Almagel is an effective and fairly safe drug used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, but there are contraindications. Almagel belongs to the group of antacids: it partially neutralizes the effect of hydrochloric acid and reduces the production of gastric juice, and also has anesthetic properties. Its use allows you to get rid of pain and discomfort, as well as eliminate the cause of diseases of the digestive system.
Description and pharmacological properties
Almagel neo. In bags
Almagel Neo is a multicomponent cationic non-absorbable antacid mixture of local action with strong buffering properties. The main active ingredients are aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and simethicone.
The drug, thanks to the aluminum hydroxide included in its composition, is able to maintain optimal acidity in the stomach for a long period of time, which prevents an increase in acid production by the lining cells of the stomach. It is characterized by excellent adsorbing activity, especially well absorbing substances such as pepsin and bile acids.
Promotes increased mucus formation, covers the gastric mucosa, forming a protective film, thereby protecting the mucosa from damaging factors and promoting the regeneration of damaged tissues. Magnesium hydroxide also neutralizes harmful substances. In addition, it has a laxative effect, which ensures normal stool without constipation while taking Almagel Neo.
Due to the presence of a surfactant in the composition that prevents the formation of gas bubbles in the mucus and promotes their destruction, simethicone, Almagel Neo, unlike other antacid drugs, promotes the release of gases that are absorbed by the intestinal walls and excreted from the body naturally.
Simethicone is an inert compound that does not interfere with the absorption of other substances, does not change the acidity in the stomach, and has an effect throughout the entire digestive tract. It is a carminative, eliminates clinical manifestations of flatulence, such as pain in the epigastrium, belching, bloating, a feeling of fullness, rumbling.
Almagel Neo is available in the form of a white suspension with a characteristic odor of orange. The drug is not absorbed, is not destroyed and does not accumulate in the body, and is excreted unchanged. Its action begins 3-5 minutes after ingestion, the duration of action is 3 hours.
pharmachologic effect
Almagel is an antacid drug. Antacids are drugs that protect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. The main pharmacological effect of Almagel is the formation of a kind of shield around the mucous membrane that prevents harmful substances from reaching the pancreas. The main ones on the list are bile and hydrochloric acid. With pancreatitis, the supply of bile is disrupted, hence, counteraction to the secretion of the gallbladder is necessary.
You need to take the product to achieve your goals:
- neutralization of hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach;
- decreased activity of the body’s digestive processes;
- decreased activity of the enzyme pepsin, which affects digestion;
- absorption and neutralization of harmful substances.
Almagel does not completely simplify the patient’s life, but the benefits of the drug are obvious. The effect of taking the suspension will not occur instantly, but clinical studies recognize that the drug allows you to achieve some therapeutic success.
Taking the drug is safe if recommended by a doctor. The drug is non-absorbable and does not cause harm to the stomach.
How to take it?
The main principle of action of Almagel, like any antacid, is the protection of the mucous membrane. This protection is short-lived, the effect of the drug is temporary and does not begin immediately after administration.
You need to take the medicine in advance, before potential irritation of the pancreas. Doctors recommend diluting the suspension half an hour before meals. After taking the medicine and waiting for it to take effect, you can start eating, simultaneously taking medications to digest the food. These include:
- Pancreatin;
- Mezim;
- Creon;
- Festal.
An hour after eating, you need to drink the medicine selected from the list:
- Linux;
- Lacidophilus;
- Lactone.
When taking medication, it is important to drink plenty of boiled or filtered water. Water is extremely beneficial for a patient with pancreatitis; it removes harmful substances from the body.
The last three drugs are used to restore intestinal microflora, and, when taken along with Almagel, the beneficial properties are quite noticeable. Without the drug, other protective actions against pancreatitis are simply useless; taking Almagel is mandatory.
Self-prescription of drugs is unacceptable. Self-medication for pancreatitis is the worst possible solution, it is better not to take risks, let the patient’s education and level of knowledge allow them to determine the effect of the product on the pancreas.
Indications for use
Almagel Neo has proven its effectiveness in monotherapy or complex therapy:
- acute and chronic gastritis with increased and normal secretory function of the stomach
- acute duodenitis
- erosion of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum
- peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum
- gastroesophageal reflux
- reflux esophagitis
- acute pancreatitis
- exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis
- gastralgia
- heartburn
- discomfort due to errors in diet, after excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine)
- with flatulence, bloating, epigastric pain, belching air
Advantages over other drugs
Almagel has several important qualities that make it one of the most popular drugs in the fight against inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines:
- Does not lead to a sharp change in acidity in the stomach. The pH level remains within 4.0-3.5, which further avoids problems with food digestion.
