The use of chloramphenicol for diarrhea. What is chloramphenicol tablets for - instructions for use

When diarrhea occurs, it is not always possible to visit a doctor. For quick medical care Levomycetin is suitable for diarrhea. Instructions and indications for use this tool allow its use in humans of different ages, including children. But before use, you must definitely consult with your local pediatrician about the possibility and advisability of taking Levomycetin for diarrhea.

One of the causes of loose stools is diarrhea.

The reasons for the appearance of loose stools can be very diverse. But most often, the occurrence of diarrhea is caused by food poisoning from low-quality products or pathogenic microorganisms contained in them. These can be viruses, bacteria, fungi and even protozoa. All of them are considered causative agents of intestinal infections, the symptoms of which include diarrhea.

If the patient's diarrhea is caused by pathogenic effect bacteria, the disease can only be stopped with antibiotics. Anti-diarrhea medications that act on microorganisms include Levomycetin. The product acts on a large number of bacteria, which allows it to be classified as an antibiotic wide range amphenicol group.

Levomycetin is effective for diarrhea of bacterial origin due to inhibition of the synthesis of protein molecules in the cell of microorganisms. This suppresses the process of microbial reproduction, stopping the spread of infection and its effect on the body.

Indications for use of the drug

Since the active substance of Levomycetin is the antibiotic chloramphenicol, this remedy is suitable for the treatment of diarrhea of microbial etiology. Levomycetin is a potent drug, so it is prescribed if the pathogen has resistance to tetracycline, penicillin and sulfonamides.

An antibiotic is used when salmonella is detected in the body

The effectiveness of the antibiotic has been proven against several types of bacteria:

calling;
causative agents of typhoid and paratyphoid fever;
streptococci and staphylococci;
pathogens of colienteritis and other inflammatory infectious diseases of the digestive system;
to salmonella.

This drug is ineffective or may not work at all for diarrhea caused by anaerobic or acid-fast bacteria, as well as clostridia, fungi, viruses, protozoa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or methicillin-resistant bacteria. Therefore, before starting treatment, the patient needs to determine the type of pathogen so as not to waste time on ineffective therapy.

Resistance to the active substance of the drug develops quite slowly. Levomycetin for diarrhea is unique in that it does not cause cross-resistance of pathogens to other antibiotics. This indicates the relative harmlessness of the drug for the patient in relation to the possible further treatment and with recurrent forms of infection.

Rules for taking Levomycetin

The main rule for the use of antibiotics by patients is the absence of uncontrolled use. Anti-diarrhea tablets that act on bacterial pathogens can only be prescribed by your doctor. An unauthorized decision by patients to take antibiotics may result in the development of resistance of microorganisms to the active substance of the drug.

The course of administration and dosage of Levomycetin for diarrhea is determined by the local therapist or pediatrician. The antibiotic is prescribed according to the weight and age of the patient, as well as general condition patient. If a sick person has chronic diseases, they should be mentioned when prescribing treatment. Average duration Taking medications for diarrhea may last 1–2 weeks. After this time, the symptoms should disappear and the body will restore its normal functioning.

Levomycetin is used urgently and it acts instantly

Medicines for diarrhea are used urgently, so they act quickly. The next morning after taking Levomycetin, the patient’s well-being significantly improves. But you cannot stop taking Levomycetin at this stage. Such actions can lead to the establishment of microbial resistance to the active substance of the drug.

Patients take Levomycetin half an hour before meals or an hour after. It is not recommended to chew or crush the tablets; they must be swallowed without disturbing the structure. This contributes the greatest efficiency medicines.

Whenever side effects after use on an empty stomach, you should change the tactics of taking it and move it to the afternoon. This will not affect the antibacterial effect of the drug.

Use in adults

If diarrhea occurs in an adult, it is recommended to take Levomycetin every 5–6 hours. If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, the dose of the drug is increased. The dosage regimen is changed by the attending physician who supervises the treatment. With an uncontrolled increase in dosage, intoxication damage to the patient's liver is possible. Uncomplicated diarrhea is cured by taking Levomycetin 1-2 times. If after the second tablet with diarrhea there is no obvious improvement in the patient’s condition, you should consult a physician as soon as possible.

