Smecta for newborns with diarrhea, colic, jaundice: how to give, dilute

Smecta for newborns can be used in certain cases, only on the recommendation of a doctor. There are some features of the action of this drug, so it is necessary to follow not only the regimen, but also the features of taking with other drugs. Therefore, it is important to know the main principles of using this drug.

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Indications of smecta for a newborn

To understand the main indications for the use of this drug, you need to understand what the active ingredient is and whether Smecta can be given to newborns? The main active ingredient is diosmectite. This is a natural substance whose function is to absorb, that is, all harmful substances and some microorganisms. The drug is natural, it is not enriched with any dyes or preservatives. Another property of the drug is that it is excreted from the intestines unchanged, without being absorbed or reacting with other substances. Therefore, the use of the drug is practically harmless. According to the instructions, the drug is allowed from one month, but given the peculiarities of the drug's excretion, doctors also use it in the neonatal period. Therefore, we can say that Smecta can be taken by newborns. There is a form of release with additives - vanilla, orange, strawberry - it is better not to use such forms in newborns, due to the risk of an allergic reaction. Therefore, pure Smecta without additives can be used in the treatment of newborns.

Considering that the main function of the drug is the absorption of harmful substances in the intestine, it should be used only in certain cases. The drug is most widely used for acute and chronic diarrhea in newborns. Diarrhea in a newborn can be of infectious genesis, when a pathogenic virus or bacteria multiplies in the intestine, affecting the mucous membrane and stimulating the release of water from the cells. This is not only accompanied by diarrhea in the child, but also a violation of the normal digestion process. In this case, many undigested particles are formed, which aggravate intestinal problems. In this case, the use of Smecta leads to the absorption of bacteria, viruses, destroyed cells, and other food components. The drug envelops the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines and reduces the secretory activity of cells, that is, diarrhea decreases. Therefore, Smecta for newborns with diarrhea is considered one of the main treatments, along with rehydration therapy.

Smecta for jaundice in newborns is considered one of the new approaches to the treatment of this pathology. With jaundice in newborns, there is an accumulation of indirect bilirubin, which gets into the skin and internal organs, thereby causing a yellow color. All this is associated with low liver function in children immediately after birth. The liver cannot cope with the load, since the child's fetal hemoglobin begins to break down. This leads to a rapid increase in bilirubin, which in the liver should turn into direct, and excreted through the intestines. But not all children can cope with such a load. Therefore, excess bilirubin remains in the intestines. It is believed that Smecta can absorb this excess bilirubin, thereby reducing the severity of jaundice. Bilirubin in this case is excreted from the intestines, absorbed in the drug. Therefore, the use of this drug for jaundice, especially pathological, is considered effective.

Parents often use Smecta for colic in newborns. If you look into the cause of colic, it is a bloating phenomenon in a child's tummy, which occurs with excessive gas formation in the intestines. This irritates the intestines, disrupts digestion, causes spasmodic phenomena and unpleasant pain, which manifest as colic. The main means of correcting this condition is to remove gases from the intestines as quickly as possible. Considering that Smecta is not able to affect the surface tension of gases, it does not lead to a decrease in their amount. Removing gases with Smecta can be difficult, since sometimes the size of the gases themselves does not allow them to be removed from the intestines on their own. In this case, Smecta cannot be a normal "conductor". Therefore, the treatment of colic with this drug should still be considered from the point of individual effectiveness, because the drug can help someone.

Orange and vanilla smecta for newborns can be used only if you are sure that there is no allergic reaction.

Indications for use of the drug, which are indicated in the instructions, are the treatment of acute and chronic diarrheal syndromes. But the drug can also be used for the purpose of sorption of any harmful substances, can be used in the treatment of jaundice, and also in some cases with pronounced loose stools in a child against the background of certain foods.

Release form

The drug is available in sachets containing white powder that dissolves well in water. Vanilla and orange Smecta have corresponding odors, while the original drug is virtually odorless.

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacodynamics lies in its structure - it is a natural silicate solution of aluminum and magnesium. When it enters the stomach, the substance combines with glycoproteins that are on the surface of stomach cells. This leads to the formation of strong compounds that envelop the mucous membrane. Such compounds provide protection for the absorption of harmful substances, and all negative components remain on this protective film. There is no excessive secretion of fluid from the cells, which affects diarrhea, and calms the activity of cellular enzymes. Any viral and bacterial particles can also be absorbed on this film and then excreted.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of the drug is very simple, since the drug is not absorbed, is not activated and is not converted into active metabolites, but is simply excreted unchanged, along with toxins and other sorbed substances.

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Dosing and administration

The method of administration and dosage for newborns should be adjusted depending on the expected effect. In the acute period, the newborn should be given Smecta two sachets per day. It is best to dilute Smecta for newborns with diarrhea in boiled water, but you can also dilute it in milk, since the child may not like the taste of the drug. One sachet should be dissolved in one hundred grams of liquid and given with a spoon. It is better to give Smecta to a newborn after meals or between meals.

How much Smecta should be given to a newborn if there is constipation? In this case, the dose should be adjusted and reduced to one sachet per day. If the stool normalizes with this dose, then the course of treatment should be followed, depending on the situation, from three to five days.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of this drug are intestinal obstruction, since impaired fluid secretion can aggravate the picture of obstruction against the background of a decrease in clinical symptoms. Also, the drug is limited in use for prolonged constipation in a child or in case of problems with defecation. It should be taken with caution with other drugs, since Smecta can absorb their active ingredients and reduce the effectiveness of other drugs.

Side effects of smecta for a newborn

The most common side effects are those of the gastrointestinal tract. Constipation from Smecta in newborns is considered the most common side effect. This is due to the fact that the film that forms reduces the secretion of fluid into the intestinal lumen, which reduces motor activity. This leads to a tendency to constipation, especially in newborns due to immaturity and insufficient regulation of intestinal function.

Overdose

An overdose of the drug is unlikely, since it is not absorbed or metabolized. Constipation may only increase with an increase in the required dose.

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Interactions with other drugs

Interaction with other drugs can only be in the form of absorption of another drug by the active substance of Smecta. Therefore, other drugs should be taken at intervals of at least two hours.

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Storage conditions

The storage conditions of the drug are not limited, which simplifies its use.

Shelf life

The shelf life of the diluted preparation is no more than two hours, since after that it may lose its ability to completely dissolve. The closed substance can be stored for up to three years.

Reviews

Reviews of the action of Smecta as a sorbent are positive. The only remark is the unpleasant taste, which is why some children may refuse to take the drug. Reviews of the treatment of jaundice are also positive, the drug reduces its severity over several days.

Reviews of Smecta for the treatment of colic in children are mixed. There are children who were helped not only with colic, but also with the correction of frequent stools. Therefore, Espumisan or Smecta for newborns for the treatment of colic should be determined by parents individually, because each child is suitable for something specific.

Smecta for newborns, today, is used not only in the treatment of diarrhea syndrome, but also in the treatment of jaundice in newborns and complex therapy of colic. It is very important when treating with Smecta to monitor the stool of the newborn and adjust the dose accordingly.