Arthrofoon

We talk about a cold that has popped up on our lips and immediately remember Acyclovir. This is an immunomodulator belonging to the group of antiviral drugs used to treat herpes types 1 and 2, genital herpes and chickenpox. It contains no toxic elements, it acts selectively - only on the cells of the virus itself, suppressing their reproduction.

Acyclovir-Acri ointment

So, let's start with the fact that herpes does not only occur on the lip; viral diseases affect various parts of the human body. Therefore, Acyclovir is sold in the following forms, each of which has its own indications for use: cream and ointment for topical use 5%, tablets (200 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg), solution for intravenous injection Lyophilisate 250 mg, ophthalmic ointment 3%.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Arthrofoon tablets are a homeopathic medicine that exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and is used for the treatment of inflammatory processes of the musculoskeletal system. The treatment leads to increased tissue nutrition, streamlining of microcirculation and inhibition of the replication of inflammatory mediators. The inclusion of Artrofoon in treatment regimens for degenerative-inflammatory joint pathologies leads to a reduction in the time of the acute course of the disease, as well as a reduction in the dosages of other drugs used in therapy (most often NSAIDs ).

Interaction with other drugs and alcohol

Acyclovir and alcohol

When a doctor prescribes a particular drug, the question arises about compatibility not only with other drugs (more on this below), but also with alcohol. After all, a cold often appears at the wrong time, but plans are made to attend an event where there will be strong drinks. What to do in such a situation? Despite the absence of direct contraindications, alcohol and medicine are incompatible.

It is not recommended to take Acyclovir with alcohol

Firstly, alcohol, by suppressing the activity of leukocytes and the production of antibodies, reduces the body's defenses. Secondly, any drug puts a strain on the liver and kidneys, and alcohol has a similar effect. And when the liver cannot cope with processing, enzymes are released that suppress the action of Acyclovir. That is, the effect of the immunomodulator will be zero. Also, this can provoke intoxication of the body and increase the risk of side effects such as nausea and vomiting; convulsions, disturbances of consciousness; tremors and hallucinations; allergies (itching, skin rashes, urticaria, angioedema); loose stools; anemia; shortness of breath, pain in the sternum, increased heart rate; disorders of swallowing and respiratory functions; cephalalgia, dizziness, drowsiness.

If you suffer from a hangover after drinking, this is not the right time to take Acyclovir. When a hangover occurs, the body is already under stress. Taking the drug may cause a deterioration in your general condition.

Acyclovir and antibiotics

It may happen that Acyclovir is taken at the same time as antibiotics. When treating viral diseases, simultaneous use of antibiotics is not recommended, as they will simply interfere with each other. That is, treatment will be ineffective either from Acyclovir or from another drug. The one-time use of medications will not speed up the patient’s recovery, and the liver will not say “thank you” to you, since it creates an additional load, which can lead to negative consequences. In exceptional cases, as prescribed by a doctor, a one-time dose is possible, but it is associated with risks. Be sure to consult with your doctor.

Indications for use of Artrofoon

Indications for use allow the use of the drug both in monotherapy (during remission of the underlying disease) and in combination with other medications (during an exacerbation of the underlying disease).

Most often, Artrophoon is prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (including spondyloarthrosis) and other painful joint conditions.

Is it possible to use Acyclovir for a cold?

Acyclovir can be prescribed for ARVI

Acyclovir successfully fights herpes viruses, but sometimes a therapist prescribes Acyclovir for ARVI. Why? It is no secret that with ARVI and colds in general, the immune system is weakened, and this is fertile ground for the manifestation of herpes, which, against the background of the same ARVI, does not alleviate the situation. Although Acyclovir is ineffective in the fight against viruses that cause respiratory diseases, it is used as a prophylactic agent to prevent the development of herpes.

Instructions for use of Artrofoon (Method and dosage)

Arthrofoon tablets are taken orally ( sublingually ). It is recommended to take two tablets under the tongue one time at a time until they are completely dissolved. To achieve the greatest effectiveness, do not crush or chew the tablets. The preferred time to take the medicine is morning and evening (2 times a day). As a rule, therapy is continued for no more than six months.

In case of severe pain, the instructions for Artrofoon, in the first 2-4 weeks, allow for 4 times taking 2 tablets per day, with parallel treatment. When pain relief occurs, gradually switch to the recommended dosage.