Use in children

Before prescribing Levomycetin for a child, his age and weight must be clarified. Up to three years, the drug is taken 3-4 times a day, but maximum dose should not exceed 15 mg per 1 kg.

Children over three years old can consume up to 0.2 g. per day, and over 8 years old up to 0.3 g. Daily norm distributed across all medication doses.

The antibiotic has a bitter taste, so children may refuse it. Levomycetin-actitab was developed especially for them, which has no taste and is not inferior in beneficial effects.

Children are most often susceptible to side effects, so before using the drug, consultation with a local pediatrician is required. If there is no positive dynamics in treatment, the child should be hospitalized.

Side effects

Levomycetin is used only as prescribed by a doctor, as it can cause a lot of side effects in the patient. These include:

Levomycetin may cause nausea and vomiting

allergic reactions consequence of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug: dermatitis, edema, urticaria;
inhibition of hematopoiesis (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia);
changes in blood serum glucose levels;
bleeding, including internal;
pathologies of the kidneys, liver, heart and vascular system, digestive organs;
severe intoxication (occurs in newborns when the dosage is exceeded);
dyspepsia (constipation, flatulence, nausea, vomiting);
a fall blood pressure and body temperature;
feeling of fatigue, increased excitability, drowsiness and weakness, sudden mood swings, depression;
convulsions;
visual and auditory hallucinations (when combined with alcohol);
deterioration of hearing and vision during therapy;
“gray syndrome” in young children: changes in skin color, low temperature body, breathing and working disorders internal organs.

If one of the adverse events You should urgently consult a doctor about replacing the drug with a similar one. Otherwise there may be death, especially in children under three years of age.

Contraindications

Levomycetin is not used for diabetes mellitus

Levomycetin is a highly active drug. It effectively destroys pathogens of intestinal infections, but has a whole list of contraindications:

pathologies of the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic organs;
related respiratory infections, tonsillitis;
disorders of the circulatory system;
diabetes;
fungal infections of the skin;
allergies and hypersensitive people;
age up to 4 weeks;
pregnancy and period breastfeeding.

If the patient has contraindications, taking Levomycetin is strictly prohibited. Ignoring this rule can lead to serious consequences, including death.

Precautionary measures

Since Levomycetin can provoke a severe form of intoxication in children under three years of age, it should be stored out of the reach of children.

When taking the drug, the patient must carefully observe the dosage and monitor the body’s reaction in order to prevent the development of complications.

Without testing for the pathogen intestinal infection Levomycetin should not be taken, since it has a fairly high toxicity, but does not help against viral and fungal pathogens, as well as against diarrhea of somatic etiology.

Diarrhea, popularly known as diarrhea, is one of the most common intestinal disorders. Represents rapid loose stool– in some cases, the frequency of stools can reach up to 15-20 times a day. Diarrhea can occur in both adults and young children, and its causes can be very diverse:

A sudden change in climate - for example, when arriving in another country or visiting an exotic resort.
Entering the body of various pathogens through unwashed hands.
Use drinking water Low quality.
The presence of stale or expired food in food. In some cases, diarrhea can result from eating unusual, exotic foods.
Stressful situations or severe nervous shock can also trigger the development of diarrhea.
Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Many people who are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as diarrhea prefer to use well-known, effective and time-tested remedies - take Levomycitin tablets. It should be remembered that the use of an antibiotic is effective only in case of diarrhea infectious nature. If diarrhea is caused by chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract, you must consult a doctor to prescribe appropriate medications.

Levomycytin - what is the drug?

Levomycetin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug with a pronounced bacteriostatic effect. Many gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms are sensitive to the antibiotic - chlamydia, spirochetes, brucella, staphylococci, streptococci and many others. The action of Levomycetin is based on the ability to inhibit the synthesis of pathogenic microorganisms, which ultimately leads to their death.

The drug is available in tablet form round shape, white or light yellow color. One tablet contains 0.25 or 0.5 g of the main active substance - chloramphenicol.

