Antibiotic "Linezolid": instructions for use, price, analogs, form of release and reviews

Most of the known infections of bacterial or viral origin are amenable to therapy with conventional medicines. However, there are pathogens that have adapted to the so-called hospital conditions. Fighting them is a very difficult task, because many drugs on them simply do not work. Antibiotic "Linezolid" refers to such medicines, with which you can fight with so-called hospital or other infections resistant to other types of drugs. It is about him that will be discussed in this article.

Description

The drug "linezolid" instruction refers to antimicrobial agents of a wide spectrum of action. In terms of its basic properties and characteristics, it belongs to the class of oxazolidinones, which in terms of strength and range of action on microorganisms exceed in many respects the drug "Vancomycin" and other drugs with a similar composition.

To date, there are several types of antimicrobial agent Linezolid. The form of release most often used in therapy is a film-coated tablet containing 400 or 600 mg of active ingredient. In addition, in medical practice, a solution for infusions is often used, in each milliliter of which 2 mg of active substance is contained, and powder (granules) for the preparation of a suspension, the concentration of the active substance in which is 100 mg per 5 ml of the finished product.

Indications for use

As stated at the beginning of the article, the "Linezolid" drug is recommended for use in the presence of infections caused by bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. They include both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms related to anaerobic or aerobic types that have developed resistance to methicillin, gicopeptide compounds, penicillin and other antibiotics.

In the list of diseases in which the use of the "Linezolid" drug is indicated, the instruction includes:

• Hospital or community-acquired pneumonia;
• Skin infections;
• Infection of soft tissues;
• Other infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of Enterococcus.

As a rule, before starting the use of this drug, studies are conducted to identify the resistance of pathogens to other drugs. If they are not identified, the treatment is carried out with the help of other antimicrobial drugs.

Contraindications

The main and most significant contraindication to the use of the antibiotic "Linezolid" instructions for use calls hypersensitivity to it. It is also not recommended to use the drug to treat patients who take other drugs from the MAO inhibitor group . In addition, it is not recommended to appoint this drug together with tricyclic antidepressants and substances that can raise blood pressure (epinephrine, dopamine, tryptane and others).

The drug Linezolid (tablets, solution for infusion and suspension) is contraindicated in such diseases as arterial hypertension, thyrotoxicosis, carcinoid or seratonin syndrome, pheochromocytosis. The presence of these contraindications should be revealed before the beginning of therapy with the use of this drug.

The mechanism of action of the drug in the body

The effect of Linezolid is due to its ability to block the translation of protein structures in bacterial cells. Due to this, the reproduction of microorganisms stops, and their death occurs. Resistance to the drug in most bacteria is produced very slowly.

After entering the body, the active substance of the drug forms a metabolite of hydroxyethyl glycine. The degree of its connection with plasma proteins reaches values of 31%. In the course of laboratory studies, it was found that this compound penetrates all tissues and organs. It also has the ability to pass through the placenta into the fetus and into breast milk (this property of the drug is reflected in the recommendations for taking the drug by pregnant and lactating women).

The half-life of the active substance and its metabolite from the body is 4.5-5 hours. Excretion from the body is through the urinary system (50% in the form of a metabolite and 35% unchanged) and through the digestive tract (at least 9%). Complete elimination occurs within 8-12 hours from the moment of taking the drug.

How to take Linezolid

Specialists pay attention to the fact that the patient in most cases can not independently decide on the method of taking "Linezolid". Instructions, tablets, solution and emulsion in which are considered not as separate preparations, but as forms of a single medicine, contains on this issue exhaustive information. Below you will find the main points concerning the dosages and duration of therapy.

The "Linezolid" medication is recommended for use by the following guidelines:

1. Solution for infusion is administered intravenously 2 times a day. A single dose is 400-600 mg of the active substance. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and its localization. Typically, most infections require a period of at least 10 and not more than 14 days, and only for diseases caused by enterococcus, the therapy lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.
2. The drug "Linezolid" (tablets) is also taken 2 times a day in the amount of 400 or 600 mg per reception. For patients aged 5 to 14 years, the dosage is calculated based on body weight and is 10 mg per kg of body weight 2 times a day. The maximum dose per ingestion (oral) should not exceed 600 mg. The duration of therapy is determined by the same indicators as those discussed above.
3. The granules from which the emulsion is made are applied according to the above scheme. Calculation of dosage at the same time must be carried out on the basis of the same recommendations.

Since the "Linezolid" drug is prescribed exclusively by prescription and is used only in a hospital setting, an overdose of this drug and the appearance of pronounced adverse reactions are virtually excluded. Doctors in their reviews mention cases of excess accumulation in the body of the active substance of the drug and its metabolites due to malfunction of the urinary organs and the liver. The consequences of such overdoses are usually very quickly eliminated, as the patient undergoes treatment under the constant supervision of specialists.

Drug Interactions

Since one of the dosage forms of Linezolid is intended for intravenous administration, it is important that this drug is fully compatible with the basic solutions used during treatment (5% glucose solution, 0.9% sodium chloride solution And Ringer's solution).

