Arifon retard

"Arifon retard" is the trade name of a drug whose main active ingredient is indapamide. Indapamide belongs to a class of medicines known as thiazide-like diuretics.

Diuretics are used to reduce swelling and remove excess fluid and sodium from the body by stimulating urination. They are widely used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure and other conditions involving fluid retention.

Arifon Retard is available in the form of extended-release tablets, which allows you to maintain a stable therapeutic effect of the drug for a long time.

Indications Arifona retard

• Hypertension (high blood pressure): "Arifon retard" helps to lower blood pressure by increasing the excretion of sodium and water from the body through the urinary system. This helps reduce pressure in the blood vessels and reduce the load on the heart.
• Edema: Indapamide has a diuretic effect, which helps reduce edema associated with fluid retention in the body.
• Heart failure: The drug can be used to treat heart failure, especially when it is associated with hypertension or edema.

Release form

Arifon retard is usually available in the form of extended-release tablets. These tablets are specially designed to release the active substance gradually over a long period of time after taking it. This allows you to maintain a stable level of the drug in the body and ensure its therapeutic effect for a long period of time.

Pharmacodynamics

• Diuresis: Indapamide increases the excretion of sodium and water from the body by stimulating urine formation. This leads to a decrease in circulating blood volume and a decrease in blood pressure.
• Vascular relaxation: Indapamide is able to dilate blood vessels, which improves blood supply to tissues and reduces resistance to blood flow. This also helps lower blood pressure.
• Improving arterial response to vasoconstrictors: Indapamide may reduce the sensitivity of arteries to vasoconstrictors such as angiotensin II, which helps lower blood pressure.

Pharmacokinetics

• Absorption: After oral administration, indapamide is rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Distribution: Indapamide is well distributed throughout the body, including the vascular bed, kidneys and skin.
• Metabolism: Indapamide is metabolized in the liver, resulting in the formation of metabolites that also have a diuretic effect.
• Excretion: Indapamide and its metabolites are mainly excreted from the body through the kidneys.
• Half-life: The half-life of indapamide from the body is approximately 14-18 hours. This allows Arifon Retard to be used in the form of extended-release tablets to ensure a stable therapeutic effect over a long period of time.

Dosing and administration

For the treatment of hypertension:

• The starting dose is usually 1.5 mg per day, taken as a single dose in the morning before meals. If necessary, the dose can be increased to 2.5 mg per day.
• The maximum recommended daily dose is usually 5 mg.

For the treatment of edema:

• The usual starting dose is 2.5 mg per day, taken in one dose in the morning before meals. If necessary, the dose can be increased to 5 mg per day.

The drug should be taken whole with a sufficient amount of water. Do not split or crush the tablets.

Use Arifona retard during pregnancy

• Use after childbirth:

  • The study showed that indapamide may be effective and safe for the treatment of postpartum hypertension. The study included women with postpartum hypertension and found no significant differences in blood pressure levels between the indapamide and methyldopa groups. At the same time, indapamide showed a significant reduction in body weight, microalbuminuria and left ventricular mass index, which may be useful for cardiovascular prevention (Gaisin et al., 2013).

• Pharmacokinetics and safety:

  • Studies show that indapamide is a safe and effective treatment for lowering blood pressure in patients with normal renal function and in patients with varying degrees of renal impairment. It does not accumulate in the blood of patients with impaired renal function and is not dialysable, indicating its potential safety in such conditions (Acchiardo & Skoutakis, 1983).

• Impact on the myometrium:

  • An experimental study showed that indapamide can affect the electrical and mechanical properties of the myometrium in pregnant rats, reducing the amplitude and frequency of contractions, which may indicate its effect on uterine smooth muscle (Mironneau et al., 1986).

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity: People with a known hypersensitivity to indapamide or any of the ingredients of the drug should avoid its use.
• Severe renal impairment: Arifon retard can accumulate in the body in cases of impaired renal function, so its use may be contraindicated in severe forms of renal failure.
• Severe liver dysfunction: In case of severe liver dysfunction, especially with cirrhosis of the liver, the use of Arifon retard may be undesirable due to possible disturbances in the metabolism and excretion of the drug.
• Hypokalemia: Indapamide, like other diuretics, can promote potassium loss, so its use may be undesirable if there is existing hypokalemia.
• Bladder compartment syndrome: Due to the diuretic effects of indapamide, its use may be contraindicated in cases of bladder compartment syndrome.
• Pregnancy and lactation: The use of "Arifon retard" may be contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation if the benefits of its use do not outweigh the potential risks to the fetus or child.

Side effects Arifona retard

• Hypokalemia: Loss of potassium can lead to various symptoms such as muscle weakness, irregular heart rhythms and even arrhythmias.
• Hyperkalemia: Although indapamide primarily causes potassium loss, in rare cases it can also cause an increase in blood potassium levels.
• Hyponatremia: Decreased sodium levels in the blood can cause irritability, headache, seizures, drowsiness, and other symptoms.
• Hyperurisseemia: The level of uric acid in the blood may increase, which can lead to gout attacks in susceptible individuals.
• Hypotension: Low blood pressure can lead to dizziness, weakness and fainting.
• Dry mouth: This is a fairly common side effect.
• Abdominal pain: You may experience discomfort or pain in the abdominal area.
• Chest pain: This side effect may be related to your heart.
• Muscle spasms: Spasms of various localizations may occur.
• Drowsiness or insomnia: Changes in sleepiness may also occur as a side effect.

Overdose

An overdose of Arifon retard can lead to increased side effects, such as severe potassium loss, hyperkalemia, hypotension, arterial hypotension, possibly syncope (fainting), and other cardiovascular complications.

Interactions with other drugs

• Medicines that increase blood potassium: Drugs such as spironolactone, eplerenone, as well as potassium salts and potassium-sparing diuretics may increase the effect of indapamide and lead to hyperkalemia.
• Medicines that lower blood potassium: Drugs such as thiazide diuretics, Lactix, amphotericin B, and some drugs used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (corticosteroids) may increase potassium loss when used concomitantly with indapamide. li>
• Medicines that increase blood pressure: Combining indapamide with other drugs for the treatment of hypertension, such as beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists, may result in increased hypotensive effects.
• Medicines that affect the cardiovascular system: When used simultaneously with drugs that affect the cardiovascular system (for example, digoxin, antiarrhythmic drugs), their effect may be increased or decreased.
• Nephrotoxic drugs: When indapamide is used concomitantly with drugs that have a toxic effect on the kidneys (for example, some antibiotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), their negative effect on the kidneys may be increased.
• Medicines that affect blood glucose and lipids: Indapamide may increase blood glucose and cholesterol levels, therefore, when used simultaneously with antihyperglycemic and lipid-lowering drugs, dosage adjustment of the latter may be required.