- During the process of neutralizing hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxide is not released, so the patient will not be bothered by flatulence, and there will be no re-increase in acidity, as when taking soda.
- It does not cause any changes in the water-electrolytic balance and does not lead to the formation of kidney stones.
- The drug is available in the form of a gel, which is able to be evenly distributed throughout the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum: this ensures protection of the digestive tract and rapid action. The effect of taking the drug begins to appear within 5 minutes, and it will last for at least 70 minutes.
Correctly calculated dosage and compliance with medical recommendations can minimize the manifestation of gastritis, peptic ulcers and various digestive disorders. Almagel has a very small list of contraindications.
Side effects
Taking the drug may provoke the development of some side effects, including an allergic reaction, nausea, impaired taste, constipation, and diarrhea. Long-term therapy with the drug or treatment with large doses over a significant period of time can manifest itself as a decrease in the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood serum, increased calcium in the urine, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, hypermagnesemia, hyperaluminemia, encephalopathy, nephrocalcinosis, renal failure.
Taking the medication by patients with renal failure may be accompanied by thirst, decreased blood pressure, and hyporeflexia. During treatment with the drug, a feeling of numbness of the oral mucosa and tongue may occur. This is a temporary phenomenon that does not require discontinuation of the drug and special therapeutic measures.
Contraindications
There are known side effects of the drug and certain conditions for taking it. Contraindications include:
- age of children under 10 years old;
- taken by patients with increased hypersensitivity to individual components of the drug;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- pathologies of the kidneys.
To avoid possible side effects, self-medication is prohibited. Pancreatitis can completely destroy the pancreas, an organ that plays an important role in the digestive process.
Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
For a woman who is preparing to become a mother, Almagel is an affordable medicine, but the period of treatment with the drug does not exceed three days.
When breastfeeding begins, you will have to make a choice: either treatment or feeding. Replace breast milk with healthy baby formula at this stage. Breast milk from a mother with pancreatitis loses a number of beneficial properties.
Dosage and methods of application
The dosage should be determined by the attending physician. In the absence of other instructions, adults are prescribed the suspension 2 scoops 4 times a day at regular intervals. The drug should be taken 1 hour after meals and before bedtime. As prescribed by your doctor, the single dose can be increased to 4 scoops, but it is important to ensure that the daily dose does not exceed 12 scoops.
For children, the dose is half the adult dose, that is, 1 scoop 4 times a day. It is allowed to take no more than 6 measuring spoons per day. The suspension should not be diluted with water or washed down. It is also advisable not to drink or eat for 30 minutes after taking it. Shake the bottle with the drug thoroughly immediately before use to achieve a homogeneous composition of the suspension.
The course of treatment is 14-28 days. If necessary and as prescribed by a doctor, it can be increased. When treating with Almagel Neo and another oral drug simultaneously, the time interval between taking them should be at least 1 hour. Otherwise, there may be a decrease in drug absorption.
Drug overdose
Almagel neo. Pills
Overdose of Almagel Neo is rare. Taking high doses of the suspension can lead to the development of severe hypermagnesemia, the clinical manifestations of which are arterial hypotension, bradycardia, areflexia, drowsiness, weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure.
In extremely rare cases, manifestations of metabolic alkalosis are observed: headaches, lethargy, neuromuscular irritability, convulsions, weakness.
If signs of a drug overdose appear, it is necessary to urgently organize its removal from the body. To do this, you should artificially induce vomiting, rinse the stomach, take an adsorbent drug and seek qualified medical help.
Drug interactions
Almagel neo is an antacid drug
The interaction of Almagel Neo with many drugs has been studied. When taken simultaneously, Almagel Neo reduces the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, H2-antihistamines, and anti-tuberculosis drugs.
In this regard, it is recommended to take a break of two hours between taking these drugs. It is important to consider that simultaneous use of Almagel Neo with salicylates leads to increased excretion of salicylates by the kidneys due to alkalinization of urine.
In patients with renal failure, impaired excretion of hindin may occur with the development of hindin toxicity. Therefore, the drug cannot be taken with quinolines. Also, in patients with renal failure, an increase in aluminum levels may be observed as a result of simultaneous intake of aluminum hydroxide with citrates.
The combined use of Almagel with drugs in the form of tablets in an enteric coating can lead to premature dissolution of the coating, which will lead to irritation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
