"Smecta" is an excellent drug for the treatment of food poisoning and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug belongs to the group of antidiarrheal drugs. "Smecta", analogues of which may refer to other pharmacological groups, has its own characteristics.
Why is Smekta so popular
The active substance of the drug is dioctahedral smectite, or diosmectite. It is a powder of natural origin from the group of aluminosilicates, like clay. "Smecta" (its analogues based on the same active substance) has a number of unique properties:
- Has selective adsorbing properties. That is, it fixes toxins, viruses and pathogenic microbes in its discoid-crystal structure, without affecting low-molecular substances (vitamins, micro- and macroelements).
- Stabilizes the mucus barrier by forming polyvalent bonds with mucus glycoproteins. Thus, it has an indirect enveloping effect,prevents the absorption of toxins from the intestines and protects its membrane from damage.
- Diosmectite aluminum is not absorbed from the intestine under any circumstances.
- In recommended doses, the drug does not affect intestinal motility.
- Smecta and other preparations based on diosmectite do not stain the stool and do not interfere with X-ray studies of the stomach and intestines.
- The drug can be given to newborns.
Indications for the use of "Smecta"
First of all, "Smecta" is prescribed for diarrhea of various origins, for the symptomatic treatment of heartburn and bloating. The drug is successfully used in adults and children with food poisoning and intoxication. The list of dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the drug is used:
- acute diarrhea;
- chronic diarrhea;
- allergic diarrhea;
- after taking medication;
- as a result of a change in diet;
- infectious diarrhea;
- heartburn;
- bloating;
- other symptoms of dyspepsia.
Other products with the same active ingredient
Not only Smecta is suitable for the treatment of acute diarrhea. Analogues, the price of which is slightly lower than the widely advertised drug, contain the same diosmectite and are prescribed in the same doses.
- "Neosmectin". Available in powder form in sachets of 3.76 g. The package may contain 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 or 30 sachets. Producer OJSC "Pharmstandard-Leksredstva", Russia. The cost of a package of 10 bags is 133 rubles.
- "Diosmectite". The powder is packaged in sachets of 3 g. There are 10 or 30 pieces in a package. Producer "Pharmacor Production", Russia. The cost of a small package is 130 rubles.
- "Benta". Powder in sachets of 3 g, pack of 20 or 40 sachets. Producer "Dzhankoysko-Sivashsky DEZ", Crimea. The cost is 80 rubles.
For comparison, 10 bags of Smecta cost about 155 rubles.
Analogue of "Smecta" for children - "Neosmectite" with orange flavor.
Enterosorbents - analogues of "Smecta"
According to the pharmacological classification, "Smecta" refers to antidiarrheal drugs. Its closest "relatives" are drugs from the group of intestinal sorbents. They also have the ability to bind harmful substances and pathogenic microorganisms in the intestinal lumen, but have a weaker enveloping effect than Smecta. Analogues of the old generation drug may not have it at all - like activated charcoal. In addition, some of them are not recommended for children under one or three years of age. Here is a list of these enterosorbent preparations:
- Polifepan;
- "Enterosgel";
- Polysorb;
- Ultrasorb;
- "Sorbentomax";
- Filtrum;
- Enterodesis;
- "Almagel";
- activated carbon.
The question is often asked whether Enterosgel or Smecta is better. There is no single answer, alldepends on the specific situation.
Enterosgel
The drug "Enterosgel" is available in the form of a gel or paste. The latter can be with a sweet taste, especially for children. The active substance is methylsilicic acid hydrogel. Just like diosmectite, it has a selective sorption effect, that is, it removes only toxins, poisons, bacteria and viruses from the intestines, and does not affect intestinal motility. It is prescribed mainly for poisoning of various origins, including chronic allergies. With hepatitis and renal failure. "Enterosgel" removes harmful decay products, facilitating the course of the disease. So the answer to the question: "Enterosgel" or "Smecta" - which is better? will depend on the signs of the disease. If the symptoms of poisoning predominate, they take Enterosgel. And in case of acute diarrhea and bloating, they choose Smecta.
