people with kidney disease may experience an increase in the amount of aluminum in plasma.
If constipation occurs after taking the medicine, you need to drink as much fluid as possible.
Since there is no sugar in the composition, the drug can be taken by people with diabetes.
The use of the medicine does not in any way affect the results of X-ray examinations.
The use of Phosphalugel cannot in any way affect the ability to drive a vehicle or operate other dangerous machinery.
How to store the drug at home?
Storage conditions are directly related to the effectiveness of the drug. Improper conditions can have a detrimental effect on the condition of Phosphalugel.
Storing the product requires compliance with the following conditions: the place must be dry, away from direct light or sunlight, with a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees Celsius. Please note that Phosphalugel should be stored out of the reach of small children and animals.
Experts recommend choosing closed cabinet shelves, tables, and other closed, protected places for storage. Storage in the kitchen is allowed without the risk of contact with moisture and sunlight.
Can it be stored in the refrigerator and freezer? Storage in the refrigerator is allowed, especially if the ambient temperature exceeds 25 degrees. But you shouldn’t put the drug in the freezer.
What storage conditions is the drug “afraid of”?
- Direct sunlight
- Heat,
- Freezing,
- Moisture.
Analogue drugs
- Almagel A
- Almagel Neo
- Gasterin
- Alfogel
- Aluminum phosphate
Opinions
Reviews about Phosphalugel are usually positive: the majority of people note the effectiveness of the drug and its rapid action. Among the disadvantages there are complaints about inconvenient packaging.
When the drug is used by children, the responses are also positive. Only a small number of negative reviews note that the medicine did not help the baby in a particular situation. Despite the indications and contraindications, Phosphalugel is used for most ailments associated with the gastrointestinal tract.
Also, many women note that the drug helps cope with frequent regurgitation, gagging and excessive gas formation in the child. At the same time, “Phosphalugel” is absolutely safe and pleasant to the taste, which allows you to safely give it to a baby who is taking the medication without being capricious.
Negative reviews about the medicine for children are considered isolated. They are usually associated with personal negative experience, when high hopes were placed on Phosphalugel, but it did not have the desired effect in each specific case.
"Phosphalugel" for poisoning
The drug is considered an ideal enterosorbent that binds toxins, as well as bacteria, metabolic products, metals, and allergens. All this makes it a valuable remedy for poisoning with poisons of various origins.
Use Phosphalugel immediately after gastric lavage. The earlier the medication is used, the stronger its positive effect. In case of poisoning, you need to take the maximum daily dosage without diluting in liquid - repeated every 3 hours during the day, after which take another two days in normal concentration.
Benefits of using the medicine
The drug has a number of positive aspects. It doesn't take up much space, so you can take it with you anywhere.
When treating children, there will be no difficulty that may be associated with the inability to give the child something to drink. The structure of the medicine includes a substance that provides a pleasant taste.
"Phosphalugel" is accessible. You can buy several bags or a set of 20 sachets. In this situation, you won’t have to worry about a shortage of the drug for quite a long time.
The medicine is dosed at the production stage. One sachet is a one-time dose for an adult patient. The effect of the medication appears quickly. "Phosphalugel" has a prolonged effect. The patient uses the gel, and after thirty minutes he already forgets about nausea.
Pregnancy and lactation
According to the instructions for Phosphalugel, pregnancy is also a contraindication. But this fact is not considered an obstacle to admission if there are good reasons for this. If indicated, the drug "Phosphalugel" can be used by pregnant women with the permission of the doctor. Aluminum phosphate does not provoke developmental abnormalities in the unborn baby and does not have any harmful effects even when the medicine is used in the early stages.
"Phosphalugel" can be used by women during lactation, there is no harm to the baby.
Why does Phosphalugel help in childhood?
Since the medicine is multifunctional, it is simply a panacea for children and their parents.
"Phosphalugel" eliminates gas formation, as well as colic, which affects many babies, usually under the age of three months.
In addition, the drug is an excellent remedy for diarrhea and bloating due to errors in nutrition or when introducing complementary foods for which the child’s stomach is not yet ready.
Little and slightly older patients suffer from stomach problems because they often put everything in their mouths. This usually causes food poisoning and disorders. Phosphalugel will help to cope with these problems. It is considered an effective and safe fast-acting medication.
This gel is also recommended for vomiting in a baby, but only a pediatrician prescribes it; you cannot self-medicate, because vomiting can be a sign of a dangerous disease that has nothing to do with digestive disorders.
Dosage is selected as prescribed by a medical specialist depending on the age and weight of the child. After Phosphalugel, relief comes.
