Immunostimulants instructions for use. Immunomodulatory drugs - inexpensive and effective

Immunomodulators – group pharmacological drugs, activating the immunological defense of the body at the cellular or humoral level. These medications stimulate the immune system and increase nonspecific resistance body.

main organs of the human immune system

Immunity - unique system of the human body, capable of destroying foreign substances and requiring proper correction. Normally, immunocompetent cells are produced in response to the introduction of pathogenic biological agents into the body - viruses, microbes and other infectious agents. Immunodeficiency states are characterized by decreased production of these cells and are characterized by frequent morbidity. Immunomodulators – special drugs, united common name and a similar mechanism of action used for the purpose of prevention various ailments and strengthening the immune system.

Currently, the pharmaceutical industry produces huge amount agents that provide immunostimulating, immunomodulating, immunocorrective and immunosuppressive effect. They are freely sold in pharmacy chain. Most of them have side effects and negative impact on the body. Before purchasing such medications, you should consult your doctor.

Immunostimulants strengthen human immunity, provide more effective work immune system and provoke the production of protective cellular units. Immunostimulants are harmless for persons who do not have immune system disorders and exacerbations of chronic pathologies.
Immunomodulators correct the balance of immunocompetent cells during autoimmune diseases and balance all components of the immune system, suppressing or increasing their activity.
Immunocorrectors have an effect only on certain structures of the immune system, normalizing their activity.
Immunosuppressants suppress the production of immune components in cases where its hyperactivity causes harm to the human body.

Self-medication and inadequate medication use can lead to the development autoimmune pathology, while the body begins to perceive its own cells as foreign and fight against them. Immunostimulants should be taken according to strict indications and as prescribed by the attending physician. This is especially true for children, because their immune system is fully formed only by the age of 14.

But in some cases, you simply cannot do without taking drugs from this group. At serious illnesses with a high risk of developing serious complications taking immunostimulants is justified even in children and pregnant women. Most immunomodulators are low-toxic and quite effective.

Use of immunostimulants

Preliminary immunocorrection is aimed at eliminating the underlying pathology without the use of drugs basic therapy. It is prescribed to people with kidney disease, digestive system, rheumatism, in preparation for surgical interventions.

Diseases for which immunostimulants are used:

Congenital immunodeficiency,
Malignant neoplasms,
Inflammation of viral and bacterial etiology,
Mycoses and protozooses,
Helminthiasis,
Kidney and liver pathology,
Endocrinopathology – diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders,
Immunosuppression due to the use of certain medications - cytostatics, glucocorticosteroids, NSAIDs, antibiotics, antidepressants, anticoagulants,
Immunodeficiency caused by ionizing radiation, excessive alcohol intake, severe stress,
Allergy,
Conditions after transplantation,
Secondary post-traumatic and post-intoxication immunodeficiency states.

Presence of signs of immune deficiency - absolute reading to the use of immunostimulants in children. The best immunomodulator Only a pediatrician can choose for children.

People who are most often prescribed immunomodulators:

Children with weak immune systems
Elderly people with weakened immune systems,
People with a busy lifestyle.

Treatment with immunomodulators should be under the supervision of a physician and immunological research blood.

Classification

The list of modern immunomodulators today is very large. Depending on their origin, immunostimulants are distinguished:

Independent use of immunostimulants is rarely justified. They are usually used as an adjunct to the main treatment of pathology. The choice of drug is determined by the characteristics of immunological disorders in the patient’s body. The effectiveness of drugs is considered to be maximum during exacerbation of the pathology. The duration of therapy usually varies from 1 to 9 months. Using adequate doses of medication and correct observance treatment regimen allows immunostimulants to fully realize their therapeutic effects.

Some probiotics, cytostatics, hormones, vitamins, also have an immunomodulatory effect. antibacterial drugs, immunoglobulins.

Synthetic immunostimulants

Synthetic adaptogens have an immunostimulating effect on the body and increase its resistance to unfavorable factors. The main representatives of this group are “Dibazol” and “Bemitil”. Due to their pronounced immunostimulating activity, the drugs have an antiasthenic effect and help the body quickly recover after prolonged exposure to extreme conditions.

