Pharmaceutical Diamax is produced by the Ukrainian company FARMEX GROUP LLC.
This is a chondroprotector that has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is included in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases.
Active agent of the drug Diamax is diacerein. The drug is available in capsules and belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Contents of the article
- Mechanism of exposure
- Pharmacokinetics of the
- Scheme of administration and dosage required
- Possible undesirable effects of
- When should the chondroprotector be abandoned?
- Purpose of the drug for specific categories of citizens
- Drug interaction
- Special instructions
- Terms of purchase and storage
- Comprehensive opinion of doctors and patients
- How can I replace a medicine?
Mechanism of exposure
The active substance enters the patient's body and blocks the production of inflammatory mediators, namely, IL-1, inhibits enzymes that destroy cartilage and at the same time activate the synthesis of hyaluronate and glucosaminoglycans.
Thus, the drug prevents the destruction of articular horseshoe and restores the efficiency of joints.
The active substance acts selectively and does not inhibit the production of prostaglandins, so when taking the drug, there are no side effects on the part of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis and gastric ulcer and 12-colon.
Elimination of symptoms of the disease is observed after half a month or a month from the start of treatment.
Pharmacokinetics of
The completeness of adsorption varies from 50 to 100% of the dose. The repeated use of the drug does not alter its pharmacokinetics. In the body, the active substance of the drug is metabolized.
Up to 90% of metabolites bind to proteins. Removing the medicine through the kidneys and intestines. When taking the drug with food, it increases by 24% its absorbability. Among experts, there is an opinion that diacerein, most likely a pro-drug.
Drug is prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, primary and secondary osteoarthritis, such as pain, inflammation, decreased joint mobility.
Dosage regimen and dosage required
In most cases, the daily dose is 100 mg diacerein divided into two doses, i.e. Diamax should take 1 capsule 
for breakfast and dinner.
The duration of treatment is selected individually, depending on the severity of the pathology, the effectiveness and tolerability of the pharmaceutical preparation, the course of therapy is usually from 3 months to several years.
Some patients at the beginning of the treatment the doctor can recommend taking capsules only once in the evening for 4 weeks. This is necessary for the patient's adaptation to the prokinetic effect of Diamax. After that they switch to a 2-fold intake of the drug.
Possible adverse effects
The drug is well tolerated by most patients.
Only occasionally, especially at the beginning of therapy, side effects from the digestive system are possible:
- diarrhea;
- pain in the epigastric region;
- nausea and vomiting( observed less frequently than the two above symptoms).
The appearance of side effects does not require withdrawal of the drug, it is only necessary to reduce the frequency of intake up to 1 time per day, after a while these unwanted symptoms will pass( usually in 4 weeks) and you can take the drug 2 times a day.
When receiving capsules, intense urine staining is observed in yellow, but this does not indicate any disease and does not require correction of the therapy regimen.
When increasing the recommended dose, there may be an increase in undesirable effects, in particular a loose stool.
In this case, a reduction in dosage or withdrawal of the pharmaceutical is required. There is no specific antidote, treatment is symptomatic.
When should I abandon the chondroprotector?
You should not take the medicine in the following cases:
- during pregnancy;
- with breastfeeding;
- with hypersensitivity to the components of the capsules;
- for an allergy to anthraquinone;
- for patients under the age of 18 years.
As auxiliary substances, lactose was added to the capsules, therefore, taking the drug is contraindicated in case of intolerance to galactose, when its adsorption is impaired, as well as at gaps with glucose absorption.
Caution is necessary to take the pharmaceutical preparation for patients suffering from enterocolitis or CRF.These categories of citizens have a worsening of the course of the disease and a high probability of side effects.
Prescribing the drug to specific categories of citizens
Capsules are not prescribed to patients under the age of 18 because clinical trials have not been performed in this age group, and there is no reliable information about the safety of the treatment with the help of children.
In experiments on animals, there was no adverse effect of the drug on the fetus and offspring. And yet there is insufficient data on the safety of taking Diamax by pregnant women.
The active substance penetrates the placenta, so it is better to postpone the treatment before delivery.
Do not take the drug with natural feeding, as its active substance is found in breast milk.
Drug Interactions
Medication enhances the effects of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and non-narcotic analgesics.
At simultaneous admission with preparations of magnesium and aluminum, a decrease in the absorption of diacerein is observed.
Laxatives and products that enhance intestinal motility also reduce absorption of the drug.
It is not necessary to take a pharmaceutical product to patients undergoing chemotherapy or antibiotic therapy, in which case intestinal motility may be increased.
Special instructions
Since there is a later onset of therapeutic effect( after only 2-4 weeks) during the first month of treatment with Diamax, you can simultaneously take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.
Treatment with the drug is prolonged, therefore it is necessary to do an extended blood test, a general urine test, and a determination of hepatic enzymes once a quarter.
In case of cirrhosis of the liver, even a severe degree, dose adjustment is not required. If the patient has a clearance less than 30 ml / min, the drug is taken once a day at night.
The medication does not have a hypnotic effect and does not reduce the concentration of attention, so the medicine is allowed to take while driving a motor vehicle.
Conditions of purchase and storage
Shelf life of the drug is 24 months. Store it at a temperature of not more than 25 degrees, in a place inaccessible to children.
Pharmaceutical products are available in capsules, in a package of 30 pieces. In the pharmacy, the drug can be bought strictly by prescription.
Complex opinion of doctors and patients
From the opinions of doctors, as well as their patients who accept Diamax, it is possible to draw certain conclusions.
For more than 3 years, knees have been aching. Before that, I took other NSAIDs, injected them. At first they helped, and then the effect was zero, moreover, stomach problems began.
I've been drinking Diamax for more than a year now. The result is satisfied, my legs do not hurt. It's a pity that you can not buy a drug in Russia. All its analogs are expensive. And this one is affordable for the price, and is not inferior in quality.
Maxim, Moscow
Diamax well removes the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It is well tolerated by patients, practically has no side effects, is resolved to long reception.
Valery Aleksandrovich, rheumatologist
It should be remembered that despite the good therapeutic effect and the minimum number of contraindications and side effects, self-medication by the drug is not permissible.
How can I replace a medicine?
The pharma market offers a wide range of Diamamx analogs both by ATC code of 4th level and by active substance. 
Analogues for the pharmaceutical group include:
- Nimesil;
- Nurofen;
- Ketonal;
- Structur.
Structural analogues of Diamax:
- Arthrodar;
- Arthroker;
- Arthrodarin.
When replacing the product with an analog, it is necessary to consult with specialists, since all drugs have a number of differences.