SUMMARY We studied the effectiveness and safety of the drug Artrofoon, created on the basis of antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-a in the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of Artrofoon was revealed, which was more pronounced than when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Artrophoon affects the level of pain in the spine according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), the severity of morning stiffness according to VAS, the BASDAI index (activity index), and the ESR value. The most pronounced effect was obtained after 3 months of use of the drug, especially in group 2 (with combined use of NSAIDs and DMARDs). With complex therapy, in 40% of patients it was possible to reduce the dose of NSAIDs taken. Good tolerability and no negative effects on liver and kidney function were noted. Artrophoon can be used in complex therapy of ankylosing spondylitis. For use as monotherapy, further research is required to determine the indications and refine the dose used. Key words: Ankylosing spondylitis, antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-a, ultra-low doses, arthrofoon. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the main representative of inflammatory diseases of the spine; its prevalence is comparable to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ranges from 0.15 to 2.5% of the population, with an average of 0.05% [2, 12]. AS is characterized by severe pain in the spine and joints of an inflammatory nature, limitation of movement, various systemic manifestations and a significant decrease in the quality of life of patients. Symptomatic therapy used for AS: NSAIDs; Basic anti-inflammatory therapy (DMARDs): sulfasalazine, methotrexate, do not sufficiently control the main symptoms of the disease [2, 12]. In recent years, the understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthropathy and spondyloarthropathy, including AS, has expanded from the perspective of an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, in which tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) occupies a central place [2]. An increased level of this cytokine is found in AS directly in the sacroiliac joints, in the blood plasma [2]. This served as the basis for the use of anti-cytokine therapy for AS. Conducted open, placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter studies to study the effectiveness and tolerability of anti-cytokine drugs (etanercept, infliximab) have convincingly proven their effectiveness in RA and AS [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. The high cost of anticytokine therapy, the parenteral route of administration in a hospital setting, and the severity and severity of side effects limit the use of this type of modern therapy. The use of the new domestic drug Artrofoon (ultra-low doses of antibodies to TNF-a in dilutions C12, C30, C200) for AS seems promising. Studies of the use of Artrofoon in RA and osteoarthritis, which have shown its effectiveness and good tolerability [1,3,6], have made it possible to use The paper presents the results of an open pilot study of the effectiveness and tolerability of the domestic drug Artrofoon (OOO NPF Materia Medica Holding), created on the basis of antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS An open comparative study of the effectiveness and tolerability of the drug Artrofoon was conducted in a free sample of patients with AS at a city rheumatology center. The study involved 30 patients with an established diagnosis of AS according to the modified New York criteria, 26 men, 4 women, average age 44.0 (2.1 years, average disease duration 11.58 (1.32, 25 patients had axial form) AS, peripheral form – in 5, 2nd radiographic stage in 7, 3rd – in 14, 4th – in 9 (at the sacroileal joint), activity 1st stage – 5, 2nd stage – 22, 3rd stage - 3 patients. The characteristics of the patients included in the study are shown in Table 1 (see page 22). The frequency of concomitant diseases is presented in Table 2 (see page 23). Patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1st group (10 people) were prescribed monotherapy with Artrofoon. This group included patients in whom standard treatment was not sufficiently effective, or NSAIDs and/or simple analgesics were used haphazardly. In patients in this group, all anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs were discontinued 2 weeks before the start of testing In the 2nd group (10 people), patients receiving standard treatment with NSAIDs in adequate doses and/or DMARDs were additionally prescribed Artrofoon, in the 3rd group (10 people), patients took only various NSAIDs in adequate doses. Patients are comparable in gender, age, duration and clinical form of the disease. Treatment and observation were carried out for 3 months, control was carried out on 19 clinical and laboratory parameters in all groups at the same time: upon inclusion, after 10 days, 1 month and 3 months. The level of pain in the spine and joints during movement and at rest was assessed on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), the severity of morning stiffness on a 100 mm VAS and its duration in minutes, the range of motion in various parts of the spine in centimeters (including the Schober test, Thomayer's symptom), functional index BASFI and activity index BASDAI. Laboratory data were monitored upon enrollment into the study and after 3 months of treatment to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of treatment. A complete blood count (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, ESR), C-reactive protein, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, bilirubin), and serum creatinine were performed. Arthrofoon was prescribed according to the scheme for 3 months: 2 weeks, 2 tablets 4 times a day. When the effect is achieved, on average, from the 3rd week - 1 tablet 3 times a day under the tongue until complete resorption. For some patients in groups 1 and 2 (2 people), after a month of treatment, due to the insufficient effectiveness of therapy, the dose of arthrofoon was increased to 2 tablets 4 times a day. The obtained digital data were subjected to mathematical analysis. The arithmetic mean (M) and the error of the arithmetic mean (m) were calculated. Nonparametric statistics methods were used. The significance of differences in variation series in related pairwise samples was assessed using the Wilkonson-Mann-Whitney U test. Differences between the compared series were considered significant with a confidence level of 95% (p < 0.05). Data analysis was carried out using the Statgraphics application package.