For frequent and prolonged infections with prophylactic and therapeutic purpose combine Dibazol with Levamisole or Decamevit.

Endogenous immunostimulants

This group includes preparations of thymus, red bone marrow and placenta.

Thymic peptides are produced by thymus cells and regulate the functioning of the immune system. They change the functions of T-lymphocytes and restore the balance of their subpopulations. After the use of endogenous immunostimulants, the number of cells in the blood is normalized, which indicates their pronounced immunomodulatory effect. Endogenous immunostimulants enhance the production of interferons and increase the activity of immunocompetent cells.

"Timalin" has an immunomodulatory effect, activates regeneration and repair processes. It stimulates cellular immunity and phagocytosis, normalizes the number of lymphocytes, increases the secretion of interferons, and restores immunological reactivity. This drug is used to treat immunodeficiency states, developed against the background of acute and chronic infections, destructive processes.
"Imunofan"– a drug widely used in cases where the human immune system cannot independently resist the disease and requires pharmacological support. It stimulates the immune system, removes toxins from the body and free radicals, has a hepatoprotective effect.

Interferons

Interferons increase the nonspecific resistance of the human body and protect it from viral, bacterial or other antigenic attacks. The most effective drugs that have a similar effect are "Cycloferon", "Viferon", "Anaferon", "Arbidol". They contain synthesized proteins that push the body to produce its own interferons.

Naturally occurring drugs include leukocyte human interferon.

Long-term use of drugs in this group minimizes their effectiveness and suppresses a person’s own immunity, which ceases to function actively. Inadequate and too long-term use of them has negative impact on the immunity of adults and children.

In combination with other medications, interferons are prescribed to patients with viral infections, laryngeal papillomatosis, and cancer. They are used intranasally, orally, intramuscularly and intravenously.

Preparations of microbial origin

Medicines in this group have a direct effect on the monocyte-macrophage system. Activated blood cells begin to produce cytokines, which trigger innate and acquired immune responses. The main task of these drugs is to remove pathogenic microbes from the body.

Plant adaptogens

TO plant adaptogens include extracts of echinacea, eleutherococcus, ginseng, and lemongrass. These are “mild” immunostimulants widely used in clinical practice. Drugs from this group are prescribed to patients with immunodeficiency without a preliminary immunological examination. Adaptogens trigger the work of enzyme systems and biosynthetic processes, and activate the body’s nonspecific resistance.

The use of plant adaptogens for prophylactic purposes reduces the incidence of ARVI and resists the development radiation sickness, weakens toxic effect cytostatics.

For the prevention of a number of diseases, as well as for speedy recovery Patients are advised to drink daily ginger tea or cinnamon tea, take black peppercorns.

Video: about immunity – School of Dr. Komarovsky

Nowadays you rarely meet a person who has managed to avoid a runny nose, cough, or fever during the cold season. And while some people overcome the disease quickly and are already on their feet after a few days, others recover from a cold quite difficult, with the development of various complications.

Immunomodulators and immunostimulants

The reason for the protracted course is a decrease in the body's resistance, which happens when the immune system is insufficient. There are medicines that have one or another influence on immune system human - immunomodulators. These funds stimulate defense mechanisms, while the body begins to effectively fight viruses and bacteria.

It should be said that confusion arises between concepts such as immunomodulators and immunostimulants. Many people believe that these funds belong to the same group. However, there is a difference between them. Immunostimulants affect the body's nonspecific resistance and increase the natural ability to resist infectious diseases.

Immunomodulators are used when there are malfunctions in the immune system and restoration of its function. The group of immunomodulators includes immunosuppressants - drugs used to suppress the immune response. This action may be necessary during the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Drugs in this group have the following effects:

stimulate immune processes;
activate immunocompetent cells (these include T and B lymphocytes);
increase the body's resistance;
accelerate tissue regeneration processes.

The use of immunostimulants for infectious and infectious-inflammatory diseases helps a person cope with the disease more quickly.

