Helex sr.

Heleks sr are tablets for the treatment of psychoneurological disorders. Let's consider the indications for their use, dosage, possible side effects and contraindications.

The drug is prescribed for symptomatic treatment of depressive and anxiety states. The pharmacological group of the drug is tranquilizers.

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Indications Helex sr.

Since the medication is classified as a tranquilizer, it can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Let's look at the main indications for using Helex:

• Neuroses
• Anxiety states
• Constant feeling of danger
• Anxiety
• Long term stress
• Deterioration and loss of sleep
• Irritability
• Somatic disorders
• Neurotic reactive depressive disorders
• Anxiety and depressive states
• Decreased appetite due to anxiety
• Phobias
• Panic disorders

If Helex is prescribed to patients with endogenous depressions, then complex therapy is used in combination with antidepressants. Long-term use of tablets can cause the development of manic and hypomanic states. The drug is prescribed with special caution to patients with impaired renal and hepatic function.

Abrupt withdrawal or rapid reduction of the dose causes a number of adverse effects. Patients complain of insomnia, abdominal and skeletal muscle spasms, slight weight loss, vomiting, increased sweating, convulsions and tremors of the extremities. During the period of use of this drug, alcohol consumption is contraindicated, and it is also recommended to refrain from driving vehicles and operating machinery.

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Release form

The medicine is produced in the form of tablets for oral use. The form of release allows to calculate the therapeutically necessary dosage. Each package contains 2, 3 and 6 blisters with a dosage of 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg of alprazolam.

The main physicochemical properties of the tablets indicate their modified release. 0.5 mg – green-yellow, round, biconvex; 1 mg – white, round capsules and 2 mg – light blue, slightly biconvex, round tablets.

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Pharmacodynamics

The drug contains the active substance alprazolam, a triazolo-benzodiazepine derivative. Pharmacodynamics indicate that the active component has an anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative and anxiolytic effect. The mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of endogenous GABA in the central nervous system due to increased sensitivity of receptors to the mediator due to stimulation of benzodiazepine receptors (located in the allosteric center). The drug inhibits polysynaptic spinal reflexes and reduces the excitability of the subcortical structures of the brain.

Reduction of emotional tension, anxiety and worry occurs simultaneously with the hypnotic effect. The tablets shorten the period of falling asleep, increase the duration of sleep and reduce the number of night awakenings. The hypnotic effect is based on the suppression of cellular structures of the reticular formation of the brain stem. Falling asleep reduces the impact of vegetative, emotional and motor stimuli.

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Pharmacokinetics

The tablets are rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Pharmacokinetics indicate that maximum plasma concentrations are reached within 1-2 hours after oral administration.

The level of binding to plasma proteins is 80%. The active substance is metabolized in the liver. The half-life is 12-15 hours. Alprazolam is excreted as metabolites by the kidneys.

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Dosing and administration

To achieve a therapeutic effect, the use of any medication should be controlled by the attending physician. The method of administration and doses of Helex are selected individually for each patient. As a rule, the minimum effective dosage is used, which is adjusted during therapy depending on the achieved result and tolerance. If an increase in dose is required, this should happen gradually to prevent side effects.

To begin with, take 2.5-5 mg 2-3 times a day, if necessary increase to 4.5 mg. For elderly patients and those with a weakened immune system, the recommended dose is 2.5 mg 2-3 times a day, maintaining 5-7.5 mg per day. Let's consider the basic treatment regimen, which is suitable for most patients:

• Anxiety and anxiety-depressive disorders - 1 mg once a day or 0.5 mg in two doses. As a maintenance therapy, take 4 mg per day, divided into 2 doses of 2 mg.
• Panic disorders – 0.5 mg before bedtime, maintenance dose 1 mg.

The treatment should be discontinued gradually, as abrupt withdrawal provokes relapses of the underlying disease. The tablets are discontinued over a long period of time with a gradual reduction in the daily dose by 0.5 ml every 2-3 days. If withdrawal syndrome occurs, the previous treatment regimen must be restored until the patient's condition stabilizes.

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Use Helex sr. during pregnancy

During pregnancy, many expectant mothers face depressive and anxiety disorders. To eliminate them, safe but effective drugs are prescribed, usually herbal. The use of Helex during pregnancy is contraindicated. This is due to the mechanism of action of the active component. Alprazolam increases the risk of congenital defects in the fetus, as it has a toxic effect. Long-term use of the drug leads to physical dependence and the development of withdrawal syndrome in the child.

Use of Helex in late pregnancy causes depression of the fetal CNS. Use of tablets before or during labor may lead to respiratory depression in the newborn, hypothermia, hypotension, decreased muscle tone. The drug is not used during lactation, since the active substance in the form of metabolites is excreted in breast milk, causing drowsiness and difficulty feeding the baby.

Contraindications

Tranquilizers have many restrictions on use, as they have a depressing effect. The main contraindications for use are:

• Pregnancy and lactation
• Patient age under 18 years
• Closed-angle glaucoma
• Acute poisoning with alcohol, sleeping pills and psychotropic substances, opioid analgesics
• Myasthenia
• Coma, shock
• Chronic obstructive airway disease
• Respiratory failure
• Severe depression
• Hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines

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Side effects Helex sr.

Self-administration of Helex causes a number of negative symptoms. Side effects of Helex are manifested by many organs and systems:

• Central nervous system – drowsiness, increased fatigue, decreased concentration, disorientation, headaches, tremors of the extremities, slowing of mental and motor reactions, confusion, muscle spasms.
• Digestive system – increased salivation, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation, heartburn, jaundice, liver dysfunction.
• Hematopoietic system – anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.
• Urogenital system – urinary incontinence/retention, decreased/increased libido, dysmenorrhea, impaired renal function.
• Endocrine system – menstrual cycle and libido disorders, changes in body weight, skin allergic reactions.
• Cardiovascular system – tachycardia, decreased blood pressure.

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Overdose

With prolonged treatment and the use of large doses of Helex, a number of side effects occur. Overdose is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Impaired consciousness
• Drowsiness
• Shallow breathing
• Arterial hypotension
• Ataxia

To eliminate these symptoms, the patient must be induced to vomit and have the stomach washed. The absorption of active substances is reduced by using absorbents and saline laxatives. The patient must be under medical supervision.

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Interactions with other drugs

Helex has certain limitations when used simultaneously with other drugs as part of complex therapy. Interaction with other drugs should be monitored by the attending physician. Thus, when using psychotropic and anticonvulsant drugs with ethanol, CNS depression is observed. Histamine H2-receptor blockers increase CNS depression and reduce the clearance of the active substance.

When taking hormonal oral contraceptives and Helex simultaneously, the elimination period increases. When interacting with dextropropoxyphene, an increase in the concentration of the active substance in the blood and CNS depression are observed. Digoxin increases the risk of intoxication, and Ketoconazole enhances the effect of alprazolam. Paroxetine enhances the effectiveness of the tranquilizer, and Fluvoxamine causes side effects due to an increase in the level of alprazolam in the blood.

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Storage conditions

The medicine must be kept in the original packaging, protected from moisture, sunlight and out of reach of children. Compliance with storage conditions helps prevent the medicine from spoiling. The storage temperature should not exceed 30 °C.

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Shelf life

Heleks sr must be used within 24 months from the date of manufacture. After the expiration date, the tablets must not be taken and must be disposed of. The medicine is dispensed only with a doctor's prescription.

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