Use of Levomycetin for diarrhea

An antibacterial drug is not recommended for use for absolutely any diarrhea, without taking into account the causes of its occurrence. Levomycetin has a pronounced effect only if loose stools are infectious origin– caused by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits, stale food or poor-quality drinking water.

In other cases, when intestinal upset is caused by chronic diseases, the use of Levomycetin will be ineffective. In addition, the use of antibiotics is strictly not recommended when diarrhea lasts more than one day. In such cases, dehydration can develop very quickly, especially when diarrhea is combined with vomiting. If intestinal upset continues on the second day after taking the antibacterial drug, you should immediately seek medical help.

At orally Levomycetin tablet is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the death of pathogenic microorganisms that cause diarrhea. This helps normalize stool and speedy recovery person.

Indications for use of Levomycetin

For food poisoning and digestive disorders accompanied by diarrhea, an antibacterial drug is recommended for use in the following cases:

Levomycetin is effective in the most severe poisoning when diarrhea is combined with vomiting. If, after gastric lavage and taking sorbent drugs, a person’s condition does not improve, he is bothered by repeated vomiting, weakness, and the frequency of diarrhea reaches 10-15 times a day, the use of Levomycetin is recommended.
The drug is used if a person notices the presence of blood or purulent impurities in the feces.
In some cases, Levomycetin, which is an antibiotic with an extremely wide field of action, is prescribed by the attending physician to eliminate infectious agent diarrhea that is not affected by other medications. To do this, the patient undergoes a stool test - this is necessary to determine the causative agent of infectious diarrhea and determine the degree of its sensitivity to Levomycetin.
The antibiotic is recommended for use when the body temperature increases in a person suffering from diarrhea.
The use of an antibacterial drug is permitted if the patient has individual intolerance other medicines.

Levomycetin is also used for effective treatment other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs – typhoid fever, salmonellosis, brucellosis, dysentery.

Levomycetin for diarrhea in adults is recommended to be taken orally half an hour before a meal, or an hour after a meal. In cases where a person experiences nausea and abdominal discomfort after taking the medication on an empty stomach, the medication should be taken after meals. Efficiency medicinal product this does not reduce it. Depending on the severity of the digestive disorder, tablets with a dosage of 0.25 or 0.5 g are used.

Adults are recommended to take one tablet of medication every 5-6 hours, but it is worth remembering that regardless of the result obtained daily dosage antibiotic should in no case exceed 2 g. In the most severe cases, when the patient’s diarrhea is combined with vomiting, an increase in the maximum limit is allowed permissible dosage up to 4 g per day. But in this case, the person must be under medical supervision, because the body’s reaction to an increase in the dose of Levomycetin can be the most unexpected.

In the case of using Levomycetin for the treatment of children, factors such as the age of each individual child and his body weight must be taken into account.

For children under 3 years of age, the recommended dosage is calculated in the following way– based on 10-15 mg of the drug per 1 kg total mass baby's body. The medicine is taken 3 to 4 times a day, depending on the severity of the child’s condition.
The best option for treating diarrhea in children is age category from 3 to 8 years will be the use of 0.15-0.2 g of Levomycetin up to 4 times a day.
Children and adolescents over 8 years of age - 0.2-0.3 g of the drug 4 times a day.

When treating diarrhea with Levomycetin, you should remember that doctors strongly recommend taking the drug at regular intervals. Taking one antibiotic tablet in the morning and three in the evening is not allowed.

The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor individually. In the vast majority of cases, the duration of treatment for diarrhea with Levomycetin ranges from 7 to 14 days. Usually, when treating diarrhea, improvement is observed already on the second or third day of using Levomycetin and the person stops taking the antibiotic. In no case should treatment be stopped immediately after a person’s condition has improved - despite the improvement in well-being, the infectious agents that caused the digestive disorder are not completely destroyed. Therefore, treatment must be continued until complete recovery.

