Many of us are familiar with the properties of the drug "Levomycetin", with which you can cope with various ailments. It is effective in infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including those accompanied by diarrhea, and is widely used in ophthalmic practice for diseases of bacterial etiology. However, the use of this medication is not always justified, so the doctor may prescribe an analogue of Levomycetin. But what kind of means can be recommended, let's try to figure it out.
Pharmacological properties of the drug "Levomycetin"
This broad-spectrum antibiotic, due to its fat-soluble properties, easily penetrates the cell membrane of pathogenic microorganisms and reacts with the substance of bacterial ribosomes. The result of such an impact is a violationformation of peptide bonds and protein synthesis. Thus, it turns out that the active substance of the drug has a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect.
"Levomycetin" is active against many strains of microorganisms that are resistant to tetracyclines, sulfonamides and penicillins. But on pathogenic protozoa - Mycobacterium tuberculosis and fungi - the medication, unfortunately, does not work.
Resistance to this agent in microorganisms develops very slowly. Due to this feature, as well as high toxicity, the drug is used to treat severe infectious diseases, in which antibacterial drugs with less toxicity are ineffective.
Indications for use and formulations
Since the drug is used in several areas of medicine, pharmacists took care of the convenience of use and developed three main forms of the drug. The first is an alcohol solution, which is intended for external use. It is prescribed for the treatment of trophic ulcers that do not heal for a long time, as well as burns of II and III degrees. Quite often, a remedy is recommended for purulent skin lesions, boils and nipple cracks in nursing mothers.
The medicine in tablet form is advised to be taken by patients suffering from such ailments as dysentery, paratyphoid, typhoid fever, brucellosis, salmonellosis, tularemia, brain abscess, pneumonia. The drug is no less effective in various forms of KU fever, inguinal lymphogranuloma, yersiniosis, psittacosis, infectionsbiliary tract, purulent peritonitis, chlamydia, purulent wound infections, ehrlichiosis, purulent otitis media and urinary tract diseases of bacterial origin.
The third form of the remedy is eye drops. They are used in ophthalmic practice for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis.
Side effects of the remedy
This medication, like other drugs, in addition to positive pharmacological properties, has a number of side effects that may occur during therapy.
The use of the drug in tablet form can cause dysbacteriosis, dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, as well as irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and oral cavity. The hematopoietic system can also respond to the drug, which manifests itself in the form of thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia, erythrocytopenia, reticulocytopenia and leukopenia. Less commonly, the patient may develop aplastic anemia or granulocytopenia. From the side of the nervous system, the reaction to Levomycetin tablets may be peripheral neuritis, confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, psychomotor disorders, etc.
Adverse reactions to the use of the drug in the form of a solution may be an allergy, manifested in the form of a skin rash or angioedema.
Structural analog of the tool
The main active ingredient of the drug is chloramphenicol. Therefore, the main structural analogue of Levomycetin is a drug of the same name"Chloramphenicol". Indications for its use are completely identical to those described in the instructions for use of Levomycetin.
This tool is produced in three main forms. The first is tablets and capsules containing 0.5 and 0.25 g of the active ingredient. The second form is 25% eye drops, the third is a powder for solution for injection.
It is worth noting that, like Levomycetin, analogs containing chloramphenicol are broad-spectrum antibiotics and should be prescribed directly by a doctor. In cases of self-administration of drugs in this group, the risk of side effects increases.
Drug "Levovinizole"
Another structural analogue of "Levomycetin", which today can be purchased at a pharmacy, is known under the trade name "Levovinizole". The basis of this tool used chloramphenicol and a number of excipients. The medicine is produced in the form of an aerosol, liniment, powder for the preparation of a solution and a ready-made alcohol solution.
Prescribe this drug for various bacterial skin infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. In addition, doctors often use the medicine to treat patients with infected deep and superficial burns, bedsores, trophic ulcers, non-healing wounds, boils, and also recommend the medicine to nursing women with nipple cracks.
Unlike the drug "Levomycetin", modern analogues for topical use, in particular the drug "Levovinizole", have a small listside effects, so they can even be used to treat children from birth.
As for contraindications, there are not so many of them either. The remedy is prohibited for people with hypersensitivity to the components, inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis, as well as those who suffer from acute intermittent porphyria, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, renal or hepatic insufficiency, psoriasis, fungal infections of the epidermis, eczema.
Means "Synthomycin"
Trying to understand the question of what the drug "Levomycetin" has synonyms and analogues, one should definitely mention the drug "Synthomycin". This remedy is often prescribed to patients with infected burns of the 2nd-3rd degree of severity, non-healing trophic ulcers and various wound infections.
The drug is based on chloramphenicol. Pharmacists used castor bean seed oil, sorbic acid, purified water, emulsifier No. 1 and carmellose sodium 70/450 "O" as auxiliary components to create a single dosage form.
Metronidazole drug
Antiprotozoal and antibacterial agent is used in various areas of medicine. It is prescribed both for protozoal infections, diseases of the joints and bones, and for diseases of the abdominal cavity of bacterial etiology. This drug is produced in four main dosage forms: in the form of a vaginal gel, infusion solution, suppositories and tablets.
