Weakened immunity becomes the reason that viruses attack the body and bring unpleasant diseases. The antiviral medication Isoprinosine is able to improve protection against harmful infections. What the medicine consists of, how it works, the rules of use and special instructions are useful information in our article.

Composition, release form and packaging

The drug consists of several components. The main component is a complex of substances called inosine pranobex (metisoprinol).

It:

  • inosine, or hypoxanthine, riboside;
  • acidic;
  • dimepranol.

The main action is carried out by the first component, and the second and third enhance its effectiveness.

In tablet form is 500 mg of the active ingredient. White or slightly yellowish long-form tablets with a separator also contain mannitol, povidone, magnesium stearate and wheat starch.

Pills are in aluminum blisters of 10 pieces. Two, three or five blisters are placed in cardboard packaging.

Pharmacological action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Metisoprinol, as a derivative of purine, has a powerful immunostimulating and antiviral effect. It reduces the synthesis of RNA, DNA viruses and at the same time accelerates the production of interferon, which is responsible for the protection of cells.

In addition, the substance:

  • possesses anabolic properties;
  • stimulates the formation of nucleotides;
  • promotes metabolism in tissues;
  • has an antihypoxic effect;
  • increases the energy level of cells;
  • improves tissue regeneration (membranes of the heart, gastrointestinal mucosa).

The drug is absorbed through the walls of the digestive tract. The process occurs quite quickly - after an hour in plasma there is a maximum concentration of inosine. Moreover, almost 90% of the active substance is absorbed.

The drug breaks down into metabolites, one of which is uric acid. Disintegration products are excreted by the kidneys within 1-2 days.

Why isoprinosine prescribed?

The drug is used in various infectious pathologies along with other drugs to increase the protective abilities of cells.

A drug:

  • promotes the production of antibodies;
  • enhances cellular immunity;
  • increases the functionality and activity of lymphocytes;
  • reduces the number of cytokines that cause inflammatory processes;
  • normalizes the level of interferon;
  • stimulates the recognition of foreign components by the immune system.

However, inosine acts directly, attacking viruses and preventing their reproduction in the body. The list of viruses is impressive, but the medication is not universal.

Indications for the use of the medication are:

  • different types of herpes - labial, genital, chickenpox, herpes zoster;
  • mononucleosis (due to Epstein-Barr virus);
  • papillomas of infectious genesis - larynx, vocal cords, genitals;
  • warts, condylomas;
  • SARS, flu;
  • cytomegalovirus infection;
  • measles in the acute period;
  • hepatitis B and C (acute and chronic);
  • viral bronchitis;
  • sclerosing panencephalitis;
  • pathology of the urinary tract of a chronic course;
    molluscum contagiosum.

In addition to use during a period of viral diseases, the drug is also used for other indications.

It:

  • immunodeficiency;
  • rehabilitation period after operations, serious illnesses;
  • increased stress level to prevent infectious pathologies.

It is impossible to make a decision on taking the medicine yourself. Only a doctor’s recommendation will ensure an effective dose and safety of the drug.

At what age can children be given

Three years of age is safe for prescribing the drug. But at the same time, the weight of the child should be taken into account. If it is less than 15 kilograms, you can not use metizoprinol.

Children "Isoprinosine" offer to use in tablet form. There is no special children's version of the drug - suspension or syrup.

Instructions for use and dosage

The effectiveness of the drug is determined by how quickly reception began after the diagnosis of a viral disease.

How much to take Isoprinosine tablets, the doctor decides. It is not based on age (as is most often the case with dosage), but on the weight of the patient.

The standard dose that can be taken in 24 hours is 50 milligrams of active substance per 1 kilogram of body weight. If you translate this into tablets, you get 1 pill for every 10 kilograms of weight. The whole amount is divided into 3-4 doses, which must be carried out through a uniform period of time.

The maximum that can be taken by an adult patient is 100 mg per 1 kg of weight.

The average daily dose is obtained:

  • for adults - 6-8 pills;
  • for children - half a tablet for every 5 kg.

When calculating the dose, you should always round down the number of tablets in a smaller direction so as not to provoke undesirable effects from taking the drug.

Drink pills after meals. It is better to swallow, without chewing, with a sufficient volume of liquid.

The course of treatment is prescribed individually and depends on the type of infection:

  • in acute pathologies (acute respiratory viral infections, infectious mononucleosis, influenza, measles) - 5-14 days until symptoms disappear + 2 days;
  • in chronic viral infections (lichen, cytomegalovirus, herpes) - 4-5 courses for 5-10 days with a pause per week, then monthly maintenance therapy is possible at 1 pill per day.

The presence of human papillomavirus requires a different dosage:

  • children 3-11 years old - 1 pill per 10 kg of body weight;
  • children from 12 years old and adults - 2 tablets 3 times a day.

