Instructions for use
The drug Gastal is used to immediately eliminate the symptoms of heartburn, sour belching, and pain in the stomach that arise both due to errors in nutrition and chronic gastritis with high acidity.
It also has a positive effect on the gastric mucosa, which is damaged as a result of long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs, for example: ketoprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, etc., and glucocorticosteroids, etc.
Gastal is prescribed to patients as an adjuvant therapy for conditions characterized by increased stomach acidity:
- Stomach ulcer, to relieve symptoms of heartburn and abdominal pain;
- Reflux esophagitis, manifested in chest pain when swallowing and heartburn;
- Gastritis;
- Esophageal hernia.
Mode of application
The tablet is taken orally, dissolving in the mouth.
The dosage is determined by the physiological weight of the human body. Children over 12 years of age and adults weighing over 50 kg are recommended to take 1-2 tablets at a time, an hour after meals. The daily dosage should not exceed 8 tablets . The duration of therapy is no more than 2 weeks.
Children over 6 years old and adults weighing less than 50 kg are prescribed 0.5 - 1 tablet an hour after meals, with a treatment duration of no more than 2 weeks. The daily dose of the drug should not exceed 4 tablets.
Composition and release form
The drug Gastal is available in the form of round white tablets, packaged in blister packs of 6 pieces, each package contains 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 blisters. The tablets may have a mint or cherry flavor.
1 tablet of Gastal contains active substances : 300 mg of magnesium hydroxide and 450 mg of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, and excipients: starch, lactose, mannitol, aspartame, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium and flavorings (mint, cherry).
Co-administration of Gastal with tetracycline group antibiotics, aspirin, antibacterial drugs (quinolones), isoniazid (anti-tuberculosis drug), naproxen, indomethacin, aminazine, antihistamines and anticoagulant drugs reduces their therapeutic effect.
Gastal is not recommended to be taken with vitamins A, D, E, K and iron supplements, as it reduces their absorption by the body. All of the above medications must be taken two hours or an hour before taking Gastal.
Shelf life Gastal
The date of manufacture of the drug and the expiration date are indicated on the cardboard packaging, as well as on the blisters (tablets) and sachets (suspension).
The shelf life of the drug, regardless of the dosage form, is 3 years .
The expiration date indicated on the packaging will only be valid if the storage conditions specified by the manufacturer in the instructions are met!
The tablets are stored in blisters, so they are guaranteed to last until the end of the shelf life.
An opened sachet with suspension must be used within 24 hours! Once opened, the liquid contents are no longer sterile and become an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.
If the drugs are stored under the conditions specified by the manufacturer, they can be used until the last day of the expiration date.
How to determine if a medicine is expired? how to detect a defect?
When purchasing a drug at a pharmacy, look at the expiration date indicated on the package. If there are several days left before the expiration date, it is better to refuse the purchase. Examine the packaging to see if there are any signs of exposure to water or sun fading. Check that the blisters or sachets are hermetically sealed at the factory. If the tablets have changed their original color or crumbled, they should not be taken under any circumstances.
Is it possible to take expired medications?
The instructions for use clearly state: do not use after the expiration date!
If you take expired medications, you do so at your own risk. At best, they will lose their therapeutic effect, and at worst, toxic substances will form in them.
Side effects and contraindications
Gastal is contraindicated for use by children under 6 years of age and by persons who are hypersensitive to the drug and its components, including lactose, aluminum, and magnesium.
It is prohibited to take the drug for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or kidney failure.
Gastal does not pass into breast milk, so it can be taken during lactation and pregnancy, but only under the supervision of a specialist.
Side effects
Side effects to the drug are registered in less than 0.1% of cases, and are observed from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, changes in taste, stool disorders.
With long-term use of Gastal and exceeding the recommended doses, the level of phosphorus and calcium in the body decreases, and magnesium and aluminum increase. Encephalopathy, renal failure, and osteoporosis may develop.
When these symptoms appear, they are therapeutically eliminated and the drug is discontinued.
How to store Gastal at home
The main parameters that must be observed when choosing a storage location for the medicine:
- air temperature and humidity;
- contact with air and light;
- availability of storage space for family members.
Gastal in both dosage forms is stored at a temperature not exceeding +25 °C. Do not store medications near heating appliances or near the stove in the kitchen. If in the summer the temperature in the apartment is higher, put the medicine in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer, since low temperatures have the same detrimental effect on drugs as high temperatures.
