Many modern pharmaceutical products for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu often have a relatively high cost. But there is a well-known drug, proven by no generation. Remantadine is an antiviral medicine that will save you from colds during the cold season and won't hit your wallet.

Release form and composition

It should be understood that "Remantadine" is the trade name of the drug. Its active ingredient is rimantadine hydrochloride, or rimantadine.

The drug is produced in two forms:

  1. Pills "Remantadine." Flat cylindrical white tablets contain 50 mg of rimantadine hydrochloride, starch, milk sugar, calcium stearate, povidone. The product is dispensed in blisters or bottles of dark glass, placed in a cardboard box.
  2. Capsules "Remantadin." Contain 100 mg of the active substance, starch, milk sugar, dye. The capsules themselves are made of gelatin and titanium dioxide, which gives them a white color. The medicine is produced in blisters placed in a cardboard box.

Pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics

The active component of the drug is rimantadine. The mechanism of its action is to suppress the process of reproduction (replication) of the virus.

When the virus enters the cell, a peculiar capsule is formed around it - the endosome.The envelope of the viral particle merges with the endosome membrane, as a result of which the pathogen RNA enters the space of the host cell. "Remantadine" increases the pH value in the endosome, making it impossible for the virus membrane and the endosome membrane to interact. Also, the tool prevents the spread of the virus to healthy cells.

The medicine "Remantadin" is pronounced effective against the type A influenza pathogen. The agent also has a detrimental effect on tick-borne encephalitis virus, which is most common in Russia in spring and summer. In case of influenza type B, Remantadin helps to eliminate toxins.

The active substance of the drug has a special structure, due to which it is in the blood plasma for a long time. This explains the effectiveness of Remantadine when used to prevent influenza in high incidence seasons.

Features of the pharmacokinetics of "Remantadine":

  • absorption of the drug is slow, carried out in the intestine;
  • 6 hours after administration, the maximum quantitative content in the blood plasma is reached;
  • communication with blood plasma proteins - 40%;
  • elimination half-life - about 25 hours;
  • biotransformation is carried out by the liver;
  • excreted by the kidneys.

What helps an antiviral drug

Modern experts do not prescribe "Remantadine" to patients with severe symptoms of SARS. This is due to the emergence of resistant strains of influenza pathogens, and the release of more powerful antiviral.

Despite this, Remantadine is great for preventing flu.

In the growing seasons of incidence, it is recommended to take it to personnel of medical institutions, school students, students, teachers and people who, due to their profession, come in contact with a large number of people.

In addition, its use in colds and flu during the initial manifestations often gives positive dynamics. After 2 days of taking the symptoms of the disease are significantly weakened.

Instructions for use Remantadine

Information on how to take "Remantadine" is contained in the attached instructions, which should be studied before starting treatment. Single and daily doses, the duration of administration are determined by the person’s age and purpose of use. They drink the medicine after eating, with enough water. At the first manifestations of the disease, the application should be started as soon as possible, preferably within the first 18 hours from the onset of symptoms.

For adults

Flu treatmentFlu prevention
• 1 day of illness: 100 mg 3 times a day or once 300 mg;
• 2 and 3 days: 100 mg 2 times a day;
• 4 and 5 days: 100 mg once a day.
50 mg once a day. Reception can be continued up to 30 days.

After a tick bite, the medicine is used according to the recommendations of a specialist. As a rule, for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, “Remantadine” is prescribed to adults in a dosage of 100 mg. It should be drunk twice a day, every 12 hours. Duration of use is 3 days. If necessary, a specialist can increase the course.

For children

For the treatment of influenza in children, the following dosage regimens are prescribed:

  • for children 7-10 years: 50 mg / 2 times a day;
  • for children 10-14 years: 50 mg / 3 times a day.

You must continue to take the drug for 5 days.

For adolescents over 14 years of age, the admission regimen is adult. In order to prevent the disease in children under 14 years of age during the high incidence season, the duration of taking Remantadine is 2 weeks. It is taken 50 mg once a day.

