Helicide

Helicid (international name of the drug – Omeprazole) belongs to the pharmacological group of so-called “proton pump inhibitors” and has a pronounced antiulcer effect.

Helicid is available from pharmacies on prescription from your doctor. Before using the medication, it is recommended to read the instructions for use.

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Indications Helicide

A medication belonging to the group of antiulcer agents, used for:

• gastritis;
• stomach ulcer;
• duodenal ulcer;
• gastrojejunal and peptic ulcers;
• reflux esophagitis (an inflammatory process occurring in the mucous membrane of the esophagus due to the reflux of stomach contents into it);
• duodenitis;
• damage to the gastrointestinal tract with erosions and ulcers during therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (pancreatic adenoma);
• other diseases of the stomach/duodenum.

Indications for use are specified in the instructions for the medication. The pharmacological action of Helicid consists of blocking the so-called "proton pump" (an enzyme that performs a vital function in the production of gastric hydrochloric acid): inhibiting H ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase in the membranes of parietal (parietal) cells of the gastric mucosa, suppressing the final stage of hydrochloric acid formation, and reducing the level of secretion (regardless of the type of irritant). Helicid does not contribute to the suppression of pepsin secretion. After internal administration of a single dose of the medication, its effect lasts for 24 hours.

Release form

Helicid as an antiulcer drug is prescribed exclusively by a doctor, therefore it is sold in pharmacies by prescription. The dosage of the drug, as well as the duration of the course of treatment, must strictly comply with the instructions of the medical specialist. Based on the specific situation, he can prescribe the patient to take Helicid in a dosage of 10 or 20 milligrams.

Release form: capsules, each containing 10 or 20 mg of omeprazole, packed in bottles of 14 and 28 pieces. The cardboard box contains a bottle made of dark glass with a plastic cap, as well as a moisture dehydrator and packaging information (i.e. instructions for the medication). A separate capsule of Helicide consists of a yellow-brown body with an orange cap. In structure, the capsules of Helicide are gelatinous, hard to the touch, inside them are spherical pellets - transparent or white.

In addition to omeprazole, the main active ingredient, Helicide contains auxiliary components: purified water, gelatin, corn starch, diethyl phthalate, lactose and sucrose, sodium lauryl sulfate, as well as iron oxide (black, red and yellow), titanium dioxide, etc.

Pharmacodynamics

The active component of the drug is omeprazole, which is able to inhibit the "proton pump" in the gastric parietal (parietal) cells and block the last stage of hydrochloric acid synthesis. In turn, this process leads to a decrease in the level of secretion in the stomach (both basal and stimulated). In this case, the nature of the irritant does not matter.

Pharmacodynamics: immediately after taking Helicid, within the first hour, the active effect of the substance omeprazole begins, which lasts for the next 24 hours. The maximum effect of this drug is achieved approximately 2 hours after taking. The use of 20 mg of Helicid in patients suffering from gastric ulcer is able to maintain the pH level of 3 in the stomach for 17 hours. After stopping treatment with Helicid, the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal tract is completely restored in 3-5 days.

After concentration in the parietal (parietal) cells of the gastric mucosa, Helicid is converted into a sulfenamide derivative. Its metabolism occurs in the liver. Due to its pronounced therapeutic effect, it is actively used in modern medicine for the treatment of erosive and ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharmacokinetics

Helicid as an active antiulcer agent acts quite quickly and for a relatively long time: thus, with a single dose, the duration of action of this drug is a whole day.

Pharmacokinetics: after oral administration, the drug is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract quite quickly. Its maximum concentration in the blood plasma is reached in about an hour. Helicide is almost completely metabolized in the liver. Most of it (up to 80%) is excreted in the form of metabolites by the kidneys with urine, and the remainder (up to 25%) is excreted with feces. After the active substance, omeprazole, is absorbed in the small intestine, it is carried in its inactive form by the bloodstream, then concentrated in the cells of the gastric mucosa and transformed into a sulfenamide derivative. Bioavailability is 30-40%, but it should be noted that in elderly patients the level of bioavailability increases, and in case of liver failure it reaches 100%. The half-life of Helicide is 0.5-1 hour, but the antisecretory effect of the drug lasts for 24 hours.

Dosing and administration

The medicine should be taken in the morning, swallowing the capsule whole with a small amount of water.

The method of administration and dosage are prescribed exclusively by a doctor after conducting a medical examination of the patient and establishing an accurate diagnosis. The duration of treatment with this drug depends on the healing time of the erosion or ulcer. The degree of this process is determined by the results of an endoscopic examination. Most often, the healing process of a stomach ulcer is 4-8 weeks, and of the duodenum - from 2 to 4 weeks. With reflux esophagitis, the duration of the healing process is 8-12 weeks.

A single therapeutic dose of Helicid is usually 10 or 20 mg/day (taken in the morning). Sometimes, if necessary, the dose of the drug can be increased to 40 mg/day. When treating gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori, Helicid is prescribed in combination with effective antimicrobial drugs.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is treated with Helicid at a dosage of 60 mg/day, which is increased to 80 mg if necessary (in this case, the daily dose is divided into two doses, the interval between which should be 12 hours). In each specific case, the duration of treatment with Helicid is determined individually.

For the prevention of relapses of ulcerative-erosive diseases, it is recommended to take a dosage of 10 or 20 mg once a day.

Use Helicide during pregnancy

It is not recommended to use during pregnancy or lactation. This is clearly stated in the instructions for use of this medicinal drug. In exceptional cases, taking Helicide is still allowed, but only in a situation where the expected therapeutic effect for the mother really exceeds all potential risks for the unborn child.