The duration of therapy for such pathologies is from two to four weeks. After you need to take a break for a month and continue treatment. It is enough to complete 3 courses.

Women with cervical dysplasia due to HPV are prescribed 2 pills 3 times a day for 14-28 days. A pause of 10-14 days follows and the course of treatment is resumed, there are three in total.

It is important to periodically, every two weeks, during the treatment period, do a blood and urine test to monitor the amount of uric acid. This is especially true for elderly patients.

During pregnancy and lactation

The manufacturer did not conduct studies on the effects of the drug during gestation and breastfeeding. Therefore, for safety reasons, you should not take the medicine for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Isoprinosine?

On the compatibility of Isoprinosine and alcohol, there are no differences of opinion among doctors. Doctors are categorical in their statement. You can not drink alcohol-containing drinks during treatment with an immunostimulating drug, even in small quantities.

It's all about the effect that the drug has on the liver and kidneys. These organs begin to work in an increased mode. Alcohol also acts on them, causing unpleasant side effects.

May develop:

  • renal colic;
  • allergy;
  • pyelonephritis;
  • stagnation of bile;
  • hepatitis;
  • renal failure.

And the increased concentration of interferon, the synthesis of which the drug promotes, exacerbates the toxic effect of alcohol-containing drinks.

This combination causes:

  • pathology of the psyche;
  • severe depression;
  • CNS disorders.

Drug interaction

If you take the drug with immunosuppressants, the therapeutic effect is markedly reduced.

The parallel use of other antiviral medications can enhance the effectiveness of the action. It is only necessary to adjust the dosage, especially with the simultaneous use of Zidovudine.

Diuretics, aspirin and xanthine oxidase inhibitors together with metisoprinol significantly increase the amount of uric acid in the plasma, which threatens the development of gout. Therefore, the joint use of these drugs is not recommended, and if necessary, such treatment should regularly monitor the level of acid.

Contraindications, side effects and overdose

Before taking the drug, you must make sure that the patient is not one of those who can not take an immunostimulating agent.

The list of contraindications includes:

  • the entire period of pregnancy;
  • breastfeeding time;
  • children's age up to 3 years (and weight up to 15 kg);
  • hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
  • different types of arrhythmias;
  • the presence of kidney stones (uric acid, the level of which increases with admission, increases the risk of new salt deposits);
  • renal and hepatic insufficiency;
  • gout.

The correct dosage of the drug will protect the patient from side effects. They happen infrequently.

Read also: products containing iodine

The instruction indicates possible unwanted symptoms:

  • allergic reactions in the form of a rash, itching, swelling of the tissues;
  • migraines, headache;
  • drowsiness, fatigue,
  • irritability;
  • the phenomena of dyspepsia - nausea, the urge to vomit, epigastric pain;
  • indigestion
  • liver and gall bladder dysfunction;
  • increased sweating and urination;
    joint pain.

The instruction does not say anything about possible signs of an overdose.

Antiviral drug analogues

Among the complete synonyms of the drug, there are several drugs with inosine pranobex.

It:

  • "Groprinosin" in tablets and syrup (500 mg of active substance);
  • "Neoprinosine" in suspension (250 mg);
  • "Novirin" in tablet form (500 mg);
  • "Normomed" in syrup and tablets;
  • "Modimunal" in tablets;
  • Viruxan in pills.

Most often, in the absence of the drug under discussion, doctors recommend replacing it with the full structural analogue of Groprinosin. Which is better - Isoprinosine or Groprinosin?

The effectiveness of the drugs is the same. Medicines are distinguished by the manufacturing company. The first drug is produced by an Israeli company, and the second is a Polish one. This affects the cost of medicines. Packaging “Groprinosin" with the same number of pills will cost 15-20% cheaper than the antiviral drug under discussion.

The composition of both medicines is the same, the percentage of active and auxiliary substances also coincides, only potato is used instead of wheat starch in Groprinosin. This difference is important for people who are allergic to wheat protein.

Other immunomodulatory drugs can also be called analogues of Isoprinosine.

Among them:

  • "Alpizarin" with tetrahydroxyglucopyranosylxanthene;
  • Amizon with Enisamium Iodide;
  • Amiksin with trilon;
  • "Cycloferon" with acridonoacetic acid;
  • "Arbidol" with umifenovir;
  • Gripomix with remantadine;
  • "Immunal" with echinacea;
  • "Nikavir" with phosphazite;
  • "Panavir" with a polysaccharide of hexose glycosides;
  • "Tamiflu" with oseltamivir phosphate;
  • "Engistol" with colloidal sulfur.

Each of the drugs has its own indications, especially the effects on the body and contraindications. Therefore, their doctor prescribes individually in each case.

Similar:More from the author: