An asthma attack is a medical emergency. As a rule, patients suffering from this disease have in their arsenal means for stopping an attack. However, a more formidable pathology is the development of croup or an infectious-mediated inflammatory process of the upper respiratory tract in children. Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure and functioning, the friability of the submucosal layer and rich vascularization, the inflammatory process develops edema of the submucosal layer, which blocks the child's airways. Developed laryngospasm is a condition requiring emergency medical care. "Pulmicort" is a drug used to reduce swelling and facilitate breathing in this group of patients. Let's look at not only the drug itself, but also the analogue of "Pulmicort" for inhalation.
Pharmacological characteristics
"Pulmicort" is the trade name of a medicinal product with the main active ingredient, which is calledbudesonide. It is a glucocorticosteroid agent that exhibits a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect when applied topically.
Due to inhalation, budesonide penetrates both the initial and more distant parts of the bronchial tree, helping to reduce the swelling of the submucosal layer. When applied topically, budesonide does not have a systemic effect, which significantly reduces the frequency and severity of adverse reactions.
Indications for use
"Pulmicort" is used to treat bronchial asthma in a category of patients for whom the use of spraying the drug with compressed air or as a powder is unacceptable.
In addition, "Pulmicort" is used to stop croup in childhood (starting from 6 months) with further hospitalization in a medical institution.
How to use
Given that "Pulmicort" is a suspension for inhalation, the drug is administered using nebulizers, and the final effective dose that has an effect may vary depending on the device used.
In the case when an analogue of Pulmicort is used for inhalation in the form of a special inhaler, an effective dose for children can be provided by injecting two to three doses of the drug into an inhalation mask. The latter can be made from a plastic bottle by cutting it off from one end. The resulting edgeit is necessary to seal it with adhesive plaster and cotton wool, and insert an inhaler into the second one. Thus, without using Pulmicort, analogues for children can be inhaled by small children through such a mask.
Side effects
The drug "Pulmicort", despite the local effect, is able to have a resorptive effect and cause side effects characteristic of glucocorticosteroids. Of course, the frequency and severity of these effects with inhalation use is much less than with systemic use. Among such systemic effects, one can note a delay in the growth and development of children, a decrease in bone density and its mineralization. In addition, clouding of the lens, decreased visual acuity and increased intraocular pressure are likely.
Randomized studies indicate that "Pulmicort" with a high frequency causes hoarseness or hoarseness, cough with irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat.
Due to the immunosuppressive effect and the deposition of the drug on the surface of the oropharyngeal mucosa, the development of candidiasis is noted. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to rinse the mouth after each inhalation.
With a much lower frequency, Pulmicort is capable of causing disorders of the nervous system, which are manifested by nervousness, anxiety, depressive and behavioral disorders.
Allergic reactions are single, manifested by skin rash, dermatitis. Very rarely possibleoccurrence of angioedema and shock.
Contraindications
The use of the drug is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity, the occurrence of paradoxical bronchospasm. It is not recommended for use as an inhalation agent "Pulmicort" in patients with an open form of pulmonary tuberculosis, with fungal infections of the respiratory tract.
"Pulmicort" - analogues for children
Today, a large number of Pulmicort analogues are presented on the pharmaceutical market. Among them are: Apulein, Benakap, Benacort, Benarin, Budesonide, Bunoster and many other drugs representing the Russian analogue of Pulmicort and containing glucocorticoid hormones.
And what if you do not want to use hormonal-based inhaled drugs? You can use selective adrenomimetics, which are analogues (cheap) of Pulmicort. Refusal of hormonal drugs is often due to the patient's poor awareness of the drug or its high cost.
Among non-hormonal drugs that are an analogue of Pulmicort for inhalation, beta-adrenergic agonists can be recommended: Salbutomol, Ventlin. This group of drugs, due to the peculiarities of the mechanism of action, does not contribute to the removal of puffiness, however, it helps to increase the lumen of the bronchial tree by expanding the smooth muscles of the bronchi.
As a combined drug that can be used as an analogue of Pulmicort for inhalation, Seretide can be recommended. In its composition, this drug contains the beta-adrenergic agonist salmeterol, as well as the inhaled glucocorticosteroid fluticasone propionate. The effectiveness of the use of this tool is achieved by expanding the lumen of the bronchial tree, as well as by providing a local anti-inflammatory effect on the bronchial tree. It is worth saying that Seretide is not a liquid for inhalation, it is a powder with a special inhaler. This requires careful attention to the procedure, however, this drug may well act as an analogue of Pulmicort for inhalation for a child of 4 years old.
Cost of Pulmicort and its analogues
Would you like to purchase medicines in which the active ingredient is budesonide - "Pulmicort", analogues? The price of the original drug is about 1,000 rubles for 20 doses of 2 ml each containing 0.25 mg/ml budesonide, and about 1,400 rubles for 20 similar doses containing 0.5 mg/ml budesonide.
The price of drugs that have a different mechanism of action can vary significantly. For example, an aerosol for inhalation "Salbutamol" will cost only 95-100 rubles, and a combined "Seretide" in the form of an aerosol for inhalation will cost a little more than 2000 rubles.
Conclusion
With the help of the above medicines, the removal of an attack of bronchial asthma or croup in children inat home is not such a complicated procedure. It is important to remember that croup is a direct indication for hospitalization in a medical facility.
If, after two or three inhalations of medicines, the baby does not breathe easier, be sure to call an ambulance and inform your doctor. And the last thing - if it is not possible to purchase a nebulizer, or it simply was not at hand at the right time, buy analogues (cheap) of Pulmicort.
