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The drug Kagocel belongs to the pharmaceutical group of immunomodulators, or rather, inducers of the immune response. This means that Kagocel makes the human body produce shock doses of interferon – a substance that acts as our protector and savior from diseases. Immune cells fight against any threat: fungi, bacteria, protozoa. However, Kagocel is considered primarily as an antiviral drug. It is the seasonal revelry of cold viruses that is a global problem that the medical community tries to cope with every year. How does Kagocel protect us from unbearable flu and acute respiratory infections? Let’s figure it out.
Release form and chemical composition of Kagocel
This is the rare case in pharmaceutical practice when the brand name coincides with the name of the main active ingredient. Each tablet contains 12 mg of kagocel, and in addition: calcium stearate, lactose, potato starch and crospovidone. One blister packed in a cardboard box contains ten tablets of Kagocel.
How does Kagocel work?
Kagocel is a complex sodium salt, which, when ingested, provokes the synthesis of late interferon (a mixture of alpha and beta interferons). A powerful immune response occurs, which involves almost all cells responsible for the immune status: fibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, endothelial cells. Two days after taking Kagocel, the maximum content of interferon is observed in the blood serum.
The immune response reaction continues for four to five days from the moment of taking the medicine. All this time there is a continuous circulation of interferon in the tissues and body fluids. Best of all, Kagocel penetrates into the intestines, kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs and lymph nodes. Worse – in the heart, muscles, plasma, adipose tissue and brain. The fact is that the molecules of the drug are too large for unhindered penetration into dense tissues and well-protected organs. But this does not make Kagocel less effective against cold viruses.
The drug is not completely eliminated from the body soon – after about a week, moreover, only about ten percent is excreted in the urine, and everything else – through the gastrointestinal tract. Such a prolonged action makes Kagocel an effective prophylactic, because even a single, but timely intake of this drug can stop the oncoming threat and stop the disease in its infancy.
Dosage and overdose of Kagocel
It is advisable to start taking Kagocel at the first sign of malaise, and even better – immediately after contact with an infectious patient. With SARS or influenza, the first two days are prescribed 2 tablets in three doses, and in the next two days – one at a time. In total, for four days you will have to take 18 tablets of Kagocel. This is enough to bring immunity to a state of full maximum “combat readiness”.
For the prevention of seasonal colds, you can conduct such a marathon during all the winter months:
On Mondays and Tuesdays – 2 tablets once;
From Wednesday to Sunday – a break.
And so on until the warm spring days. There will be no harm from such a marathon, only benefit: in fact, you will constantly keep your immune status at a high level.
If you need to cope with the herpes virus in the acute phase, you will have to drink 30 Kagocel tablets in five days. Usually such powerful immunity support is enough to get rid of unpleasant rashes.
If a child has a cold, or an epidemic is raging in an educational institution, it is better to discuss the dosage of the drug with the pediatrician. An experienced doctor will tell you how much Kagocel and in what order to give the baby to cope with the disease or prevent infection.
An accidental overdose of the drug is not life-threatening, but if this occurs, it is best to immediately drink two liters of water and induce vomiting.
Side effects
Kagocel does not cause any unpleasant side effects, however, allergic reactions are not excluded, therefore, if strange symptoms appear, you should inform your doctor about them. Few cases of individual intolerance to Kagocel have been registered.
Contraindications and special indications
Kagocel was developed and certified relatively recently. It is still being studied, moreover, fundamental scientific data on the effect of Kagocel on the course of pregnancy and the quality of breast milk are not yet available. Therefore, if you are preparing to become a mother or breastfeeding a child, it is better to refrain from taking this drug.
People with congenital lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency and glucose-galactose malabsorption are also not prescribed Kagocel. It is also contraindicated in children under three years of age.
Interaction of Kagocel with other drugs
This medicine is perfectly combined with any antiviral therapy and does not create any dangerous tandems. Kagocel interacts with other drugs according to the principle of additivity: its effect is added to the effect of other drugs, without changing either the degree of this effect or the quality. Kagocel can be prescribed together with antibiotics, antipyretics and antihistamines without fear of harming health. But to do this, nevertheless, it is better no later than 3-4 days after the onset of severe symptoms of a cold.
How effective is Kagocel?
Drugs of this kind often raise doubts among people: is it worth spending money on incomprehensible pills that supposedly increase the body’s resistance. It is obvious to everyone how nose drops, cough drops and fever pills work. And with immunomodulators, many have a bad experience of communication.
Indeed, in this group of medicines there are many dubious homeopathic pills that have absolutely no effect on flu patients. Having suffered for several days with such a “medicine” and having reached an extremely difficult condition, a person, swearing, comes to the pharmacy for tested medicines and swears to continue to believe in advertising. However, Kagocel is a modern, clinically tested drug, the action of which is as simple and obvious as that of antipyretics and antibiotics. It’s really worth spending money on it.
Terms of sale and storage
Kagocel is valid for three years from the date of issue, stored in a dry and cool place, sold freely in pharmacies, without a doctor’s prescription.
Official instruction