Contraindications to the use of Levomycetin

Levomycetin has not only an extremely broad spectrum of action, but also a significant list of contraindications for use. The antibacterial drug is not recommended to be taken in the following cases:

Renal or hepatic dysfunction.
Hematopoietic disorders.
Fungal infections, psoriasis, eczema, lichen and other skin diseases.
Acute respiratory diseases and sore throat are a contraindication to the use of Levomycetin.
The drug should not be used in the treatment of children under 4 weeks of age.
Levomycetin is contraindicated for use during pregnancy or during breastfeeding. If a doctor recommends that a nursing woman use this particular antibiotic in the treatment of diarrhea, breastfeeding should be abandoned.
If a person has an individual intolerance to the medication or one of its components, the use of Levomycetin must be stopped immediately.

It is worth noting that Levomycetin not only has many contraindications, but also differs big amount side effects.

Possible side effects of Levomycetin

The most common side effects of Levomycetin include various pathologies hematopoietic system - most often thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia or leukopenia may develop. In some cases, when taking an antibiotic, a person may experience nausea, heartburn, flatulence, bloating, painful sensations in the stomach or increased diarrhea.

Also, when using Levomycetin, various disruptions in the functioning of the central nervous system may occur. nervous system– drowsiness, irritability, weakness, fatigue, confusion, depressive state and sudden mood swings. Extremely in rare cases Hallucinations of both a visual and auditory nature may even appear. Deterioration of hearing and visual acuity is possible - usually such side effects of Levomycetin are temporary and completely disappear after discontinuation of the medication.

Some patients, when using an antibacterial drug, develop allergic skin reactions, which are expressed in the form of redness, rashes, hives, and dermatitis. In the most severe cases, angioedema may develop - pathological condition, which carries serious danger not only for health, but also for human life. If any side effects Levomycetin should be consulted with a doctor to adjust the dose of the drug taken or replace it with a similar drug.

What should you remember when using Levomycetin?

Using medication For the treatment of diarrhea in children and adults, several rules should be remembered. Thus, in no case is it recommended to combine the use of Levomycetin with the use of alcoholic drinks. This combination can lead to nausea, vomiting, and convulsive reactions. In addition, alcohol significantly reduces the effectiveness of the antibacterial drug, which negates the entire expected effect of treatment.

In case a person who has previously undergone treatment decides to use Levomycetin radiation therapy or cytostatic drugs, constant medical supervision. In such cases, the risk of side effects of the medication increases significantly, so treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

It should also be remembered that one of the possible side effects of Levomycetin is a confused state of consciousness. That is why, throughout the entire course of treatment with this antibacterial drug, you should refrain from driving a car or operating other equipment and mechanisms that require quick reactions and sharp thinking.

In our Everyday life Unfortunately, it is impossible to do without antibiotics that help a person cope with serious diseases, including chloramphenicol, which is indispensable for diarrhea. This is one of antibiotic drugs, the help of which is resorted to to cope with the infection in the body.

Release form

Levomycetin is available in the form of tablets that have a yellowish-white color, have a strong bacteriostatic effect and are able to destroy types of bacteria that are resistant to penicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamides. By acting on the cell of a microorganism, chloramphenicol disrupts protein synthesis in it.

Levomycetin (sometimes called levomethicin) is a synthetic antibiotic that is identical natural product vital activity of the microorganism Streptomyces venezuelae.

Main action

Levomycetin is very effective against Gr+ cocci (meningococci, gonococci), microorganisms that cause intestinal disorders and diarrhea (hemophilic, coli, Proteus, Serration, Salmonella) and some large viruses. Helps in cases where diarrhea cannot be managed, chloramphenicol is rightly called “ stomach antibiotic" Although it is weakly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, some acid-fast bacteria, clostridia and protozoa. The positive thing is that drug resistance bacteria to chloramphenicol develops slowly, cross-resistance to other drugs does not occur.

Intestinal disorder

Diarrhea is the common name for diarrhea, familiar to both children and adults, characterized by loose and profuse stools, sometimes with a frequency of bowel movements up to 15 times per day. Urges and “hikes” provoke pathogenic microorganisms, entering the human body through:

poorly washed hands;
unwashed berries and fruits, stale food;
unboiled water.

For diarrhea, chloramphenicol is prescribed, since the phenomenon itself is not dangerous to health, but its consequences (dehydration) are dangerous. Often manifestations of diarrhea are associated with chronic diseases (, ulcerative colitis), endured stress. But chloramphenicol should be taken only for diarrhea of infectious etiology.

How to use the drug correctly

Levomycetin (active ingredient chloramphenicol) is a drug that affects the human body antimicrobial effect. It should be taken as follows:

before meals, orally, for diarrhea, 1 tablet every 4-6 hours;
the most high dose per day should not exceed 4 mg of chloramphenicol, dosage frequency 3-4 times a day;
A course of treatment with chloramphenicol for diarrhea is prescribed only by a doctor, but on average it lasts about a week.

A single use of an antibiotic is allowed, but only if simple forms diarrhea. If after 4-5 hours it does not disappear and there is no improvement, then you will have to contact a therapist in order to avoid the re-production of unresolved bacteria of the pathogenic flora.

Particular strictness in the use of chloramphenicol for diarrhea should be adhered to if gastrointestinal disorder occurs in children. Until 3 years of age, the dose should not exceed 0.01-0.015 g per kilogram of weight. From 3 to 8 years, the daily dose is calculated based on 0.2-0.3 g. Before taking the drug, prepare a full glass of sweetened water, since chloramphenicol is very bitter, you can swallow the tablet without chewing.

When to be careful

Levomycetin is prescribed with caution, as it can reduce the number of platelets and, in some cases, cause bleeding. If you have uncomplicated diarrhea, then it is better to use gentler drugs; antibiotics are always prescribed in the most extreme cases. Allergy sufferers and patients are at risk for taking chloramphenicol. diabetes mellitus, because it changes the blood formula (blood glucose concentration). Levomycetin in children under 3 years of age causes “gray syndrome” - when the child’s skin acquires a grayish tint, the functioning of internal organs is disrupted, the overall body temperature decreases, and the child’s breathing becomes abrupt.

Levomycetin is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, patients with fungal skin diseases, eczema, psoriasis, and those with liver and kidney disease. The main thing is to take chloramphenicol during diarrhea as prescribed by a doctor, so that the antibiotic completely destroys the pathogenic microflora in the human body and relieves diarrhea.

Diarrhea in children is frequent illness, which should not be left to chance. Children's body quite fragile the immune system in children it is not yet formed, which means it needs help in treatment.

One of the most important features of treating children is safety, since strong drugs capable of harm.

Now I would like to talk about one of the most popular means, which is excellent at fighting many diseases. Name of this medicine "Levomycetin".

How to take Levomycetin?

Levomycetin:

antibacterial drug;
able to quickly cope with a large number of infectious diseases;
found application in ophthalmology and pediatrics.

Let's try to figure out in detail how to take Levomycetin correctly in certain cases and depending on various factors.

His action

Levomycetin has an antibacterial effect on the human body. This is achieved thanks to its composition. Active substances The drug is capable of inhibiting (actively suppressing) protein synthesis in bacterial cells.

All this happens on molecular level, and its result is suppression of the source of the inflammatory process.

Thus, we can say that once the drug enters the body, it begins to affect bacteria and destroy them.

Depending on the child's age

It is very important to understand that Levomycetin is, although quite simple, but a potent drug. That is why it is important to understand how to use it correctly and in what doses to give it to children. Levomycetin can be given to children with diarrhea, but you need to know a number of features.

For an adult, the daily dose of the drug cannot exceed 4 mg; for a child, the dosage varies depending on age. Let's look at how to take it for children

For children under 3 years of age: 0.01-0.015 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.
For children from 3 to 8 years old, the daily dose cannot exceed 2-3 mg.
Children from 8 to 12 years old need a dosage of 3-3.5 mg per day.

Thus, we can conclude that chloramphenicol can be given to children with diarrhea, it is only important to observe correct dosage. The duration of treatment for children should not exceed five days.

Reception scheme

Let's consider the correct regimen for taking Levomycetin:

The drug is administered orally before meals. Thus, it does not destroy the microflora and mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
The drug can be used no more often than every 4 hours.
When taking it, it is advisable to bite into the tablet to speed up its action and better suction V gastrointestinal tract. But it’s worth saying right away that the drug tastes very bitter. For children, it is recommended not to bite the tablet.
After taking, drink plenty of water, you can add a little sugar to it.