Depending on their origin, immunomodulators are:

exogenous origin - bacterial and herbal agents;
endogenous origin;
synthetic.

Immunostimulants - herbal preparations

They are based on medicinal plants- clover, lungwort, echinacea, chicory, lemongrass. They naturally restore protective forces without negatively affecting hormonal balance.

Among the remedies in this group, Echinacea has a powerful stimulating effect. This perennial has a rich composition: microelements (selenium, calcium, silicon), vitamins. Echinacea preparations have the following effects:

anti-inflammatory;
antiviral;
antibacterial;
diuretic;
antiallergic;
detoxification.

Echinacea is part of such medicines as Immunal, Immudon.

Immunal

The medicine consists of echinacea juice and ethanol, available in drops. Immunal is used to increase the body's resistance during recurrent colds, during an influenza epidemic for prophylactic purposes, to prevent immunodeficiency during antibiotic treatment.

Drugs plant origin often used as immunostimulants for children (for frequent and prolonged colds). Use in pediatrics is due to the fact that the drugs are well tolerated and do not cause toxic effect. However, even such seemingly harmless drugs have their own contraindications. Plant-derived immunostimulants should not be used for autoimmune diseases, when the immune system works too actively and produces antibodies against its own cells. Immunostimulants are contraindicated for leukemia, diabetes mellitus, individual intolerance, collagenosis.

Immunostimulants of bacterial origin

Effective drugs in this group are Immudon, IRS-19.

Immudon

The medicine contains lysates of many bacteria and fungi, which are included in tablets for resorption in the mouth. Immudon stimulates the production of lysozyme in saliva, and this substance has a detrimental effect on bacteria. It also has an immunostimulating effect.

Immudon is used for inflammatory diseases in the mouth (periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis), as well as for inflammatory processes in the pharynx - pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Contraindications include individual sensitivity, side effects the medicine does not have and is well tolerated by patients.

IRS-19

The product is available in the form of a dosed aerosol. The composition contains standardized lysates of inactivated bacteria. IRS-19 is used to treat respiratory diseases and inflammation in the oral cavity (rhinitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis), as well as for the prevention of complications of influenza and colds.

Immunostimulants of endogenous origin

Medicines are obtained from thymus gland(thymus) and bone marrow. The thymus gland plays an important role in the functioning of cellular and humoral immunity. The maturation of lymphocytes and stem cells occurs in it, and the gland also secretes specific substances - hormones that affect cell differentiation lymphoid tissue. Extractive preparations (Timalin, Taktivin) are obtained from the thymus and are used to treat immunodeficiencies with a predominant lesion of T- cellular immunity(purulent and tumor diseases, tuberculosis, herpes).

A bone marrow preparation, Myelolid, is used to treat diseases that involve damage to humoral immunity (leukemia, chronic infections, purulent diseases).

Endogenous stimulants also include nucleic acid preparations and cytokines. Cytokines are low molecular weight proteins that carry information about the functioning of the immune system; they can influence the processes of cellular interaction. There are many types of cytokines, but the most active are interleukins - substances secreted by leukocytes. Cytokines are used for treatment purulent-septic diseases, wounds, burns and some types of tumors. Drugs – Betaleukin, Roncoleukin.

Synthetic products

Medicines are obtained by scientific developments and chemical synthesis. These include Polyoxidonium, Amiksin, Neovir.

Immunomodulators are drugs that modulate and change the immune system. Their use for ARVI or colds is necessary if defensive reactions- weak, and the immune response is insufficient. How to use immunomodulators for colds and ARVI? And what drugs does the pharmaceutical industry produce?

What is treated with immunomodulators

All human infections are conventionally divided into bacterial, fungal and viral. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, antimycotics are used to treat fungal infections, and antimycotics are used to treat viruses. antivirals and drugs with immunomodulatory effects.

If antibiotics are drugs wide range actions effective against a range of bacterial microorganisms. Antiviral drugs are strictly specific substances and act only on viruses of a certain type. Thus, the specific antiviral substance acyclovir acts on herpes viruses of the first, second and third types and is not ineffective in the treatment of herpes viruses of the fourth, fifth, sixth types.

