"Smecta" is an excellent remedy used for food poisoning, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. How quickly Smekta helps depends on the underlying cause of the disease. For example, with food poisoning, 2-3 doses of medicine will be required to alleviate the patient's condition, and it may take several days to completely stop diarrhea. What are the features of the use of the drug and its difference from similar drugs?
Composition
The main active ingredient of "Smecta" is a natural mineral extracted from shell rock - dioctahedral smectite (Diosmectite). It belongs to the group of adsorbents of mineral origin.
Manufactured by Beaufour Ipsen International. The substance is a grayish-white or grayish-yellow powder. To improve the taste, the manufacturer adds glucose, saccharin and vanillin to the composition of the product - and a preparation with the trade name "Smecta" is obtained. What helpsmedicine? It is mainly used for diarrhea of various etiologies.
Issue form
The powder is packaged in 3 g paper bags. There are 10 or 30 bags in a carton box.
Before use, the contents of 1 sachet are diluted in half a glass of water, gradually pouring the powder into the water and stirring. It turns out an opaque suspension, which is drunk before or after meals, observing an interval of 1-2 hours. Also do not allow mixing "Smecta" with other drugs. Otherwise, there will be no effect from them - they will be absorbed by Smekta. Store the drug at a temperature not higher than + 25 ° С.
Mechanism of action
"Smecta" refers to drugs for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. Its action is based on the ability of the smectite crystal lattice to selectively attract and fix viruses, bacteria, toxins, gases and other harmful substances on its surface.
This process is called adsorption. In addition, "Smecta" improves the production of mucus and together with it forms a glycoprotein layer that protects the intestinal wall from the irritating effects of chemical and physical factors, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This is the main advantage of the drug over other drugs with adsorption properties. In the complex therapy of enteritis, including those of infectious origin, "Smecta" is always prescribed. What does the drug help with, besides inflammation of the intestines? Here is a list of indications for the use of "Smecta":
- food allergy;
- medicated diarrhea;
- diarrhea due to eating disorders;
- food poisoning;
- heartburn;
- gastritis;
- peptic ulcer;
- bloating due to increased gas production.
"Smecta" can be used for children of any age, pregnant and lactating women. Let's take a closer look at the features of use for various symptoms of indigestion.
Loose stools
Does "Smekta" help with diarrhea? Of course, because this is the main purpose of the drug. Diarrhea stops due to the removal of harmful and irritating substances from the intestines, the creation of a high-quality protective mucous layer on its inner shell. In case of poisoning and irritable bowel syndrome, Smecta is one of the best adsorbents. If diarrhea is caused by infectious causes, then, in addition to Smecta, the doctor will prescribe antibacterial drugs. Recall that the interval between taking any medication and Smecta should be 1-2 hours, otherwise their effectiveness will decrease significantly. Adults with diarrhea are prescribed 1 sachet three times a day until the stool normalizes. Thus, the daily dose of the drug is 9 g.
Does "Smecta" help with vomiting?
"Smecta" refers to antidiarrheal drugs, but can it be used for vomiting? It depends on the reason that caused it. As a rule, infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and food poisoning are accompanied by vomiting. In these cases, it is recommended to take "Smecta" asadsorbent that removes harmful substances from the stomach and intestines. The dose is the same as for diarrhea - 1 sachet per reception. If immediately after taking the medicine, the patient vomited again, then you need to drink the drug again.
"Smecta" helps with vomiting only if the process was caused by poor-quality food, toxic substances or an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract entering the stomach. In all other cases, such as vomiting due to high fever, head injury, nervous disorders, taking adsorbents is useless.
"Smecta" helps with nausea if it is caused by the accumulation of toxic products in the stomach or intestines associated with the development of a viral or bacterial infection in the intestines, eating poor quality food. By removing harmful substances, the adsorbent removes the cause of nausea.
Use in children
Not all drugs are suitable for small patients. One of the medicines allowed for children of any age is Smekta. How does she help kids? From problems like:
- liquid stool;
- gas in the intestines;
- rotavirus infections;
- food poisoning;
- heartburn;
- dysbacteriosis.
Newborns can take "Smecta" already on the second or third day as prescribed by the pediatrician for jaundice.
Doses for toddlers differ from those recommended for adults. Up to a year, the daily dose is 3 g - 1 sachet. Up to two years - 6 g (2 sachets). Older than two years - as in adults, up to 9 g, i.e. up to 3 sachets per day. It is better to divide the daily dose into two or threereception. You can mix the drug not only with water, but also with baby formulas, purees, compotes. For small children, the contents of the sachet are diluted in 50 ml of liquid. If "Smecta" is given in puree or milk formula, then you need to divide the daily dose of the powder into three parts and dilute before use so that the food does not spoil. Give the child a teaspoon of water for 1-2 hours, the next dose of medicine can be given after 2 hours.
Advantages of "Smecta" over other adsorbents:
- does not affect gastrointestinal motility;
- does not injure the intestinal wall with microparticles;
- selective adsorption - does not remove vitamins and trace elements from the body;
- has an enveloping effect.
Smekta with orange flavor is produced for children.
Contraindications for use
Do not take the drug for intestinal obstruction. It is also prescribed with caution with a tendency to chronic constipation, individually selecting the dose. Very rarely there are cases of individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
Side effects
Cases of Smecta overdose have not been recorded. Possible side effects:
- development of constipation;
- allergic reactions - urticaria, pruritus, rash, Quincke's edema;
- when used incorrectly - a decrease in the rate and degree of absorption from the gastrointestinal tract of other drugs.
Undesirableuse Smecta for more than 7 days.
What helps and how effective is the remedy, according to consumers? Most of them agree that it is the most effective remedy for diarrhea and vomiting due to food poisoning in children and adults. Also, many mothers give Smecta to babies with colic, combining it with Espumizan. There are reviews that in some children this adsorbent may cause vomiting due to its consistency or constipation, which disappears when the drug is discontinued or the dose is reduced. As for the taste of the medicine, adults do not experience any problems. But children often refuse to take it because of the not very pleasant taste.
In general, Smecta is an affordable and high-quality drug for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea and, in some cases, vomiting in children and adults. Subject to the instructions for use, the medication is harmless and has virtually no contraindications and side effects.