Patients who want to get rid of helminths often ask natural preparations with the least side effects. In such cases, I recommend this remedy.

Levomycetin for diarrhea is an excellent remedy, which can not only remove symptoms, but also cure this disease.

Many parents ask: “Can children take Levomycetin for diarrhea?” The answer is yes, you can. It is important to observe the correct dosage for the child, and you can also consult with specialists regarding administration.

How does Levomycetin work for diarrhea?

Diarrhea occurs due to bacteria entering the gastrointestinal tract. This is where it starts inflammatory process which leads to stomach upset.

Levomycetin acts at the molecular level on such bacteria by binding to them. Further active ingredients The drug inhibits the activity of bacteria and neutralizes them.

Levomycetin: instructions, indications

Let's try to understand in detail the instructions for this drug. To do this, consider the most important criteria that you need to pay attention to.

Compound

Composition of the drug:

Floramphenicol. Active ingredient. Floramphenicol is an antibiotic that can disrupt the synthesis of proteins of microorganisms and also block them.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone. It is a binding material that also helps the drug accelerate the process of distribution in the body and absorption into the gastrointestinal tract. It is an auxiliary component.
Calcium stearate. Acts as a stabilizer in the drug.
Potato starch. Acts as a stabilizer and also gives color and shape to tablets.

Indications for use

Let's consider in what cases Levomycetin can and should be used:

Therapy for patients with infectious diseases which are caused by various microorganisms. This includes various bacterial diseases intestinal problems (including diarrhea) in children.
Respiratory tract diseases.
Infectious diseases various organs abdominal cavity person.

Contraindications

Let's consider a number of contraindications for the use of Levomycetin:

Increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug.
Serious liver and kidney diseases.
People with impaired hematopoietic function.
Patients with various serious fungal skin diseases.
Use by allergy sufferers is prohibited.

Treatment should be started immediately! Protect yourself and your loved ones!

Side effects of Levomycetin

To complete the picture, consider the side effects that occur in different systems human life support:

Gastrointestinal tract: nausea (sometimes vomiting), stomatitis, indigestion, damage to the intestinal mucosa.
The cardiovascular system: complications such as ranulocytopenia, anemia, erythrocytopenia, and pancytopenia are possible. It must be said that if there are serious problems with cardiovascular system It is necessary to consult a doctor for consultation before taking it.
Nervous system: headache, disruption of the senses (hearing, vision), severe fatigue, loss of concentration, memory impairment, dizziness.

If side effects occur, you should stop taking it immediately. medicine. If your condition worsens, you should go to the hospital.

The basis of the product is bee propolis, which has a pronounced antibacterial, antiviral effect. I like the drug because it is completely natural, based on herbs, and this is very important for prevention."

Overdose

It is important to understand that Levimycetin is strong antibiotic, and an overdose can lead to serious consequences.

Let's look at them:

In case of overdose, hematopoietic function is impaired. This is accompanied by pallor and grayness of the skin, severe weakness, increased body temperature, possible appearance severe pain sore throat, difficulty breathing and heart problems.
A severe overdose can lead to serious problems and liver and kidney disease. A large amount of the drug can cause disruption of the work and function of these organs.
Large doses can disrupt performance digestive tract person, destroy the mucous membrane and lead to serious illnesses gastrointestinal tract.
An overdose can lead to deterioration of vision and hearing.

At the first manifestations of an overdose of the drug, it is strongly recommended to rinse the stomach. To do this, you need to drink a large amount of water and then induce vomiting. It is advisable to repeat this procedure several times.

It is also necessary to go to the hospital to avoid possible consequences overdose. IN medical institution They will prescribe a number of medications that can help the body recover, and may also perform an intestinal lavage procedure.

In cases where there is a large overdose, it is necessary to immediately call ambulance. The sooner you contact specialists, the more likely that the overdose will go away without serious consequences for the body.

Levomycetin: price

The price of this drug is quite affordable compared to analogues. It begins from 110 rubles and may vary depending on the region and the specific pharmacy.

The most common reasons sudden occurrence diarrhea are poisoning food products or intestinal infections, which can be caused by pathogenic viruses, bacteria, protozoa or fungi entering the gastrointestinal tract. For bacterial intestinal infection in the composition complex treatment Antibiotics must be present. They are also used when severe course food poisoning. Such drugs include Levomycetin (or Chloramphenicol), which has long been used in medical practice. Levomycetin for diarrhea is prescribed mainly to adults, since it can cause serious side effects in children.

Effect of Levomycetin on diarrhea

Levomycetin is antibacterial agent broad spectrum of action and belongs to the amphenicol group. His antibacterial activity is realized by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacterial cells and stopping their reproduction. Chloramphenicol exhibits a pronounced bacteriostatic effect against many strains of bacteria, including those resistant to tetracycline antibiotics, penicillin series and sulfonamides.

It is effective against dysentery, typhoid fever, colienteritis, paratyphoid fever, cholera and other bacterial infections affecting the gastrointestinal tract, as it inhibits the growth and reproduction of the following pathogens:

bacteria of the genus Shigella;
gram-positive bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus and Streptococcus;
bacteria of the genus Salmonella, etc.

Levomycetin for diarrhea is taken in the form of tablets that are white or yellowish-white in color.

Preparations with chloramphenicol are ineffective or very ineffective against acid-fast bacteria, anaerobes, strains of staphylococci resistant to methicillin, clostridia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, protozoa and fungi.

Important: Resistance to chloramphenicol in bacteria develops rather slowly. In addition, while taking it, cross-resistance to the action of other antibiotics does not form, which makes effective application chloramphenicol for diarrhea and other infectious diseases.

Directions for use for diarrhea

Levomycetin is used for diarrhea only if the disorder is caused by pathogens bacterial infections, sensitive to this drug. This antibiotic cannot be taken just like that without identifying the cause of diarrhea, as it has many serious contraindications and side effects. IN best case scenario taking it without indications will not be beneficial, and at worst it will lead to very severe consequences. Currently, there are safer antibacterial drugs for the treatment of infectious diarrhea, and usually Chloramphenicol is prescribed only if they are ineffective.

The drug Levomycetin Actitab, prescribed for diarrhea, is available in tablets containing active substance 250 or 500 mg

Use in adults

Levomycetin for diarrhea is taken in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. Required dosage drink half an hour before meals or 2 hours after. Daily dose chloramphenicol, which is divided into 4 doses, for an adult is 2 g. The maximum permissible quantity active substance per day at severe forms intestinal infection is 4 g.

After taking the tablet, the antibiotic is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood and its maximum concentration in plasma is observed after 2–3 hours. The period of action of one tablet is about 4–5 hours.

While taking chloramphenicol, it is necessary to monitor kidney function and perform an analysis peripheral blood, including determination of the amount of hemoglobin, shaped elements, ESR and leukocyte count study.

Levomycetin tablets are swallowed whole with plenty of water.

Important: Do not stop taking chloramphenicol after improvement occurs. The course of treatment lasts at least 5–7 days. Otherwise, a relapse of the disease or its transition to a chronic form is possible.
Use in children
Up to three years of age, it is strictly contraindicated to give chloramphenicol to children with diarrhea of infectious origin. Possible adverse reactions Due to the liver and kidneys not yet fully developed in babies (“gray baby syndrome”), taking this medicine can cause significant harm to health and threaten life small child. That is why chloramphenicol should also not be taken by women during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Children over 3 years old this antibiotic It is permissible to use only as prescribed by a doctor. The daily dose of the drug is calculated based on the child’s weight. The instructions provide the following recommendations:
children from 3 to 8 years old up to 0.5 g per day;
children from 8 to 16 years old up to 1.0 g per day.

The chloramphenicol tablet has a very bitter taste, so in order to wash it down, children can be given sweetened water.
Important: Prescribing antibiotics for the treatment of diarrhea should only be done by a doctor, taking into account the severity clinical picture, patient characteristics and results bacteriological culture feces

Video about why chloramphenicol should not be given to children: