Almagel for stomach pain. Price, instructions, what to buy

Almagel is a drug, which is used to relieve stomach pain and other symptoms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The therapeutic effect depends on the dosage regimen and diagnosis.

Forms of release of the drug Almagel

The drug is a white suspension with a lemon scent for internal use.

Almagel is bottled in 170 ml dark durable glass bottles; a special measuring spoon with a volume of 5 ml is added to the kit. Secondary packaging is presented in a cardboard box.

Also, the manufacturer produces Almagel in sachets of 10 ml of suspension. They are packed in 10 pieces. in a cardboard box.

Composition of the preparation

Almagel is a complex product that includes 2 active ingredients at once:

• Magnesium hydroxide paste in the amount of 350 mg per 5 ml.
• Algedrate (aluminum hydroxide gel) - 2.2 g.

Pharmacological properties

Almagel (for pain in the stomach, the medicine is taken no longer than 3-4 days) refers to antacids, is used for treatment of diseases of the digestive system, the development of which is directly dependent on the pH of the environment stomach. It has its effect due to its active ingredients.

Medicinal properties of the drug:

• neutralization of hydrochloric acid (the main component of juice in the stomach);
• decreased ability to digest food and activity of gastric juice;
• protection of the mucous membrane of the tract due to the synthesis of prostaglandins (inflammatory mediators) from the aggressive effects of food, drugs or alcohol;
• decreased pepsin activity.

Almagel acts quickly, the patient notices an improvement in his condition after a few minutes.

The duration of the therapeutic effect depends on the fullness of the stomach:

• if the patient takes the drug on an empty stomach, the effect will not last longer than 60 minutes;
• if the suspension was taken after a meal, its effect can persist for 3 hours.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

These points are detailed in the instructions for use:

• Pharmacodynamics studies the mechanism of a drug and its effect on humans.
• Pharmacokinetics describes the process of metabolism (chemical transformations) of a drug within the patient's body.

Pharmacodynamics

The Almagel suspension is evenly distributed over the gastric mucosa, protecting it from the negative effects of many factors. The necessary acidity of the environment is also maintained, throughout the course of treatment, the pH indicator is in the range of 3.4-3.5 (subject to the dosing regimen).

Sorbitol added to the composition provides a choleretic and mild laxative effect.

Pharmacokinetics

Since Almagel consists of two main ingredients, this section describes the mechanism of transformation of each of them:

• Algedrate is practically not absorbed into the systemic circulation, therefore it does not affect the aluminum content in the blood, it is excreted in the feces through the intestines.
• Magnesium hydroxide is absorbed in an amount of 10% of the total, does not significantly affect the content of magnesium ions in the patient's blood. It is also excreted through the intestines.

Indications for use

Almagel has a wide range of applications in gastroenterology.

It can be used not only for stomach pain, but also for the treatment of many pathologies:

• Protection of the mucous membrane of the tract in order to prevent the irritation of certain drugs (hormonal agents, antibiotics).
• Gastritis.
• Relapse of chronic gastritis with high or normal gastric acidity.
• Exacerbation of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
• Established erosive damage to the mucous membrane of the esophagus or stomach.
• Inflammation of the pancreas.
• Chronic pancreatitis in the acute phase.
• Heartburn and abdominal pain caused by poor diet, alcohol or nicotine abuse.

Contraindications

Almagel for stomach pain is prohibited for certain categories of patients:

• During pregnancy at any time. There is no reliable data on the absence of the effect of the drug on the fetus. Animal experiments have shown no teratogenic effect. However, there is no official approval for taking the medication in pregnant women. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe a drug to a patient who is expecting a baby within 5 days, but under strict medical supervision.
• Children under the age of 10.
• Persons suffering from high sensitivity to one or more of the drug's components.
• Those who have fructose intolerance (since there is sorbitol in the composition, such patients are not allowed to take Almagel).
• Since the drug contains magnesium and aluminum ions, it is unacceptable to take it in case of severe renal failure. The fact is that with this disease there is a high risk of intoxication with these chemical elements.
• In recent decades, doctors have increasingly established a relationship between the concentration of aluminum salts in a patient's body and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. For this reason, people suffering from this pathology are prohibited from using Almagel in order to prevent deterioration.
• Another indication is hypophosphatemia (low concentration of phosphates in the patient's blood).

At what age can the drug be used?

