Cranberry is a very useful berry. It can be eaten, but since it has specific taste properties, not everyone does it.
However, cranberries have many medicinal properties. In cases where a patient is prescribed a medicine with this plant, most people prefer cranberry extract, which is available in the form of capsules or tablets. Such medicines are not classified as medicines, but as active biological supplements. Most often, the extract is used to enhance the basic therapy of pathologies of the urinary system, kidneys.
Impact, pharmacological group
Specialists prescribe this drug as an additional component of combination therapy. Cranberry extract is able to enhance anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial therapy, which is carried out using a variety of medications, including antibiotics, which have a wide range of effects.
The tool has the followingpharmacological effects:
- May enhance immune activity, help fight pathogens.
- Able to stop pathological processes in tissues that have an infectious or inflammatory genesis.
- Prevents the reproduction of pathogenic flora.
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Properly used to achieve a moderate diuretic effect.
As a rule, a tableted cranberry extract is recommended for use if the patient has inflammatory processes in the walls of the bladder (cystitis). However, these drugs have a number of other indications.
The main active ingredient in the composition of such drugs is cranberry extract. Auxiliary components are usually starch and talc. In addition, the drug may contain other substances: useful plants, herbs that enhance the medicinal properties of the drug.
The main features of this remedy are good tolerability and the almost complete absence of negative effects. There is also a drawback - if monotherapy is carried out, the drug shows low efficiency.
Dose forms
Medication is produced by manufacturers in several dosage forms. Most often, these are tablets or capsules.
Other forms of cranberry extract are very rare.
Indications for use
There are several urologicalpathologies that may be an indication for the appointment of a remedy. The following states can be attributed to them:
- Chronic forms of cystitis, pyelonephritis.
- Diabetic nephropathy. In this case, the tool helps to reduce sugar levels, improve kidney function.
- Impaired outflow of urine, conditions accompanied by fluid retention.
- Presence of sand in the kidneys, small stones.
- Inflammatory processes in the bladder, cystitis of a specific and non-specific nature.
- Increased load on the organs of the urinary system, kidneys.
- Puffiness syndrome that occurs during pregnancy.
- Other pathological conditions of the urinary system, kidneys, which have a chronic type of course.
In addition, cranberry extract in capsules or tablets can be used for other pathologies.
- Decreased immune activity.
- Gastritis characterized by high acidity.
- Cholelithiasis.
Also, the remedy can be taken as a prophylaxis during periods of colds, viral diseases. Cranberry perfectly stimulates the activity of the immune system, and therefore its extract is often recommended to enhance the effectiveness of the main treatment.
Contraindications for use
Nominally, herbal remedies have very few contraindications. If they exist, they are associated with the individual susceptibility of the organism to the components incomposition of the drug. Experts do not recommend the use of cranberry extract in the presence of the following physiological or pathological conditions:
- Violation of the outflow of urine due to stopping the ureter with a calculus.
- Prone to allergic reactions.
- Signs of kidney failure.
- Hypersensitivity to the components of the remedy, to the remedy as a whole.
- Individual intolerance to the components in the product.
If we talk about renal insufficiency, then drugs with cranberry extract can be used to treat it, but only on the recommendation and under the supervision of a specialist. Conditionally, the remedy can be used during pregnancy in order to eliminate preeclampsia, however, the appointment in this case should be done exclusively by a doctor. The gynecologist will have to assess the general well-being of the woman, exclude contraindications from her.
Negative effects, intoxication
Overdose cases of herbal remedies are quite rare. However, if the patient has taken a large dose of cranberry fruit extract, he should be provided with warm, plentiful fluids, as well as bed rest for 2-3 days.
With the development of attacks of nausea and vomiting, doctors recommend symptomatic therapy, which will facilitate the general well-being of the patient and stop the unpleasant symptoms that have arisen against the background of intoxication.
Overdose of the drug significantly increases the likelihood of side effects.symptoms:
- Profuse urination.
- Development of vomiting, nausea.
- Feeling worse.
If a patient has calculi in the kidneys, then the diuretic effect of the drug can provoke their displacement or exit. If the stones are large, it is recommended to refrain from using the product.
Using Cranberry Extract
On average, cranberry extract therapy lasts 30 days. But the doctor may recommend an increase in the course up to 2-3 months. At most, such treatment can last six months.
The dosage for each patient is determined individually. As a rule, it is recommended to take 1 capsule (tablet) of cranberry extract once a day. It should be taken after a meal, washing down the drug with plenty of water.
Dosage for pregnant women is also determined individually. In some cases, women are advised to take up to 3 capsules per day. Since the susceptibility of the body during pregnancy is increased, the likelihood of allergic responses increases significantly.
During lactation, the appointment of products based on cranberry extract is a reason to suspend breastfeeding. For children, the remedy can only be prescribed by a doctor, and reduced dosages should be used.
Analogues
An analogue can be considered any medication, which contains cranberry extract. The most popular are: "Monurel", "Cystivit", "Cistorenal", "Urinal".
It is worth remembering that the listed drugs have certain contraindications and can provoke the development of unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, the replacement of the drug should be agreed with the doctor.
Cranberry extract reviews
Specialists respond positively to the extract, recommend its use for the treatment of recurrent and chronic pathologies of the bladder organ and kidneys. Patients report high effectiveness of treatment with such drugs, separately note the natural composition, the almost complete absence of contraindications and negative effects.
