Agiolax

Agiolax is a natural laxative preparation based on plants, gently stimulates intestinal peristalsis, preventing and eliminating constipation.

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Indications Agiolaxa

The drug Agiolax is used for the following pathological conditions:

• difficult defecation associated with atony and weakened intestinal peristalsis (in childhood and old age, in pregnant women, after surgery), as well as chronic constipation;
• to facilitate the passage of feces in the presence of hemorrhoids, proctitis, anal fissures;
• as a preventive measure against constipation in bedridden patients;
• as preparation for endoscopic and radiological examinations.

Release form

The drug is available in granulated form for oral use in several versions:

• aluminum container 100 g;
• aluminum container 250 g;
• combination container 100g;
• combination container 250g.

The contents of the packages are a fine granulated form of brown color with a characteristic aroma. One teaspoon contains about 5 g of granulated elements, which consist of 2.6 g of powdered substance of plantain seeds, 110 mg of crushed husk of plantain seeds, 600 mg of ground senna fruits.

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Pharmacodynamics

Agiolax is a complex laxative drug, the action of which is due to the characteristics of natural components - plantain and senna plants.

Plantain raw materials, interacting with liquid, absorb moisture, increasing in volume. This makes it possible to increase the amount of intestinal contents, which will lead to mechanical irritation of its walls and increased peristalsis.

The laxative properties of senna were once studied on white mice weighing about 17 g. As a result of the research, it was found that the laxative effect of senna preparations on mice manifests itself within 3-4 hours. The most effective dosage is 0.22-0.24 g/kg.

The effectiveness of senna in intestinal atony can also be judged by the evacuation rate of barium chloride excretion from the gastrointestinal tract, which was established using the X-ray method. X-rays of the digestive tract were taken immediately after taking the drug: then the study was repeated after 4 hours, 16 hours and a day. In the subjects who received the drug, the excretion of barium chloride from the gastrointestinal tract was significantly faster than in those who did not take it.

Agiolax is able to increase the secretion of bile for 2 hours after administration, due to which the secretion of mucins is enhanced, the feces soften, and their movement is facilitated.

The drug has no toxic effect on the body.

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Pharmacokinetics

Calcium salts (sennosides) present in the preparation are not absorbed in the upper intestine and are not destroyed by digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. They are metabolized in the large intestine, where sennosides are converted into aglycone (rein), a residual element of an organic compound.

After oral administration, up to 6% of the drug is excreted in the urinary system as a metabolite, and about 90% is excreted in the feces as polyquinones, along with 2-6% of stable sennosides, the active metabolite and rein.

No accumulation of the drug in tissues or bloodstream is observed. The active metabolite can be detected in small amounts in breast milk.

The fibrous parts of plantain are practically not subject to digestion and absorption. After oral administration, they are excreted with feces, partly broken down by the microflora found in the large intestine.

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Dosing and administration

The granulated form of the drug is taken without chewing, with a sufficient amount of liquid (a full glass), half an hour to an hour after eating, preferably in the second half of the day or at night. Adults and children over 10 years old take 5-10 g of the drug (one or two teaspoons) once a day.

In preparation for an X-ray or endoscopy procedure, adults take 15 to 30 g of the drug (3 to 6 teaspoons) once a day before the procedure.

The maximum permitted daily dosage for an adult is 30 g.

The duration of therapy with the drug is no more than 7-14 days, depending on the doctor’s recommendations.

The effect of the drug is quite mild. Against the background of Agiolax therapy, regular, formed defecation without abdominal pain appears.

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Use Agiolaxa during pregnancy

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the drug may be used under the supervision of a doctor, but only if the difficulty in stool cannot be cured by prescribing a special diet or using other safe means. In subsequent periods of pregnancy, the use of the drug is undesirable.

A small amount of the drug's breakdown products may be found in breast milk, but no laxative effect on the baby's digestive tract has been observed.

Based on the above, the decision on the possibility of using the drug by pregnant and lactating women should be made only by a specialist.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of the drug are:

• signs of intestinal obstruction, spastic constipation;
• diabetes mellitus in the decompensation stage;
• acute inflammatory processes in the intestines (colitis, intestinal ulcers, appendicitis, Crohn's disease);
• abdominal pain of unknown etiology;
• severe dehydration, water and electrolyte imbalance;
• diseases of the liver and urinary system;
• children under 10 years of age;
• the body's intolerance to fructose;
• strangulated hernia;
• gastrointestinal bleeding;
• allergic reactions to the components of the drug.

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Side effects Agiolaxa

Agiolax is usually not accompanied by side effects, but they do occur occasionally:

• continuous long-term use may cause water and electrolyte imbalance;
• alternating constipation with diarrhea can provoke a potassium deficiency, which in turn will lead to a disruption of the function and activity of the heart, especially if treatment with the drug occurs against the background of taking diuretics, steroid hormones or cardiac glycosides;
• albuminuria and hematuria may appear;
• sometimes reversible occurrence of pigment infiltration on the intestinal mucosa is observed;
• In rare cases, allergies, bloating, and rumbling may occur.

Almost always during treatment with the drug, urine pigmentation to a rich yellow color is observed, which is not a reason to stop therapy.

Side effects are very rare and disappear immediately after stopping treatment with the drug.

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Overdose

The main symptoms of drug overdose:

• increased intestinal peristalsis up to colic;
• development of significant diarrhea with the creation of a fluid deficit in the body and electrolyte imbalance.

To stop the signs of overdose, it is necessary to consult a doctor, provide the patient with plenty of fluids. Additional administration of electrolytic drugs, in particular, potassium-containing ones, may be required.

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Interactions with other drugs

With long-term use of the drug, potassium deficiency can enhance the effect of medications that affect the contractile activity of the myocardium (such medications include, for example, cardiac glycosides - strophanthin, corglycon, etc.).

Potassium loss from the body may be aggravated by the simultaneous use of the drug with diuretics, adrenocorticosteroid hormones and licorice preparations.

When using Agiolax, the absorption of other medications in the intestines may slow down.

Patients taking insulin should have their insulin dosage adjusted when taking Agiolax, as one teaspoon of granules contains approximately 1 g of sucrose (equivalent to 0.08 XE).

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Storage conditions

The medicine must be stored at room temperature, in a dry, dark place, in the original packaging.

Shelf life

The shelf life of Agiolax is up to five years.

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