Another factor that can negatively affect medications is high humidity. Tablets are hygroscopic and easily absorb moisture, so do not store them in the bathroom or on the loggia. Optimal humidity is no more than 60%.
Medicines are quickly destroyed by exposure to sunlight and heat.
In the open state, volatile components evaporate from the medicine, and it is possible to react with oxygen in the air (oxidation). Therefore, the tablets should be stored in their original packaging, and not poured into another jar with a lid.
Taking into account the listed parameters, it is better to choose a dark, cool place to store the drug, away from heating devices (a closed cabinet with an opaque door, a bedside table).
The selected storage location must be inaccessible to children and pets!
Analogs
Gastal belongs to the medicinal group of antacid drugs. Antacids neutralize hydrochloric acid, thereby helping to reduce acidity in the stomach. Antacids are classified into absorbable (they have a quick effect, but have a short-term effect) and non-absorbable (the neutralizing effect develops somewhat later, but is maintained for a longer time).
Gastal belongs to the group of non-absorbable antacids containing magnesium hydroxide and alhydrate (aluminum hydroxide).
Direct analogues of the drug having the same composition are:
- Ajiflux;
- Almagel;
- Alumag;
- Gastracid;
- Maalox;
- Rivolox;
- Palmagel.
Indirect analogues of the drug, belonging to the group of non-absorbable antacids and containing phosphoric acid - “Phosphalugel”, “Alfogel”, “Gasterin”.
Their effect directly depends on the acidity content in the stomach; the higher it is, the more effective the medicine.
Preparations with the addition of alginic acid - “Gaviscon”, “Topalkan”. Thanks to the content of alginic acid, they prevent the reflux of acidic contents into the esophagus.
Preparations with the addition of Simecticon - “Almagel Neo”, “Simalgel-VM”, “Relzer”. Additionally, they prevent the development of flatulence.
Absorbable antacids have a similar effect , but a short-term effect and contain magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate - these are Rennie, Tums, Andrews Antacid.
Video on the topic: Drug Gastal
Properties of the medicine
The drug "Gastal" for heartburn helps very well. This effect is due to its composition.
Aluminum hydroxide-magnesium carbonate gel is a buffer antacid substance that lowers the acidity of gastric juice to normal levels and normalizes digestion processes. It should also be noted that aluminum hydroxide is able to inactivate pepsin, which is contained in gastric juice.
As for magnesium hydroxide, it is a non-buffered antacid. It is not absorbed in the intestines, but very quickly neutralizes acidity and also has a laxative effect.
According to the instructions, the complex of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide ensures activation of the antacid effect and reduces the risk of side effects that are characteristic of each ingredient separately (for example, diarrhea after using magnesium compounds and constipation after using aluminum).
The antacid effect of the drug in question appears almost immediately after taking the medicine and lasts for two hours. In this case, the medication inactivates pepsin, lysolecithin and bile acids.
It should also be noted that aluminum hydroxide enhances protective and regenerative processes in the stomach.
In pregnant and lactating women
The drug is not indicated for use during pregnancy and lactation. Prescribed by a doctor when the benefits of use outweigh the possible harm of the medicine. The reception is under his control.
The active ingredients of the drug Gastal can lead to disruption of bone formation in the fetus and lead to developmental delays.
During lactation, breast milk begins to contain components of the drug, so it is not advisable to drink Gastal while breastfeeding.
What does Gastal help with?
By asking your doctor this question, you will receive an answer that the drug in question is good for relieving indigestion, as well as pain and discomfort in the stomach.
Will Gastal help with heartburn? And in this condition, the medication in question is very effective.
So, the indications for taking the mentioned tablets are:
- diseases that are characterized by increased acid formation (for example, peptic ulcer, gastritis or reflux esophagitis);
- such dyspeptic manifestations as heartburn, epigastric pain, sour belching, discomfort after drinking coffee, alcoholic beverages, nicotine, errors in diet and taking a number of medications.
Does Gastal help with nausea? This drug eliminates such a condition only if it is associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Overdose
During the treatment of heartburn with the drug "Gastal", no cases of overdose were identified. However, if you use this drug incorrectly and neglect the timing of treatment, then magnesium and aluminum, which are part of the drug, can lead to an increase in their concentration in the blood. This can lead to bone disorders, osteoporosis and nephrocalcinosis. And if the patient has been diagnosed with impaired renal function, then in case of an overdose, thirst, low blood pressure and decreased reflexes may be a concern.