Against many viral infections no specific antidote has yet been found. Therefore, drugs with immunomodulatory effects are used to treat them. They strengthen immune reactions, accelerate the immune response and allow the body to overcome the viral infection. Thus, immune modulators are used as drugs to treat various viral infections. They also have some activity against fungi and bacteria, but are mainly used against viruses.

Immunomodulators: composition and action

Drugs that modulate and stimulate immunity may contain various active ingredients. In this case, a distinction is made between natural and synthetic modulators. In turn natural preparations for immunity, they are divided into plant and animal (according to the nature of their origin, the raw materials from which they are obtained).

Drugs from the same group have similar effects, indications for use, list of diseases and side effects. What do immune modulators contain?

Interferons and interferon inducers

Treatment with immunomodulators for colds most often uses drugs with interferon or its inducers.

This is the most famous and popular group of immune stimulating agents. They have minimal side effects (compared to other modulators), relatively small concentrations and are often prescribed for the treatment of colds, flu, and various ARVIs age groups population, children, adults, pensioners. Also, this group of drugs is promoted as effective and safe prophylactic from seasonal colds.

As a rule, drugs contain recombined human interferon (synthesized from biological tissues and not a drug donated blood). More often it is interferon alpha, less often - beta and even less often - gamma. Also, immunomodulators may not contain ready-made interferons, but chemicals, which stimulate the production of their own immune bodies in the human body. Why does a sick person need interferon?

Immunostimulants are substances that stimulate immune responses at the cellular level. We urgently need them to protect the body and fight external pathogens (bacteria, microorganisms, viruses).

Immunostimulants - the list of drugs includes: vaccines, hormones, vitamins, synthetic stimulants. We most often meet with this group for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory viral infections.

Natural immunostimulants - list

Made with Echinacea purpurea extract. Contain active substances, helping to strengthen the immune system, suppress the growth and reproduction of microorganisms:

Immunal
Echinacea-ratiopharm
Echinacea tincture
Echinacea compositum

Indications for use:

Uncomplicated viral infections
Prevention during epidemics
Antibiotic therapy against the background of reduced immunity

Their effectiveness in the fight against herpes and hepatitis viruses has also been proven.

Synthetic immunostimulants - list

The list includes the best drugs immunostimulants received laboratory method, but no less effective for that.

Cycloferon(Acredonacetic acid)

Stimulates the body's own interferon production.
It has immunostimulating, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects.
Effective against influenza, herpes, hepatitis, papilloma, and HIV viruses.
Enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics and can be prescribed for intestinal infections.

Amiksin (tilorone)– immunomodulatory and antiviral agent.

Stimulates the production of interferon, enhances the formation of antibodies and inhibits the reproduction of viruses.

For the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, drugs containing interferon directly, and not just stimulating its production, are also used.

Interferon- a whole group of specific proteins that are produced by the body during the introduction of infectious agents.

Stimulates the immune system to fight viruses by making changes inside infected cells.
Suppresses the synthesis of viral proteins and prevents further reproduction of viruses.

There are several forms of interferon release:

For nasal administration:

Nazoferon
Laferon
Laferobion

Once on the mucous membrane, it plays the role of a substance that enhances the immune response. According to some researchers, this form of release is not effective due to the short period of exposure to cells. However, clinical trials prove the effectiveness of this use in the prevention of viral infections.

Interferon-based immunostimulant drugs presented in the list can be recommended for children almost from birth, as well as for pregnant and lactating women due to their high safety and low number of side effects.

Immune preparations for vaginal and rectal administration

Available in the form of suppositories (candles). This list complements the list of effective immunostimulant drugs:

Laferobion
Viferon
Genferon

This group of immunostimulant drugs ensures longer circulation in the blood than with other methods of administration. Appointed as part of complex therapy infection-inflammatory processes, urogenital infections, treatment of chronic and acute viral hepatitis.