"Smecta" or "Polysorb"
"Polysorb" contains a colloidal form of silicon dioxide. This substance captures and removes everything from the body, regardless of the molecular weight of the particles. Preference is given to him in case of acute poisoning with potent poisons, with food and drug allergies, acute intestinal infections. The drug has contraindications:
- bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract;
- peptic ulcer;
- decreased intestinal tone, constipation.
Also, it should not be given to children under the age of one year.
Imodium
The drug "Imodium" has a completely different mechanism of action than "Smecta". It does not affect the cause of diarrhea, but reduces the sensitivity of the nerve receptors of the intestinal wall. As a result, peristalsis slows down, the tone of the intestinal muscles decreases and diarrhea stops. Such treatment is justified in rare cases. Indeed, in case of poisoning and infections, diarrhea is a protective reaction of the body aimed at removing harmful microorganisms, their toxins and poisons from the intestines. It is used as prescribed by a doctor for acute and chronic diarrhea. It has many contraindications, in particular infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation in the intestines, peptic ulcer, pregnancy and lactation, children's age.
By the way, "Imodium", the price of which is by no means the lowest (25 rubles per tablet), can be replaced with other drugs, where the active ingredient is also loperamide hydrochloride:
- "Lopedium" - 5 rubles;
- "Vero-loperamide" - 1 ruble;
- "Loperamide" - 1 ruble;
- "Diara" - 3 rubles per tablet.
Linex
With intestinal infections and diarrhea, the drug "Linex" is often prescribed. There is also no definite answer to the question of what works more efficiently, Linex or Smekta. "Linex" is a drug from the group of probiotics. It contains three cultures of live bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the intestines. Taking it, the patient restores the microflora and, as a result, improvesdigestion. By itself, Linex does not have an antidiarrheal effect.
Therefore, "Lineks" and "Smecta" it is desirable to take at the same time, observing a two-hour interval between drugs. The first drug will improve digestion, and the second will stop diarrhea and remove harmful products from the intestines.
Linex should be preferred if diarrhea occurs as a result of taking antibiotics that upset the balance of microflora in the intestine, or in case of chronic indigestion due to dysbacteriosis.
What's best for kids
"Smecta" is often prescribed to newborns to reduce gas formation, during the formation of digestion or in case of intestinal upset. And this is justified, since the drug has a minimum of side effects, is not absorbed from the intestines and is effective in a variety of pathologies:
- food allergies;
- indigestion due to mixture change;
- medicated diarrhea;
- vomiting and heartburn;
- flu and rotavirus infections;
- bloating, colic, flatulence.
The drug and any other analogue of "Smecta" for children based on diosmectite should be used with caution in case of a tendency to constipation. In case of bloating and increased gas formation, Espumizan or Bobotik preparations can be given instead. In mild cases, it is better to do with physiotherapy methods or dill water. In case of poisoning, children under one year old are given one of the intestinal sorbents: "Polifepam","Enterosgel", "Polysorb MP". Remember that with diarrhea, all drugs should be prescribed by a pediatrician. Perhaps the cause is more serious than you thought, and antibiotic treatment will be needed.
Attention! It is forbidden to give medicines based on loperamide (Imodium, Lopedium, Diarol) to children under 6 years of age.
With diarrhea of a different nature, poisoning and increased gas formation in the stomach and intestines, the drug "Smecta" is recommended. Russian-made analogues containing the same active ingredient are Neosmectin and Diosmectite. They are somewhat cheaper, are taken according to the same scheme and have an effective sorption and enveloping effect. In case of poisoning, you can take medicinal analogues from the group of intestinal sorbents - Enterosgel, Polyfepam, Polysorb and others. Drugs such as Imodium, Linex or Enterol are not substitutes for Smecta and can be prescribed in addition to it.