It is important to adhere to the dosage indicated in the instructions, since excessive consumption of calcium and magnesium, which are contained in the drug, can lead to constipation or diarrhea. If the patient observes the above signs of overdose, then he should relieve the symptoms with special medications and continue therapy with Gastal in recommended doses.
Special Recommendations
Use of this drug in large dosages may cause intestinal obstruction. If after treatment the patient’s body weight has decreased, there is constant discomfort in the abdomen and difficulty swallowing, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is highly not recommended to use the medication in question for more than two weeks in a row without a doctor’s prescription.
When is it prescribed?
The main indications for the use of Gastal are any pathological conditions in which there is an increase in the acidity of gastric juice. These conditions include:
- heartburn - both occurring against the background of organic pathology, and as a result of lifestyle disorders (overeating, bad habits);
- gastritis - inflammation of the gastric mucosa;
- ulcers and erosions - in the wall of the stomach;
- reflux - reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus (organic, functional);
- pancreatitis - an inflammatory process in the pancreas;
- food poisoning - accompanied by increased acidity in the stomach;
- bloating - as a result of the predominance of putrefactive or fermentative processes in the intestines.
According to reviews of Gastal tablets, their use eliminates heartburn, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, and improves digestion. However, it should be remembered that the use of an antacid does not always eliminate the cause of unpleasant symptoms. You should consult your doctor; you may need to prescribe antacids and other medications at the same time. It should also be borne in mind that Gastal is taken only one or two hours after taking other medications.
You can take Gastal to prevent heartburn, for example, due to overeating or poor diet. This is especially recommended for people with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Reviews
Approximately 80% of reviews about Gastal are positive. People like its high speed of action and long-lasting effect. Also, many consider Gastal an ideal remedy if heartburn is a relatively rare problem. In addition, almost all people note the pleasant taste of the tablets and the absence of the need to drink the drug. This means that the tablet can be dissolved to relieve heartburn from anywhere.
Negative reviews about Gastal are associated with the lack of effect. In this case, people, as a rule, write that the pills do not help them, and consider this to be evidence of the poor quality of the drug. There are some negative reviews due to the gradual decrease in effect with long-term use of the drug. However, in neither case are the pills bad or ineffective, it’s just that each person is different. All medications must be selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the body.
Gastal or Rennie?
Rennie is an absorbable drug, while Gastal does not penetrate the blood at all. Rennie enters into a chemical reaction with hydrochloric acid directly on the stomach mucosa, quickly neutralizes it and eliminates heartburn almost instantly. However, this drug has a serious complication - it can cause the so-called acid rebound, in which immediately after the drug wears off, stomach cells begin to synthesize even more acid. That is, the effect of Rennie tablets is very fast, but short-lived. In addition, as a result of the neutralization reaction with hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxide is formed, which has a strong irritant effect on the gastric mucosa.
Gastal adsorbs excess hydrochloric acid, neutralizing it in this way. Due to its mechanism of action, Gastal eliminates heartburn more slowly than Rennie, but its effect lasts much longer. In addition to eliminating heartburn, the drug also has a protective effect, increasing the synthesis of mucus, which covers the surface of the stomach and intestines, protecting against the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid.
In view of the listed properties of the drugs, from a safety point of view, it is better to use Gastal. But in rare cases, when heartburn is very severe and there is no way to tolerate it, you can use Rennie tablets, which have an immediate effect. We can conditionally divide the areas of application of the drugs as follows: a one-time use as a highly effective first aid is Rennie, and Gastal is more suitable for continuous use.
Some features
Magnesium salts formed as a result of contact with hydrochloric acid have some laxative effect, which compensates for the fixing effect of aluminum salts.
The drug disrupts phosphate metabolism, causing hypophosphatemia with prolonged use.
Aluminum and magnesium salts may interfere with the absorption of some other drugs and affect their effect.
You should not drink Gastal together with iron supplements, fat-soluble vitamins, or drugs that affect blood clotting (an interval of about 1–2 hours is needed).
Release form and composition
The drug Gastal is available exclusively in the form of lozenges. Production is organized at the facilities of the Croatian pharmaceutical company PLIVA HRVATSKA, doo. The drug is available in the form of tablets of the following types:
- With mint flavor.
- Mint flavored.
- Cherry flavored.
All versions of Gastal tablets are painted white and have a smooth surface with a chamfer. Tablets with mint and cherry flavors are available in packs of 24 and 48 pieces. And Gastal without flavoring additives goes on sale in packages of 12, 30 and 60 tablets.