Intramuscular administration - used on the recommendation of a doctor, if there is a need for more high doses substances.

Immunostimulant preparations based on lyophilisate and bacterial lysates

Their mechanism of action is similar to vaccines. Once they enter the body, they are perceived as foreign bodies, and provoke the production of specific antibodies. They include the most common causative agents of infections of the ENT organs and respiratory tract.

Ribo-munil
Broncho-munal
Broncho-vaxom
Imudon

Indicated for prevention and treatment chronic diseases respiratory system(otitis media, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis).
They can be prescribed to children from six months of age.

Immunomodulators are drugs that provide healing effect on the human immune system. By using modern laboratories several types of synthetic drugs have been isolated that stimulate the production immune cells or are themselves human immune cells. But even before the appearance modern technologies components of plant origin were used, which also had a positive immunotropic effect.

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Immunomodulators

Immunomodulators are medicines, which contribute to the restoration of factors immune defense person. They are able to increase low performance immunograms (method laboratory research, which shows the state of a person’s immunity) and reduce the increased ones. Depending on the degree of effect, drugs are divided into immunosuppressors (suppress the immune system) and immunostimulants (activate the immune defense).

Classification of immunomodulators:

Microbial - they are obtained from various structural subunits of bacteria. There are natural (Ribomunil, IRS-19, Imudon, Bronchomunal) and artificial (Likopid).
Thymic - drugs in this group include thymic components. Natural ones include Taktivin, Timalin, artificial ones - Thymogen and Bestim.
Bone marrow includes components of red bone marrow cells. Representatives of this group of immunomodulators: Myelopid and Seramil.
Cycotins contain cells of the immune system. Natural: Leukinferon, Superlymph. Recombinant, that is, obtained artificially using genetic engineering: Roncoleukin, Leukomax and Betaleukin.
Nucleic acid preparations containing components of the nuclei of the main pathogens. Natural: Derinat and sodium nucleinate. Synthetic: Poludan.
Herbal preparation - immunal. It contains a natural immune system activator.
Chemicals: Levamisole, Gepon, Glutoxim, Alloferon.
Interferons and their inducers: Viferon, Arbidol, Cycloferon.

Microbial immunomodulators

The main drugs of this group (Imudon, IRS-19, Bronchomunal) contain components of infectious agents in children and adults. Included microbial immunomodulators contains ribosomes and lysates of the following microorganisms:

Klebsiella is one of the most common causative agents of pneumonia in children.
Streptococcus - more often affects the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract of older patients.
Haemophilus influenzae - is the cause of the development nosocomial pneumonia in patients older than 2 years.

Medicines of microbial origin can be prescribed as a prophylaxis for diseases caused by the above pathogens and for treatment.

A characteristic difference between Ribomunil and other drugs in this group is the presence of pneumonic Klebsiella in the cell wall component - this increases the formation specific immunity and the production of antibodies in the body. Lykopid is the most modern drug from the group of microbial immunomodulators and belongs to the third generation of drugs, as it contains components of the cells of many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, lykopid is a broad-spectrum remedy.

Microbial immunomodulators are used for:

Prevention and treatment of frequent respiratory viral infections (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, adenoiditis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia).
Prevention of diseases in persons with a burdened medical history who are at risk from bronchial asthma, urticaria, hay fever, chronic tonsillitis etc.

Medicines in this group are used for treatment and prevention only in children older than 6 months, and in cases of suspected allergic intolerance and in the presence of atopic diseases history of the medication is contraindicated.

Thymic immunomodulators

Thymic preparations were obtained from protein extracts obtained from the thymus gland cattle(cow, bull). List of drugs: Taktivin, Timalin, Timoptin, Timostimulin. Taktivin is the most effective means, since, in addition to thymus proteins, it contains specific hormone, activating the activity of the patient’s thymus. Medicines in this group are approved for use in many countries in Europe and America.