This analogue"Levomycetin" for diarrhea should be used only as directed by a doctor, who will establish the duration of the therapeutic course and dosage. Otherwise, the risk of developing adverse reactions of the body increases significantly. At the same time, the central nervous system suffers, and patients complain of convulsions, headache, weakness, insomnia, dizziness, irritability, drowsiness, ataxia, confusion, and even hallucinations. In addition, self-administration of the drug can aggravate the patient's condition, increasing diarrhea. Vomiting, a feeling of dry mouth, complete loss of appetite, and other disorders of the digestive system may also occur. Therefore, like the remedy "Levomitsetin", instructions for use of analogues recommend taking only as directed by a doctor. This will help avoid unwanted side effects and quickly deal with an existing problem.
Means "Ciprofloxacin"
Another analogue of Levomycetin is Ciprofloxacin tablets. This medication has an antibacterial effect and is active against pathogens of many ailments of the genitourinary system and the gastrointestinal tract. The dosage of the drug and the duration of the therapeutic course is calculated individually.
This medicine is not a structural analogue of Levomycetin, but these two medicines are very similar in pharmacological properties. In addition, they can be used for diarrhea caused by various pathogens. As for contraindications to taking the antibiotic "Ciprofloxacin", thenthere are enough of them. Firstly, it is strictly forbidden to use the medicine for the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of fifteen. Secondly, it is not recommended to use the drug for women during pregnancy and lactation. This is explained by the fact that this analogue of Levomycetin is a representative of quinolone antibiotics, which can accumulate in bone and cartilage tissues, destroying their structure. And this is very dangerous both for the developing crumbs in the womb, and for the baby whom the mother is breastfeeding.
Antibiotic "Amoxicillin"
Another antibacterial drug that has proven itself in the treatment of intestinal infections that cause diarrhea is Amoxicillin. Like the drug "Levomitsetin", its analogues should be used only on the recommendation of a doctor. After all, all antibiotics have a large number of side effects. Therefore, when prescribing an antibacterial agent to a patient, the specialist will not only calculate the dosage of the drug, but also acquaint you with the rules for taking it. He will also necessarily include probiotics in the complex therapy, which will help mitigate the negative effect of the antibacterial agent and maintain the intestinal microflora in a normal state.
Analogues of "Levomycetin" for children
If a child has diarrhea, then self-medication is not the best solution to the problem. And there is no need to talk about the independent use of antibacterial agents. The first thing to do is to contact a specialist for help. The doctor will examine the baby, conduct a seriesresearch and prescribe therapy that is safe for a small patient. Of course, if it is determined that the cause of diarrhea is a bacterial infection, then treatment without antibiotics is unlikely to be possible. But this does not mean that the doctor will prescribe the drug "Levomycetin". Analogues for children are selected according to the age group of the patient, the severity of the disease, and also in accordance with the individual characteristics of the crumbs (allergies, intolerance to certain medications and their components, chronic diseases, etc.).
Most often in such cases, the synthetic drug "Nifuroxazide" is used, which belongs to the group of nitrofurans. This analogue of Levomycetin is produced both in tablet form and in suspension. Tablets are usually prescribed for adults and children of senior school age, but in liquid form, the remedy can be given to crumbs.
What is the substitute for the drug in ophthalmology?
Considering the properties of the drug "Levomycetin" and its analogues, do not forget that this antibacterial drug is available in various forms and can be used in several areas of medicine. Thus, eye drops are widely used in ophthalmic practice for the treatment of diseases caused by bacterial infections. The remedy can be prescribed to patients suffering from conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, uveitis and other ailments.
However, despite the high efficiency, the medicine may not be recommended for everyone, since the list of contraindications tohis reception is big enough. In accordance with the information contained in the instructions for use, the medication is strictly prohibited for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. Patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system, renal or hepatic insufficiency and other systemic ailments should also not use the drug Levomycetin (eye drops). Analogues containing safer components in such situations are the only correct solution to the problem. Depending on the age of the patient and the complexity of the disease, the doctor may recommend drops such as Albucid, Okomistin, Normax, Floksal and others.
Drug "Albucid"
Like the drug "Levomycetin" (drops), the analogue of "Albucid" is a drug with a bacteriostatic effect. This drug is prescribed to patients - regardless of age - for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory infectious eye diseases, such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, etc. The only thing you should pay attention to is that a 20% solution of the drug is used to treat children, but the representatives of the older age group are shown 30%.
If we consider the possible side effects of the drug, then, as a rule, they appear very rarely and do not require symptomatic treatment.
What you need to know about the drug "Levomycetin" and its analogues?
There are not so many medicines similar in structure to Levomycetin. But here are drugs with identical pharmacologicalmore than enough properties, and which one to choose - should be determined solely by the doctor. Only a specialist who has diagnosed and determined the severity of the disease and its etiology can recommend the patient to take Levomycetin.
Analogues (for diarrhea, for example) in the form of tablets and suspensions should also be taken on the recommendation of a doctor, strictly following the dosing system. This will reduce the risk of side effects.
