Maalox - a gastrointestinal agent with absorbent, enveloping, and antacid effects. Maalox is used in diseases of the stomach, accompanied by high acidity of gastric juice. It reduces the effect of damaging factors on the walls of the stomach and intestines, eliminates the unpleasant sensations (eg heartburn) and pain in the stomach area.

Maalox and its beneficial action on upper gastrointestinal tract

The structure consists of Maalox substances, each of which has a beneficial effect on the gastric mucosa. And they are perfectly combined with each other, strengthening its positive effect on the stomach and inhibiting the unpleasant side effects.

Aluminum hydroxide (algeldrat) inhibits the production of the enzyme pepsin to cleave the protein and neutralize gastric juice contained in the hydrochloric acid, which contributes to not only the alkalization of the medium in the stomach and in the duodenum. But the image while aluminum chloride can cause constipation - magnesium hydroxide neutralizes it is his property and contributes to the rapid passage of stool through the intestines. Both components Maalox formed on the wall surface of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum protective film that protects the mucous membrane of organs from any damage.

When used properly, Maalox hardly absorbed gastro-intestinal tract and has no overall effect on the organism. But under certain conditions (for example, impaired renal function), it can accumulate in the body and to the overall effect. In old age, this preparation taking undesirable because even a slight its penetration into the bloodstream can affect the metabolic processes in the brain cells and accelerate the development of Alzheimer's disease.

To appoint Maalox and when it is contraindicated

Maalox is prescribed for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that are accompanied by high acidity of gastric juice: inflammation of the walls of the stomach (gastritis), esophagus (reflux esophagitis caused by throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus), stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Assign Maalox well as hiatal hernia, which develops at the exit of the stomach or part of it in the hole.

In addition, several times, to conduct the necessary examinations and prescribed by your doctor, you can take yourself for heartburn Heartburn - no cause for concern?   and other unpleasant sensations in the stomach after errors in diet, long-term use of certain medications (eg NSAIDs), abuse of alcohol, coffee, excessive smoking. Sometimes this drug is prescribed short courses for the prevention of complications caused by various factors irritating the stomach.

Maalox is contraindicated in severe renal disease with significant impairment of the function, Alzheimer's disease, children under the age of one month, if you are hypersensitive to the components of the drug.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take Maalox more than three consecutive days in order to avoid the general effects on the body. It was found that infants whose mothers during pregnancy for a long time took Maalox, can develop gipermagniemiya (high content of magnesium in the blood), which adversely affect the condition of the child.

To Maalox not neutralize other drugs by their absorption and elimination from the body, a break between its reception and use of other drugs should be at least two hours. In order to prevent the general effects on the body Maalox should not be taken in doses higher than recommended and for more than two weeks.

Side effects

When used properly, Maalox well tolerated. However, side effects do occur. For example, prolonged use at high doses, under the influence of aluminum hydroxide is possible to reduce inventory of phosphorus in the body. If the diet and contains enough product rich in phosphorus, the body starts to be output from calcium, resulting in a softening of the bones. In this regard, with a long reception Maalox should eat foods rich in phosphorus: sea fish, beans, egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, buckwheat and oatmeal, and so on.

If the kidney function can develop the high content of magnesium in the blood, which causes lethargy and drowsiness. This condition is particularly dangerous for the elderly, as it may lead to the development of dementia.

Sometimes when taking Maalox develop taste disturbances, nausea Nausea - there may be problems with the nervous system , Vomiting, cramps in the stomach Pain in the stomach when the body asks for help Constipation Constipation - Watch out for food . All these symptoms disappear after dose reduction.

Galina Romanenko

Omeprazole - instruction on the application states that the drug belongs to the group of anti-ulcer drugs proton pump inhibitors. In spite of such a difficult and strange band name drugs, their effects may well understand the patient with no medical training, but have successfully graduated from high school.

The mechanism of action of omeprazole

Omeprazole - it is an antiulcer drug, which is available in tablets, capsules and dry matter for solution for infusion. Various pharmaceutical firms omeprazole is released under his own name bioprazol, Vero omeprazole gastrozol, demeprazol, zerotsid, zolser, krismel, Lockit, Lomax, losek (original drug), omegast, omez, omezol, omekaps, omepar, omeprol, omeprus, omefez, omizak, omipiks, omipronol, omitoks, ortanol, otsid, peptikum, pleom, promez, proseptin, risek, romesek, soprano ulzol, ulkozol, ultop, helitsid, helol. Under the brand name of these products in smaller letters can be read; "INN - omeprazole."

The mechanism of action of omeprazole is associated with suppression of so-called work proton pump - enzyme hydrogen- potassium adenosine triphosphatase (H + / K + -ATPase). The action of this enzyme is associated with violent release (this action uses the energy that is produced by the decay of ATP) from the cells of the gastric mucosa in the gastric lumen of hydrogen ions (H +) in exchange for potassium ions (K +). Potassium first enters into the cell, and then picks up from the cell chlorine (Cl) and, with it again passes into the gastric lumen. Because hydrogen and chlorine forms hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Omeprazole blocks the action of the enzyme H + / K + -ATPase and thereby inhibits the formation of hydrochloric acid. And since increased acidity contributes to the development of ulcerative process, the drug has anti-ulcer effect.

Today proton pump inhibitors are widely used in the complex treatment of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract associated with the acidity of gastric juice.

Indications and contraindications for use

Omeprazole (instruction) is used in the following diseases and conditions associated with high acidity of gastric contents:

• at a stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcers, including those caused by an infectious agent (Helicobacter pylori);
• when reflux esophagitis - inflammation of the wall of the esophagus, which is developing the systematic abandonment of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus;
• the following diseases accompanied by increased acidity of gastric juice: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (benign tumor of the pancreas), ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract, the stress arising How to beat stress? Create an oasis   or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, aspirin), multiple endocrine adenomatosis (development of benign tumors in multiple endocrine glands), systemic mastocytosis (severe disease affecting the skin and internal organs).

Admission omerazola contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity of the patient to the drug, while feeding the baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast and childhood. With caution and strictly based on the indications and contraindications omeprazole use during pregnancy, the human liver and kidneys.

Before the appointment of omeprazole is recommended to conduct a survey of the patient as well as the use of omeprazole can "lubricate" the symptoms of stomach cancer and delay the process of his treatment.

Side effects of omeprazole and overdose

When using omeprazole may experience the following side effects:

• from the gastrointestinal tract - dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation, flatulence, sometimes stomatitis;
• from the liver - a transient dysfunction of the body;
• Nervous system - headache, dizziness, sensory disturbances and taste, fatigue, sleep disturbances Dreams: how to understand our dreams Sometimes - Anxiety or depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood , Transient disturbances of consciousness;
• of the skin - an allergy to light, acute and chronic allergic skin processes (exudative erythema multiforme), alopecia, increased sweating; leukocytes, platelets (and possibly all other blood cells);
• Other side effects - pain in muscles and joints, muscle weakness, swelling in the legs, blurred vision, breast enlargement in men.

In case of overdose of omeprazole all its side effects are amplified. There are severe dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, sweating, headache, lethargy, muscle weakness, confusion, changes in the organs of vision, heart palpitations. If overdose is recommended to call an ambulance.

Galina Romanenko