The clinical effect when using thymic lyophilisates is increased production lymphocytes and leukocytes, which leads to an increase protective functions immunity. The disadvantage of taking thymic immunomodulators is the inability to separate the protein structures contained in the thymus of animal origin, so there is high risk development allergic reaction. For treatment or prevention various diseases I use it with children synthetic drug- Bestim, which was obtained in the laboratory and does not have animal protein components.

Indications for prescribing drugs in this group:

Acute or chronic infectious diseases respiratory organs: flu, herpes, sore throat, bronchitis, tracheitis.
Decrease in cellular immunity indicators in the immunogram under the influence of various factors(chemical, bacterial, viral).
Disturbance of hematopoietic processes: decreased blood clotting, multiple hematomas, anemia of unknown etiology.
Acceleration of regenerative and recovery processes in the postoperative period.
Prevention of diseases in risk groups (frequently ill children, premature babies, those who have changed their place of residence) in the autumn-winter period.

Thymogenic immunomodulators are contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation and when signs of drug intolerance appear (itching, peeling, headache).

Bone marrow preparations

The first drug in this group is Myelopid, which contains bone marrow activator proteins isolated from the blood of pigs. Myelopid contains 6 protein structures, each of which performs a specific function:

1. stimulates the synthesis and production of antibodies;
2. increases the humoral activity of the immune system by activating the production of immunoglobulins;
3. increases the activity of leukocytes circulating in the blood;
4. restores the necessary ratio between different fractions of lymphocytes;
5. activates neutrophil and macrophage phagocytosis;
6. normalizes the differentiation of immune cells in the bone marrow.

Bone marrow immunomodulators were manufactured as a means of increasing humoral immunity, but during trials and drug use in patients, additional antitumor effect. Bone marrow immunomodulators can suppress growth activity malignant tumors via inhibition chemical processes inside the object.

Among the drugs in this group, drugs containing only certain type myelopeptide to obtain a specific effect:

Seramil - contains myelopeptide, which has an antibacterial effect.
Bivalen is a universal antitumor drug.

Drugs are prescribed for:

immunodeficiency states associated with damage to the humoral link ( malignant neoplasms bone marrow, rehabilitation period after chemotherapy);
severe course recovery period after injury or injury;
heavy purulent diseases and septic conditions;
leukemia;
treatment of bacterial and viral infections that cannot be treated standard methods therapy;
prevention of colds and other diseases.

Bone marrow preparations should not be prescribed during breastfeeding, pregnancy, children under 3 years of age and allergic intolerance to the drug or its individual components.

Cytokines

Cytokines are modern immunomodulators, which are divided into natural and recombinant drugs. The first group includes drugs with the following names: Superlymph, Leukinferon. They contain ready-made immune cells acute phase inflammations obtained from donor blood, which was pre-treated with strains of viruses. When they enter the body, leukinferon cytokines are sent to the site of inflammation immediately, but it would take a person several days to produce their own cytokines. Superlymph is the only cytokine drug intended for the correction of local immunological disorders.

The second group of drugs is recombinant, its representatives are roncoleukin and molgramostim. If natural cytokine agents contain several various types interleukins and immunity factors, then recombinant ones contain only one type of interleukins. Roncoleukin contains interleukin 2 - this is the most important cytokine of the body's immune system, which regulates the activity of lymphocytes and the production of antibodies. Betaleukin contains interleukin 1, which is responsible for activating phagocytosis processes.

Cytokines are prescribed for the following conditions:

secondary immunodeficiency associated with vitamin deficiency and exposure to weather conditions per person;
purulent inflammatory diseases internal organs: acute peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, myocarditis, cystitis with ureaplasma, endometritis, pneumonia severe course, septic conditions.
bacterial infections in weakened patients: pulmonary tuberculosis in a person with bad habits, osteomyelitis, abscess various localizations, arthritis.
extensive burns of various origins.

In children, they are used only for the treatment of sepsis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, abscess, osteomyelitis and generalized infections. Medicines in this group cannot be used by pregnant women, people with allergic intolerance to yeast (since many drugs are isolated using genetic engineering from yeast fungi), and with metastatic damage to internal organs and the brain. Recombinant cytokines, in particular roncoleukin, are approved for use in children from birth.