Remantadine during pregnancy and lactation

Reception of Remantadine by pregnant and lactating women is not allowed.

Studies in laboratory animals have shown that the active substance crosses the placental barrier and adversely affects the development of the fetus. Also, after administration, the drug is found in breast milk in a significant concentration.

Drug Interactions with Other Drugs

When deciding to be treated with Remantadine, it is important to consider the possibility of drug interactions that may occur when it is taken with the following groups of drugs:

  • medicines used for epilepsy (Remantadine reduces their therapeutic effect);
  • sorbents and drugs that protect the gastrointestinal mucosa (some antacids and herbal medicines that have an enveloping effect), reduce the absorption of the antiviral;
  • paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid reduce the quantitative content of antiviral in the blood;
  • cimetidine reduces the rate of removal of rimantadine from biological fluids;
  • ascorbic acid, ammonium chloride increase the rate of excretion of the active substance by the urinary system, reducing its therapeutic effect;
  • acetazolamide, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) enhance the antiviral effect, slowing down its excretion by the urinary system.

The possibility of co-administration of Remantadine with these groups of drugs should be obtained from your doctor.

Can I drink alcohol while taking an antiviral drug?

The official instructions for use do not contain information on the interaction of ethanol and rimantadine. Experts do not recommend drinking alcohol during antiviral treatment. Since both of these substances are metabolized in the liver, their joint intake significantly increases the load on the organ. As a result, the detoxification function of the liver is impaired, and it is unable to adequately neutralize ethanol and metabolize the antiviral agent. Because of this, the likelihood of side effects increases and the negative effect of alcohol on the body increases.

Contraindications, side effects and overdose

The antiviral "Remantadin" is not prescribed in the following conditions:

  • liver and kidney disease;
  • lactase deficiency;
  • intolerance to the components of the drug;
  • violations of the absorption of monosaccharides in the digestive tract;
  • hyperthyroidism;
  • pregnancy;
  • lactation.

Also, Remantadine is not prescribed for children under 7 years of age. For children 1-7 years old, its analogues are used with a lower dosage.

As a rule, the drug is well tolerated. Rarely, side effects may develop in some body systems. The table shows possible adverse reactions.

Side effects of Remantadine

Body systemUndesirable manifestations
Breathing• bronchospasm;
• shortness of breath, cough.
Digestive• pain in the epigastric region;
• dyspeptic disorders;
•anorexia;
• increased gas formation;
• dry mouth;
• frequent loose stools.
Cardiovascular• increase in blood pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• cerebrovascular accident;
• heart block;
• feeling of palpitations.
Nervous•headache;
• blurred consciousness;
• violation of concentration;
•sleep disturbance;
• fatigue;
•anxiety;
• depressive state;
•irritability;
• dizziness;
• trembling limbs or torso;
• cramps;
• hallucinations.

Allergic reactions are possible (in the form of rashes, skin itching of hives), tinnitus, perversion of taste and smell. If undesirable effects appear, the question of the use of the drug should be decided with a specialist.

If the recommended doses are exceeded, an overdose of rimantadine is possible, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • excited state;
  • stomach pains;
  • sleep disturbance;
  • cramps
  • trembling limbs.

In case of overdose, gastric lavage is performed, measures are taken to relieve symptoms

Analogues of the drug Remantadin

In addition to Remantadine, the following drugs are produced, the active ingredient of which is rimantadine:

  1. "Rimantadine", "Rimantadine Velfarm", "Rimantadine STI", "Rimantadine Avexima", tablets with a dosage of 50 mg.
  2. Rimantadine Kids, Orvirem, Algirem, syrups.Forms are prescribed for children over 1 year old. 1 ml of the drug contains 2 mg of the active ingredient.

Analogues of "Remantadin" slightly differ from each other in cost.

Rimantadine hydrochloride is also present in the complex AnviMax, which is available in capsules, effervescent tablets and powders. It is intended to relieve symptoms and treat early symptoms of the common cold and flu.