RESULTS: 28 patients completed the study, 2 dropped out within 1 month due to increased pain in the spine and joints (one each from groups 1 and 2). After 10 days and 1 month of treatment, none of the controlled parameters changed significantly in any of the groups. Analysis of indicators after 3 months of treatment revealed significant differences in some parameters in groups 1 and 2; in group 3, none of the indicators changed significantly. The dynamics of indicators after 3 months compared to inclusion in the study are shown in Table 3 and Figures 1–18 (see pp. 32–25). Significant differences in the effectiveness of treatment were obtained in groups 1 and 2 of patients using Artrofoon compared to group 3. The positive dynamics of the parameters indicated above in the 2nd group of patients, characterized by a more refractory course of the disease and a higher degree of inflammation activity, is more pronounced compared to the 1st and 3rd groups. The best results in this group can be explained by the fact that patients in this group received complex therapy (1st - methotrexate 7.5 mg/week, 2nd - sulfasalazine 2 g/day, NSAIDs). In group 1, the level of pain in the spine during movement (SPA) decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 56.5±4.3 to 45.6±4.4, and the severity of morning stiffness according to VAS (VAS) decreased from 55.5 ±5.3 to 39.9±4.2, BASDAI activity index from 6.88±0.33 to 5.4±0.39. In group 2, significant changes (p<0.05) were obtained in a larger number of parameters. The level of spinal pain at rest (RP) decreased from 61.8±4.1 to 51.7±4.6, BPD from 69.2±4.9 to 52.2±3.1, VUS from 68.5 ±5.4 to 53.3±4.6, functional index BASFI from 60.2±4.1 to 51.2±4.2, activity index BASDAI from 7.4±0.34 to 6.4±0 .45, there was a decrease in ESR from 34.7±3.1 to 28.4±2.8. Satisfaction with treatment, according to the patient and doctor, is shown in Tables 4 and 5 and corresponds to the assessment of objective parameters. Of those who completed treatment, according to the patient, improvement was obtained in group 1 after a month of treatment, more significant after 3 months in 60% and 88.9%, respectively. According to the doctor, 50% and 77.7%, respectively. In group 2, patients rated their condition as improved after 1 and 3 months of treatment, 70% and 88.9%, respectively, which completely coincided with the doctor’s opinion. The tolerability assessment of Artrofoon is given in Table 6 (see page 24). Good and excellent tolerability was noted, 5 side effects were recorded, which usually occurred on the 2nd–5th day of taking the drug, of which 2 patients had treatment discontinued. In 3 cases these were temporary complications in the form of headache, nausea, slight increase in pain in the spine and joints, which developed on days 2–5 and resolved after 3–7 days, usually without the prescription of any medications (in 2 - patients had to be prescribed NSAIDs for a week, followed by a return to taking one Arthrofoon). In each group of patients taking Artrophoon, 1 patient dropped out due to a pronounced clinical and laboratory exacerbation of the disease, for the relief of which it was necessary to prescribe adequate doses of NSAIDs and methotrexate. In the second group, 40% of patients managed to reduce the dose of NSAIDs taken. When analyzing laboratory parameters, no significant changes were obtained in any of the groups, except for a significant decrease in ESR in the 2nd observation group after 3 months of treatment. There were no significant deviations in laboratory parameters characterizing the function of the liver and kidneys, and there was no effect on the parameters of the general blood test.

CONCLUSION In patients with ankylosing spondylitis, Artrofoon has an anti-inflammatory effect, significantly affects the level of pain in the spine, the amount of morning stiffness, exceeding the effect of NSAIDs, and is well tolerated. The use of Artrofoon in the form of monotherapy and inclusion in complex therapy of AS allows reducing the clinical and laboratory activity of the disease with good tolerability. The increased effect with increasing frequency of taking Artrofoon in individual patients with AS showed that further research is necessary to select the optimal doses and duration of Artrofoon therapy.