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of patients who, in addition to Linezolid, take adrenergic drugs. If a complete rejection of the latter is impossible, doctors will need to revise their dosage.

The medicine "linezolid" (analogues in composition can also be equated to it) is completely incompatible with the drugs "Chlorpromazine", "Cotrimoxazole", "Diazepam" and "Phenytoin". If the patient took these drugs before the antibiotic was taken, it is necessary to maintain an interval of 3 days before the start of treatment with Linezolid.

special instructions

As additional recommendations for taking the "Linezolid" antibiotic, the instructions for use contain information relating to pregnant women and persons with existing comorbidities. In addition, she points out the possibility of developing side effects. But first things first.

As for taking the "Linezolid" drug, the doctors' comments indicate special care when it is prescribed to pregnant and lactating women. This is due to the fact that the effect of the drug on the developing fetus or the newborn child has not been studied enough. As a rule, treatment with its use is advisable only if the risk to the fetus is significantly lower than the expected benefit to the mother.

Severe renal and hepatic insufficiency also requires careful use of the drug, because metabolites are derived mainly by these organs, and the accumulation of these substances in them can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition.

Side effects

Based on the results of clinical observations, undesirable reactions from various organs and systems when taking the "Linezolid" antibiotic most often affect the nervous and digestive systems. Approximately 10% of patients had nausea and headaches during treatment. Slightly less often they were disturbed by diarrhea, dizziness and candidiasis on the oral mucosa.

In addition, experts pointed out such undesirable consequences of the drug as peripheral neuropathy, seizures, visual impairment (up to its complete loss), thrombocytopenia, serotonin syndrome, angioedema and anaphylactic shock. Due to the fact that this drug is used exclusively in a hospital environment, it is often possible to avoid severe consequences.

Treatment of unwanted reactions from organs and systems appeared symptomatic. Cancellation of the drug is possible only if the severity of side effects is a greater problem than the disease that is treated with the antibiotic in question.

Analogues of "Linezolid"

The readers will probably have a question about whether there are analogues for the "Linezolid" drug. Of course, if the pharmaceutical market does not abound, it has several medicines that are similar to this antimicrobial agent in composition. These drugs include the Serbian antibiotic "Zenix", the Norwegian "Zivox" and the Israeli "Linezolid Teva." In the composition of all these drugs, linezolid is the main active ingredient.

Are there any significant differences between the above listed products and Linezolid? The price of medicines is the main difference. The fact is that having the same composition, these drugs act on the human body absolutely the same: they struggle with the same microorganisms, cause the same side effects, have the same contraindications. The timing and methods of treatment, as well as the dosage differ little.

As a rule, more expensive import analogues of the antibiotic "Linezolid" are used in the event that this drug is not available in pharmacies. This happens often, because its use by a wide range of patients is almost impossible because of prescription leave, and drug stores on the shelves will not be allowed to restrain the drug. Hence the orders of small batches of medicines and, therefore, the possibility at any time to sell all of its stock.

Cost of preparation

Medicines from the group of oxazolidinones are of high cost due to the complex multistep synthesis of this substance in pharmaceutical laboratories. What is the price of the "Linezolid" product? Tablets (with the content of the main active substance 600 mg, a package of 10 pieces) in pharmacy chains cost at least 18 thousand rubles. The maximum cost of this dosage form is 20 thousand rubles for 10 tablets. A little cheaper is the drug at a dosage of 400 mg. Its price is about 17-18 thousand rubles for 10 tablets.

Solution for infusions "Linezolid" can be purchased somewhat cheaper: a package of 10 packages of 100 ml will cost 7.5-9 thousand rubles, 10 packages of 300 ml each - 15.3-16.2 thousand rubles.

Drugs with the same name, which are much cheaper, are often fake and at best do not have any effect on the patient's body. Nevertheless, delay in therapy with those diseases, which helps to get rid of the antibiotic Linezolid, in itself is very dangerous. That's why experts recommend buying this medicine only in pharmacies with a good reputation.

Reviews about the antibiotic Linezolid

In various sources, it is rare to find reviews about antibiotics of this class. This is especially true of information regarding his admission, set out by patients. This is due to the fact that most often patients during therapy are in a very difficult condition and it is extremely difficult for them to recall all the feelings they have experienced.

Experts, in turn, speak about the drug "linezolid" extremely positively. According to them, the drug is able to cope even with the most resistant microbes. They also note that there is practically no risk of complications caused by side effects or overdose. This is due to the fact that the antibiotic is used exclusively in a hospital. At the first signs of allergic or adverse reactions to the drug, all necessary medical procedures for their elimination are carried out.

So, we have considered all the subtleties of using the "linezolid" drug. Instructions for use, price and possible reactions to the drug have been described in detail in this article. It should be noted that, despite the high cost of the drug, its use is justified in each case. The decision to treat a patient with this medicine can only be made by the attending physician.