Among the huge number of drugs, a very small percentage has a generally recognized effectiveness and is actively used throughout the world. These drugs include Chlorhexidine. The instruction refers it to antiseptics, effective against many bacterial infections. The drug is widely used in dentistry, ENT practice, gynecology, surgery. It has many advantages over other popular antiseptics, the main one being its rather low price.
The history of the creation of "Chlorhexidine"
Antiseptic drugs are very popular. But not all of them are equally effective. Some, such as brilliant green or Miramistin, are common only in Russia, others have many side effects or high cost. But there is one drug that is devoid of all these shortcomings. This is Chlorhexidine. Instructions for use notes its high effectiveness in bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
The drug was created in the 50s of the 20th century in the UK. The tool began to be sold as a local antiseptic. Throughfor some time, new properties of "Chlorhexidine" were discovered. The instruction began to recommend it for use in dentistry, as it turned out that it effectively stops the development of periodontal disease. Over the years of use, its high efficiency as an antiseptic for the skin and mucous membranes has been proven. Now preparations containing chlorhexidine bigluconate instructions for use recommend using in hospitals, at home, during cosmetic procedures. Due to its versatility and low price, the substance is added to toothpastes, cosmetics, and medicines.
Medication forms
Most often on sale you can find a solution of chlorhexidine. The instruction recommends using it in different concentrations, depending on the characteristics of the pathology and the place of application. In addition, you can find on sale candles with chlorhexidine, ointments, mouth rinses. Add this substance to toothpastes, hand sanitizer gels, deodorants.
In medicine, solutions of different concentrations are used. The most common form is "Chlorhexidine 0.05". The instruction recommends using it for rinsing the mouth and throat, treating the skin before surgery, and treating various dermatological pathologies. A more concentrated solution - 0.5% or 1% - is used to treat infected wounds and treat medical instruments. But even in the smallest concentration (0.01%), the drug is effective - it has fungicidal properties.
The action of the drug "Chlorhexidine"
The action of this remedy is based on the properties of the active ingredient. This is chlorhexidine bigluconate. The instruction notes its high bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. That is, the drug not only stops the division and reproduction of microorganisms, but also completely destroys them. This happens because the molecule of chlorhexidine digluconate is positively charged, and the cell walls of bacteria are negatively charged. Upon contact, they are destroyed, the drug penetrates into the cell and completely destroys it. Moreover, this whole process takes only 20-30 seconds.
Similarly, the drug acts on fungal microorganisms. Penetrating into the cell of the fungus, this substance destroys it, while the microorganism dies. All this happens at normal temperature. Not all antiseptics have such a wide spectrum of action as Chlorhexidine. Instructions for use notes that in addition to bacteria and fungi, this drug can destroy spores, protozoa and some viruses. With it, you can effectively treat influenza, cytomegalovirus, herpes, even HIV. But doctors note that it can only be used as part of complex therapy, along with means for internal use.
Instructions for "Chlorhexidine" notes that, unlike many other antiseptics, it also affects such formation as biofilm. This, for example, is plaque, which is almost not amenable to other antiseptic preparations. After all, the special structure of the biofilm makes it stable. Impact onit can only "Chlorhexidine". Instructions for use notes that it effectively prevents the appearance of plaque.
Area of application of the drug
Instructions for "Chlorhexidine" describes it as an exclusively external drug. It can be used to treat the surface of the skin, for rinsing the mouth, for douching. The drug is also used to disinfect the doctor's hands and medical instruments. The effectiveness of this antiseptic is due to the fact that it has the ability to bind to skin proteins and stick to hard surfaces. Therefore, its antiseptic activity is manifested within 2 days.
Against which microorganisms is Chlorhexidine effective? Instructions for use notes that it is more active against gram-positive bacteria. These are staphylococci and streptococci, which die even at low concentrations of the drug. A more concentrated solution can also destroy gram-negative bacteria: E. coli, enterobacteria, pseudomonads, proteus, salmonella. It also works against fungi and some viruses.
The instruction explains the effectiveness of the use of "Chlorhexidine" by the fact that it does not lose its activity even in the presence of pus or blood. Whereas other antiseptics in such conditions become almost useless. Therefore, this substance is included in many hand sanitizers.
This drug is most often used in medicine: surgery, dentistry, gynecology, obstetrics, in the treatment of skindiseases. It is used for rinsing, irrigating, washing, treating wounds or doctor's hands. The drug is effective if used for inhalation through a nebulizer. But that's not all. The tool is also used as part of some cosmetics, added to deodorants, toothpastes, acne ointments.
Chlorhexidine solution 0.05% instructions for use recommends using for the treatment of cuts, burns, dermatological diseases. They can rinse your mouth or throat, use for douching, use under a bandage on wounds.
Instructions for the use of "Chlorhexidine" in dentistry
This is the most common use of the drug. The ability to stop the development of periodontal disease, treat gingivitis and other inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity was discovered almost immediately after its creation. Therefore, chlorhexidine is added to some toothpastes and rinses. In addition, the drug is prescribed for such pathologies:
- periodontitis;
- stomatitis;
- aphthous inflammation of the mucosa;
- to prevent infection after tooth extraction;
- to prevent plaque formation.
In all these cases, "Chlorhexidine" is prescribed for rinsing the mouth. Instructions for use recommends doing this twice a day. First you need to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth well with clean water. After applying the antiseptic for 10-15 minutes, you can not eat, drink water or brush your teeth. This may reduce the effectiveness of Chlorhexidine. The instructions for rinsing the mouth recommend using a solution. 15 ml is enough. When rinsing, you should try not to swallow the drug. Although it has low toxicity, it can cause unpleasant consequences for the gastrointestinal tract.