Nucleic acid-based immunomodulators

Medicines in this group are activators of the bone marrow and thymus, as a result of which the number of cells of the immune system increases: lymphocytes, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, etc. Sodium nucleinate is a purified sodium salt from nucleic acid that was obtained from yeast fungi. The drug contains many precursors of leukopoiesis - nucleic acids, so after taking there is an increase immune status patient and recovery. Sodium nucleinate promotes rapid division and growth of any cells, including some bacteria. Derinat was synthesized later. A more advanced product is Polidan - it contains RNA and DNA components isolated from sturgeon fish.

Basics therapeutic effect drugs from the group of nucleic acids - activation of interferon production in the body, due to which the immune response is increased, and a person copes with infection faster.

Drugs in this group are used for therapy and prevention following states and pathologies:

acute respiratory viral disease- ARVI;
oral cavity and nasopharynx: atrophic rhinitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis;
chronic diseases of internal organs: cystitis, pancreatitis, gastritis, endometritis, etc.;
burns;
gangrene or diabetic foot;
necrosis and destruction of soft tissues developing after radiation therapy.

The only contraindication is individual sensitivity or intolerance to the drugs. Medicines based on nucleic acids are prescribed even to pregnant and lactating women; children are prescribed drugs for the treatment of ARVI from birth, since they do not cause harm to health.

Among adverse reactions moderate hypoglycemia is noted, which resolves on its own after stopping the use of medications.

Immunal

Immunal is an immunomodulator of plant origin, which is produced on the basis of Echinacea purpurea extract. It has a powerful effect on the body by:

Activation of the synthesis of granulocytes, in particular cells of cellular immunity - lymphocytes.
Acceleration of phagocytosis, which promotes quick deliverance from the pathogen.

Immunal is most effective against influenza and herpes viruses. The drug is prescribed for:

treatment of viral diseases;
prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections in frequently ill children and adults;
therapy secondary immunodeficiencies caused by long-term use antibiotics.

An immunomodulator of plant origin is not recommended for use in the treatment of tuberculosis, blood cancer, diseases connective tissue, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies. Among side effects patients note the appearance of shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi. If the above symptoms appear, you must stop taking the medication.

Chemical immunomodulators

Low molecular weight chemical immunotropic drugs (older) include Levamisole. It was first synthesized and used as a remedy for helminthic infestations, but later active immunostimulating effects were discovered. Diucifon was created as a medicine to combat pulmonary tuberculosis, therefore it has good antibacterial effect. It contains methyluracil, which leads to immune activation. Drugs that simultaneously have immunostimulating and antibacterial activity, are the most promising and should be used more often for the treatment of infectious diseases.

High molecular weight immunomodulators include polyoxidonium, which contains various oxides. They affect the body's nitrogenous compounds, stimulating their synthesis. Effects of polyoxidonium:

antioxidant;
detoxification;
membrane stabilizing;
immunomodulatory.

Chemical immunomodulators are also used for the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory infections, ARVI, bacterial infections etc.

Interferons and their inducers

Drugs in this group have pronounced immunomodulatory effects that act exclusively in the fight against viral infection. Main representatives: interferon alpha and gamma. Once in the body, they affect all immune cells, and are themselves sources of immune cells. The drugs are used to treat acute viral infections as an etiological antiviral therapy. Interferon inducers - Arbidol and Interferon - promote the production of endogenous interferons, therefore they are often prescribed as a prophylaxis for viral diseases.

Contraindications for the use of drugs in this group are intolerance to the components, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Side effects not identified. For comfortable use by children early age medicines are available in the form anal suppositories, and for adults the drugs are prescribed in tablet form.

When using immunomodulators, it is important to remember that you must first consult with an immunologist. You should not take medications on your own, as they have a powerful effect on the immune system. Drugs various groups have their own characteristics that must be taken into account during the course of treatment. Some have their own application regimen up to several times a day, which leads to the necessary therapeutic effect. Other medications are recommended to be used at regular intervals.