Use during pregnancy is not allowed, primarily due to the lack of reliable data that would confirm the safety of taking the drug during pregnancy or breastfeeding a newborn. It should be taken into account that almost any drug used during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby. This also applies to proton pump inhibitors, which include Helicid. In case of problems associated with gastrointestinal tract failures, the expectant mother should seek help from a doctor. He will conduct the necessary medical examination and prescribe a treatment regimen. It should be emphasized that during pregnancy, women who have already had stomach problems may experience worsening of the disease. That is why it is so important to detect the problem in a timely manner and eliminate it.

Contraindications

The medication has two main contraindications for use:

• hypersensitivity to omeprazole or excipients of the drug;
• the patient's age is under 18 years.

Contraindications for use must be taken into account by a medical specialist when prescribing treatment in the event that a patient is diagnosed with any erosive-ulcerative disease of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, duodenitis, and other ailments associated with the functioning of the stomach and the condition of the duodenum.

If any problem is detected, symptomatic treatment with Helicid is carried out. It is important to take into account special instructions when prescribing treatment with this medication. In particular, before therapy, the presence of a malignant neoplasm in the patient should be excluded - this is another contraindication to treatment.

In general, taking the medication in therapeutic doses of 10 or 20 mg does not have any negative impact on human activities that require increased concentration, as well as high speed of physical and mental reactions. Such areas of activity include, for example, driving a vehicle, working at height, servicing machines, etc.

Side effects Helicide

The drug may have a number of side effects, but only in exceptional cases. The negative impact of this drug on the human body was noted in only 1% of patients and was most often mild and reversible.

Side effects mainly concern any failures and disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and can manifest themselves in the form of nausea, flatulence, a feeling of heaviness in the epigastric region, diarrhea. In rare cases, increased activity of liver enzymes, as well as taste disturbance, dry mouth, stomatitis may be observed.

Other side effects that may occur while taking Helicid include allergic reactions (itching and skin rashes, photosensitivity, erythema), headaches, muscle and joint pain (in particular, arthralgia, myalgia). Patients with concomitant somatic diseases may experience depression, agitation, and dizziness. Hematopoietic system disorders may manifest as thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, and agranulocytosis.

In isolated cases, a feeling of general malaise may occur, and a disruption of the hematopoietic function may occur.

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Overdose

At therapeutic doses, it is well tolerated by the patient's body, without any negative effects. The main thing is not to self-medicate and in no case exceed the dosage prescribed by the attending physician. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug, according to the results of clinical trials, can appear when taking doses from 320 to 900 mg, which greatly exceeds therapeutic doses.

Overdose is characterized by the following symptoms:

• headache,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• confusion,
• increased sweating,
• nausea,
• tachycardia or arrhythmia,
• visual acuity disturbance.

All the above symptoms of omeprazole overdose are transient. When such a condition is observed, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. In this case, the functioning of all vital organs should be monitored. The high degree of binding of the active substance of Helicide omeprazole to plasma proteins interferes with the implementation of specific treatment. For this reason, hemodialysis will not give the desired effect. In any case, if the drug is taken according to a clearly established treatment regimen, an overdose is excluded.

Interactions with other drugs

It is used in modern medical practice for the treatment of erosive and ulcerative diseases of the stomach and duodenum. The drug has proven its activity in the treatment of gastritis, duodenitis, gastric ulcer, as well as reflux esophagitis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, erosive and ulcerative diseases of the duodenum.

Interactions with other drugs, established as a result of clinical studies, have shown that when taken simultaneously, this drug is capable of slowing down the elimination (from the Latin elimino - "removal", "exclusion") of warfarin, diazepam, phenytoin and other drugs, the metabolism of which occurs in the liver through microsomal oxidation. This is the main information about the interaction of Helicide with other drugs, which is contained in the instructions.

Before conducting therapy with Helicid, it is necessary to make sure that patients (especially those suffering from gastric ulcer) do not have a malignant process. For this purpose, it is necessary to conduct an endoscopic examination, including a biopsy. The fact is that Helicid is able to mask the symptoms of the disease and thus contribute to the delay of the correct diagnosis.

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Storage conditions

Storage conditions are clearly indicated in the instructions for this drug. The optimal temperature for storing Helicid capsules is 10-25 °C. The air temperature should not exceed 25 °C.

Helicid, like any other medicine, must be stored in a dry place, inaccessible to children and reliably protected from sunlight. The fact is that when exposed to direct sunlight, many drugs quickly deteriorate. That is why it is prohibited to store medications, for example, on windowsills or balconies.

It is important to consider one more storage condition. After each use, the bottle with capsules should be tightly closed with a lid that contains a special moisture dehydrator. It is not recommended to pour the capsules from the "native" packaging into a box or, for example, a cellophane bag. Any medicine, including Helicid, is best stored in the original packaging. Capsules, like tablets, are hygroscopic in themselves, so they cannot be stored in places with high humidity, for example, in the bathroom. For storing medicines, it is best to allocate a special place in the cabinet on the top shelf, or in a table or cabinet, locking it with a key.

Shelf life

Like any other medicine, it should not be used after the expiration date indicated in the instructions or on the packaging of the medicine.

The shelf life of the drug is 3 years. It is very important to comply with this condition, since taking expired medications can have a negative impact on human health and only worsen their condition. In some cases, taking drugs whose expiration date has expired can lead to gastrointestinal problems (for example, poisoning) or cause an allergic reaction in the body. In most cases, an opened bottle of capsules or tablets is recommended to be stored for only 1 year, and then dispose of the medicine. The fact is that pathogens can multiply in an open bottle: E. coli, salmonella or staphylococcus. In addition, depending on their properties, capsules can dry out or absorb moisture from the air, which, accordingly, will affect the process of their absorption in the stomach. You cannot store the medicine in the refrigerator - this is not provided for in the instructions.