REFERENCES 1. Alikhanov B.A. Artrophoon in the treatment of osteoarthritis // Clinical gerontology. – 2004. – T. 10, No. 12. – P. 63–66 2. Badokin V.V. Drug therapy for ankylosing spondylitis//Russian Medical Journal. – 2004. – T. 12, No. 20. – P. 1128–1132. 3. Kozlovskaya L.V., Mukhin N.A., Rameev V.V., Sarkizova I.A., Epshtein O.I. Potentiated antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-wasp in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis // Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. – 2003. – Appendix No. 1. – P. 68–71. 4. Nasonov E.L. The use of infliximab (monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-a) in rheumatology: new facts and ideas // Russian Medical Journal. – 2004. – T.12, No. 20. – P. 1124–1126. 5. Nasonov E.L. Prospects for pharmacotherapy of inflammatory rheumatic diseases: monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor // Russian Medical Journal. – 2003. – No. 9. – P.7–9. 6. Petrov V.I., Babaeva A.R., Cherevkova E.V., Epshtein O.I., Sergeeva S.A. Ultra-low doses of antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-a (the drug “Arthrofoon”): effectiveness in treatment patients with rheumatoid arthritis//Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. —2003. – Appendix No. 1. – pp. 72–76. 7. Rumyantseva O.A., Kuzin A.V., Bunchuk N.V. The use of infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis//Clinical pharmacology and therapy. 2004. – T. 13, No. 1. – P. 8–13. 8. Braun J., Sieper J. Therapy of ankylosing spondilitis and other spondyloarthroparthritidies: established medical treatment, anti-TNF – a therapy and other novel approaches// Arthritis Res. – 2002. – No. 4. – P. – 307–921. 9. Braun J., Brandt J. et al. Long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab in the treatment of ankylosing spondilitis//Arthritis Rheum. – 2003 Aug. – V. 48, No. 8. – P. 2224–2233. 10. Breban M., Vignon E. et al. Efficacy of infliximab in refractory ankilosing spondylitis: results of six-month open-label study//Rheumatology. – 2002/ – No. 41. – P.1280–1285. 11. Kalden JR/ Emerging role of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in rheumatic disease//Arthritis Res. – 2002. – No. 4 (suppl. 2). – P. 534–540. 12. Sieper J., Braun J., Rudwaleit M. et al. Ankylosing spondylitis:an overview//Ann.Rheum.Dis. – 2002. – No. 61 (suppl. 3). – P. 8–18.

The research results are presented in tables and diagrams.

TABLE 1. Characteristics of patients with AS

Table 2 Frequency of concomitant diseases in patients with AS

Table 3 Data in the groups of examined patients before and after 3 months of therapy

Table 4 Evaluation of treatment effectiveness (according to the patient)

Table 5 Evaluation of treatment effectiveness (according to the doctor)

Table 6 Tolerability of Artrofoon in patients with AS in 2 groups

Diagrams

Polyclinic No. 2 2005 (page 20)

Analogs

Level 4 ATX code matches: Ridostin
Roferon A

Leukogen

Genfaxon

Estifan

Septilin

Inferon

Neupogen

Lipoferon

Laifferon

Sodium nucleinate

Intron A

Betaferon

Neupomax

Granocyte

Gepon

Imudon

Grippferon

Immunal

Ingaron

• Alflutop;
• Bishofite;
• Discus compositum;
• Polycatan;
• Synovial;
• Teraflex;
• Traumeel S;
• Chondroflex;
• Purpose T , etc.

Reviews about Artrofoon

There is no clear answer about the effectiveness and advisability of prescribing the drug Artrofoon. Reviews from doctors who use it in their practice are divided approximately equally.

Some observe a more rapid improvement in the patient’s condition when prescribing Arthrofoon in complex treatment, others prescribe the effectiveness of therapy to other drugs, and do not note changes in the course of the disease, either with or without its use. This may depend on the individual characteristics of each individual patient, as well as the placebo effect.

Acyclovir during pregnancy

A pregnant woman's immune system is weakened and may be susceptible to viral infections. Therefore, expectant mothers and those undergoing lactation are asking the question, “Is it possible to use Acyclovir during pregnancy?” According to the instructions, the use of acyclovir during pregnancy is permissible, but with caution. Moreover, this formulation means that use is possible, firstly, only as prescribed by a doctor, and secondly, only when the therapeutic effect is greater than the risk. This applies to all dosage forms. As for the lactation period, the drug passes into breast milk. Therefore, first consult a doctor, and then take the drug. In case of negative reactions, it is necessary to change therapy or stop breastfeeding for a while.

Arthrofoon price, where to buy

The price of the drug depends on the number of tablets included in the package, as well as on the region and pharmacy chain.

If you decide to purchase Arthrofoon tablets, the price is 100 pieces, on average - 250 rubles.

• Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia

ZdravCity

• Arthrofoon tablets for rassas.
  100 pcs. Materia Medica LLC 304 rub. order

Preventative treatment

The question often arises of how to prevent such an unpleasant situation as the manifestation of herpes. What should be the prevention? The recommendations are simple:

• Get vaccinated every three years to avoid infection or recurrence of the disease;
• Take acyclovir as a preventive measure when the disease may be triggered. Consult your doctor to determine your risk factors;
• Don't forget about hygiene;
• Strengthen your immune system: lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and move more.

Acyclovir against herpes