When using "Chlorhexidine" for rinsing the mouth, side effects are possible in the form of darkening of tooth enamel. This happens in only 15-20% of people. Not always, but teeth can turn dark brown. Therefore, more modern mouthwash solutions began to include a special component that prevents staining. In addition, other side effects may be less common:
- bitter in the mouth;
- change in taste sensations;
- dryness or burning on the mucosa;
- painful or bleeding gums.
"Chlorhexidine": instructions for use for gargling
The active ingredient of the drug is active against many bacteria and viruses that cause diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, Chlorhexidine is often used to rinse not only the mouth, but also the throat. It is prescribed for tonsillitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis. If the disease is caused by streptococci or the influenza virus, this treatment will be effective.
Most often in this case, a 0.02% or 0.05% solution of chlorhexidine is used. Instructions for gargling recommends taking 10-20 ml of the drug and keeping it in your mouth for 30-40 seconds. It is best to do this after the mouth and throat are treated with a decoction of chamomile orsoda solution. It is necessary to carry out the treatment procedure three times a day. After that, do not eat or drink anything for half an hour.
How to use the drug in gynecology
Most often "Chlorhexidine" 0.05% is used after unprotected intercourse to prevent infection. The drug is effective for the prevention of gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia. Using a special nozzle, you need to inject an antiseptic solution into the vagina for 2-3 minutes. Then the hips, pubis, external genitalia are processed. It is not recommended to urinate for a couple of hours after that. For the same purposes, vaginal suppositories with chlorhexidine can be used. Such prophylaxis is effective if carried out no later than 2 hours after sexual intercourse.
In addition, Chlorhexidine is also used to treat many gynecological diseases. This is vulvitis, colpitis, cervical erosion, thrush. A solution is used for this at a concentration of 0.05% or diluted with water (more concentrated). It is more convenient to use a bottle with a special nozzle, but you can take an ordinary small syringe.
Using candles and gel
Recently, you can buy the drug in a more convenient form - in the form of a gel. It contains 0.5 g of chlorhexidine bigluconate per 100 g of gel. Such a drug is produced under the name "Hexicon". This gel is multifunctional, as it can be used in various fields of medicine.
When used in dentistry, the drug does not have such side effects as the solution, because it can be appliedpointwise only on inflamed areas, so it does not affect tooth enamel. The gel is also used in gynecology and urology: with vulvitis, balanitis. When used for the treatment of dermatological diseases, the effectiveness is higher than that of the solution. After all, the gel remains on the skin for a longer time, exerting its antiseptic effect. It is used for diaper rash, dermatitis, felon, pyoderma, impetigo.
Chlorhexidine suppositories are popular in gynecology. They are used for vulvitis, colpitis, vaginitis, thrush, as well as for the prevention of sexual infections. Assign candles in the morning and evening, for 5 days. Due to the low concentration of the active ingredient and the special form of release, the suppositories are absolutely safe and can even be used to treat pregnant women.
Contraindications and side effects
Since the drug effectively treats flu, sore throat or laryngitis, many people try to use it for any other diseases. But this is not always possible. For example, "Chlorhexidine" is not used as nasal drops, as it will be absolutely useless. You can not drip it into the eyes, because special means are used in ophthalmology. It is also contraindicated to use it for the treatment of otitis media, when instilled into the ears, it can damage the auditory nerve. It is not recommended to use the solution for the treatment of pregnant women, since no studies have been conducted on its effect on the fetus. The same applies to the treatment of children. Assign an antiseptic only for externaluse, and for rinsing the mouth or throat, it can only be used after 18 years.
This drug is considered safe and low-toxic. However, side effects are sometimes possible. Most often this happens with individual intolerance or in violation of the rules for using the drug. This manifests itself in the form of an allergic reaction: itching, rashes, dermatitis. Often such effects develop when Chlorhexidine is combined with other agents. Especially it is incompatible with iodine, such treatment can lead to severe dermatitis. Therefore, when using "Chlorhexidine", it is necessary to abandon "Iodinol", Lugol's solution, "Jox", "Povidone-iodine", "Betadine". In addition, you can not use it together with hydrogen peroxide and even with ordinary cosmetic soap.
Analogues of the drug
There are no direct analogues of this drug, there are only a few options for drugs that also contain chlorhexidine bigluconate in their composition. These are Amident, Hexicon, Hibiscrab, Plivasept.
But with the same purposes, other drugs can be used for disinfection and treatment of wounds, rinsing the mouth or throat: hydrogen peroxide, Furacilin, Rotokan, Miramistin, alcohol solution of iodine, Protargol, Hexoral and others.
Compared to other antiseptics, "Chlorhexidine" is considered more effective. In addition, most often people prefer him for his low price - you can buy a bottle of solutionfor 10-20 rubles. In addition, its advantage is that it remains active when in contact with blood and pus, and other antiseptics are useless in such conditions.
Reviews on the use of "Chlorhexidine"
This drug has been popular among doctors and ordinary people for more than half a century. Many people always have it in their first aid kit, as it helps to cope with common skin problems and avoid infection of wounds. There are a lot of positive reviews about the use of "Chlorhexidine" for the prevention of sexual infections. Often it is also used in dentistry. Many doctors prescribe mouthwash not only for various inflammatory diseases, but also after dental procedures. In all these cases, the use of the drug is effective. Moreover, side effects or intolerance are reported very rarely.