Almagel is prohibited from treating patients under the age of 10 years. There is no reliable data on the safety of its use in younger children. It is not known what effect Almagel can have on a growing organism. When treating a child, the doctor and parents should jointly resolve the issue of therapy, trying to avoid the appointment of Almagel.

Instructions for use, dosage

According to the instructions, the suspension must be shaken vigorously before taking. After taking within 15 minutes. you can not drink any drinks, this leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effects of Almagel.

For heartburn pain

Almagel should be taken 1-2 scoops up to 4 times a day. In the absence of the desired effect, the dosage is increased to 15 ml per dose.

Stomach pain on bloating

The relief of pain in flatulence depends on the age of the patient.

Age	Dosage regimen
Up to 10 years	It is not recommended, if necessary, the dosage is set by a doctor (pediatrician or gastroenterologist).
10-15 years old	0.5 - 1 scoop 2-3 times a day. If the effect occurs, the child does not consistently experience symptoms, a single dosage can be reduced to 0.5 scoops. The course of treatment should not exceed 14 days.
Over 15 years old	1-2 scoops 3-4 times a day. If the effect occurs, the patient does not consistently experience symptoms, a single dosage can be reduced to 1 scoop. The course of treatment should not exceed 20 days.

With pancreatitis

With inflammation of the pancreas, Almagel can be used to eliminate the symptoms:

• girdle pain in the stomach;
• nausea, vomiting;
• heartburn;
• diarrhea.

The dosage regimen in this case is represented by the following scheme: taking 2-3 scoops half an hour before each meal. Additional intake should be carried out at bedtime to avoid exacerbation of symptoms at night.

Almagel copes with its task better if the patient follows the diet recommended by the doctor. It is important to exclude flour products, spicy, fried foods, coffee and strong tea.

In case of poisoning

Almagel for stomach pain will be relevant in the treatment of poisoning of any etiology. It is especially often used to eliminate alcohol and nicotine intoxication. It should be noted that the drug should be taken only in case of mild to moderate poisoning. For more serious pathologies, you should seek medical help, where full therapy will be provided.

The product should be taken in 2 scoops (10 ml) 4 times a day half an hour before meals. It is important to give preference to meat broths during treatment, excluding fatty, fried and smoked foods from the diet.

Side effects

The drug has a high safety profile, but when taken, the development of a number of undesirable side reactions is possible:

• Nausea, vomiting.
• Change in taste.
• Constipation. This symptom, as a rule, goes away on its own after reducing the dosage of Almagel.
• Changes in mood and lethargy are possible. This is often observed in a category of people suffering from kidney failure or on dialysis.
• Allergic reactions in the form of a rash and itching of the skin, edema of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. In severe cases, it is possible to develop Quincke's edema (severe allergy, which is manifested by suffocation). This condition is extremely rare and requires an immediate visit to a specialist.

Overdose

Regular use of a large amount of suspension (more than 20 ml) leads to the development of an overdose, which manifests itself in the form of symptoms:

• constipation;
• bloating;
• pain in the stomach and intestines;
• a metallic taste on the tongue;
• change in mood;
• decreased concentration of attention;
• memory impairment;
• lethargy, drowsiness;
• the formation of kidney stones is possible;
• feeling of numbness in the limbs;
• myalgia.

When one or more symptoms from the list are detected, the patient must perform an algorithm consisting of several actions:

• Calling an ambulance brigade.
• Self-attempt to induce vomiting.
• Taking activated carbon or similar drugs (Karbopect, Polysorb), observing the dosage regimen specified in the instructions.

When contacting doctors, gastric lavage is performed, after which the patient must remain under the supervision of specialists until complete recovery.

special instructions

Before you start using this drug, it is important to read the information specified in this paragraph. In it, the manufacturer indicated the main points that you should pay attention to before starting treatment.

If the patient suffers from chronic constipation, it is better to refuse to take Almagel in order to avoid worsening symptoms.

The same applies to patients who do not have a clear medical diagnosis, and the main symptoms are pain in the stomach of an unknown etiology. Antacids can lubricate the clinical picture of serious illnesses that require immediate medical attention.

The drug is also not recommended for use in such situations:

• the patient has clinical signs of inflammation of the appendix;
• chronic diarrhea;
• hemorrhoids in the acute stage;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• heart failure;
• the patient has an intestinal stoma or ileostomy (the presence of an artificial opening in the abdominal cavity in order to evacuate the contents of the intestine).

Some pregnant women, in order to relieve symptoms of toxicosis, may mistakenly resort to taking Almagel. Doing this is strictly prohibited, because the gynecologist can prescribe a safer solution to the problem.

If there is a need to treat a patient with renal failure with Almagel, this should be done only with constant monitoring of the content of magnesium ions in the blood.

People suffering from diabetes mellitus can use this drug because it does not contain sugar. The same cannot be said for those who suffer from fructose intolerance, since the suspension contains sorbitol.

Almagel does not affect the concentration of attention (subject to the dosage regimen), therefore, when it use, you can get behind the wheel of a car and perform other work requiring a high degree of concentration.

Drug interactions

The drug has a gastroprotective effect and shifts the pH to the alkaline side, therefore, it can prevent the full absorption of certain drugs into the body, reducing their therapeutic effect.

These means include:

• tetracyclines;
• ciprofloxacin;
• antiallergic drugs;
• cardiac glycosides;
• preparations based on lithium, quinidine;
• ketoconazole.

If it is necessary to take Almagel at the same time with any other medications, the interval between them should be at least 2 hours.

In addition to drug incompatibility, the suspension may distort the results of some laboratory tests.

Such examinations include:

• determination of gastric acidity;
• bone scintigraphy;
• determination of the concentration of phosphorus in the blood;
• general urine analysis;
• general blood analysis.

If it is necessary to carry out any of these procedures, the patient must warn the doctor about taking Almagel. Otherwise, misinterpretation of the results is possible.

Analogs

The pharmaceutical market is ready to provide several analogues of the Almagel suspension. It should be noted that any replacement of the drug should be made only after consultation with a specialist.

Among the means that can replace Almagel are:

• Agiflux tablets.
• Gastracid tablets.
• Maalox tablets or suspension.

The listed drugs also have two active components (algedrate and magnesium hydroxide). The main difference between the funds is the manufacturer.

Some patients find it more convenient to use antacids in the form of a chewable tablet than a suspension. This is especially true for working people or those who spend a lot of time on the road or traveling.

Maalox is approved for use only from 15 years old, Ajiflux and Gastracid - from 12 years old, while Almagel can be used in the treatment of children over 10 years old.

People suffering from diabetes mellitus will have to give preference to antacids in the form of a suspension (Maalox, Almagel), since the tablet dosage forms contain sucrose.

Agiflux is less popular, so it is usually more difficult to find it on drugstore shelves.

Almagel often remains the drug of choice in the treatment of many unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract.

Terms, conditions of sale and storage

Almagel for stomach pain is usable within 2 years from the date of production. If the bottle has been opened, then its storage is permissible only for 30 days after opening.

The optimal storage conditions for the suspension are as follows:

• air temperature not higher than 25 ° С;
• humidity not higher than 65%;
• away from sunlight;
• out of the reach of small children and pets.

Before starting use, it is important to make sure that the drug is suitable for use. Normally, it looks like a white suspension with a lemon scent. The presence of a transparent layer of liquid is acceptable, which should disappear after shaking the bottle.

Almagel is a non-prescription drug. This means that it is on free sale, and when it is released, the pharmacist will not ask for a special form prescribed by the doctor.

Which form of the drug is more effective, which one is easier to take?

The drug is available only in the form of a suspension, which is optimal for the treatment of dyspeptic symptoms, evenly enveloping the gastric mucosa and protecting it.

If we talk about ease of use, then preference should be given to sachets containing 10 ml of suspension. This is true for those who are forced to be away from home most of the time. It is inconvenient for such patients to constantly carry a heavy bottle of Almagel. Typically, a 10-pack package is more expensive than a glass bottle.

Prices in pharmacies

The exact cost of the drug depends on the form of release, region, city and pharmacy network.

Release form	Price
Vial containing 170 ml of suspension	250 - 300 rubles.
Pack with 10 bags, each containing 10 ml of suspension	RUB 320-370

To determine the benefits, the cost of 1 ml of the drug should be calculated. For this, the average cost is divided by the amount of suspension.

• In a bottle of 170 ml, each 1 ml will cost the patient 1.6 rubles. (275/170).
• A total of 10 bags contain 100 ml of suspension, each ml will cost 3.45 rubles. (354/100).

It turns out that each form of release has its own advantages. A bottle is a more advantageous packaging option, and sachets are more convenient.

Almagel is one of the most effective antacids. It can be used not only for stomach pain, but also in a number of other cases. Including in children from 10 years old, which confirms its high safety profile, in comparison with analogues.

Video about the drug Almagel

Instructions for the use of Almagel suspension: