How to treat poisoning and diarrhea with Levomycetin?

Levomycetin in tablet form belongs to the amphenicol group of antibiotics. It is an antibacterial drug used to treat infectious diseases caused by various types of bacteria. Levomycetin, entering the gastrointestinal tract, is very quickly and almost completely absorbed by its walls. Its highest concentration in blood plasma is reached after a maximum of three hours. The drug penetrates perfectly into all organs and tissues, as well as into breast milk. There is also practically no concept of a placental barrier for it, so taking Levomycetin during pregnancy is prohibited. Most of this drug is excreted from the body through the kidneys, which can lead to negative consequences if the drug is taken uncontrolled. The rest of the article details what Levomycetin is and when it is used to treat diarrhea and diarrhea in adults and children.

Method of using Levomycetin

Levomycetin for oral administration is available in the form of round tablets with a pale yellow color. The drug belongs to the group of antibiotics, therefore, it is necessary to drink it at regular intervals so that the required concentration of the active substance is maintained in the body, which will lead to the fastest possible death of the pathogens. Levomycetin should be taken on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals. In some cases, these tablets can cause nausea, then they should not be taken on an empty stomach; take them about an hour after meals. The dosage, frequency and duration of administration are determined only by the attending physician. The tablets are swallowed whole, there is no need to chew them, just wash them down with plenty of water.

Indications for use of Levomycetin for poisoning

Levomycetin is used infrequently for food poisoning. The drug was synthesized several decades ago, so now pharmacies have antibiotics with more powerful effects. However, Levomycetin is included by doctors in therapeutic regimens, but mainly in combination with other antimicrobial agents.

Infectious pathogens that have not yet developed resistance to chloramphenicol:

• salmonella;
• rickettsia;
• meningococci;
• chlamydia;
• staphylococci;
• streptococci;
• Yersinia;
• Brucella;
• Shigella

If poisoning is caused by the introduction of these pathogenic bacteria into the body, then the patient may be prescribed Levomycetin in the form of tablets. It is effective against salmonellosis, typhoid fever, yersiniosis, rickettsiosis, brucellosis, dysentery, tularemia, and meningococcal infection.

The active ingredient of the drug is chloramphenicol. When in contact with a bacterial cell, it interferes with the production of special amino acids necessary for the construction and replication of DNA. The chain breaks, and pathogenic microorganisms lose their ability to reproduce.

How to take Levomycetin correctly for diarrhea?

Taking medications for diarrhea, including Levomycetin, must be coordinated with your doctor, as this may affect the patient’s health. The specialist calculates the duration of treatment and the required dose of the drug based on the patient’s health status, his age and the presence of concomitant diseases. On average, the course of treatment is 7-14 days.

As a rule, the patient’s well-being returns to normal within a day after starting to take the drug, but this does not mean that treatment should be stopped. On the contrary, the course of treatment with antibacterial drugs must be completed to destroy all pathogenic bacteria. Each package of Levomycetin contains complete instructions, which indicate all the necessary information regarding its use. In particular, the annotation states that the drug should be prescribed only after examining the patient by a specialized specialist.

The tablets should be taken half an hour before meals or an hour after meals, and they must be swallowed whole without chewing and washed down with a sufficient amount of liquid. Tablets taken on an empty stomach can cause nausea and pain in the abdominal area; in this case, it is recommended to postpone their intake to the afternoon, which will not affect the effectiveness of treatment at all.

The frequency of taking the drug for adults is usually once every 5-6 hours. But it should be taken into account that the daily dose should not exceed 2 grams of the active substance. In exceptional cases, the doctor may double the dosage; this usually happens if, in addition to diarrhea, the patient experiences repeated vomiting. However, such treatment must be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist, since the risk of intoxication of the body increases.

If diarrhea is mild and is not burdened by accompanying symptoms, then the drug intake can be reduced to 1-2 times. If the patient’s well-being does not return to normal after such treatment, then it is necessary to contact a specialized specialist who, based on the diagnosis, can recommend another drug.

Possible side effects of Levomycetin

The most common side effects of Levomycetin include various pathologies of the hematopoietic system - most often thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia or leukopenia can develop. In some cases, when taking an antibiotic, a person may experience nausea, heartburn, flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, or increased diarrhea.

Also, when using Levomycetin, various disruptions in the functioning of the central nervous system may occur - drowsiness, irritability, weakness, fatigue, confusion, depression and sudden mood swings. In extremely rare cases, hallucinations of both visual and auditory nature may even appear. Deterioration of hearing and visual acuity is possible - usually such side effects of Levomycetin are temporary and completely disappear after discontinuation of the medication.

Some patients, when using an antibacterial drug, develop allergic skin reactions, which are expressed in the form of redness, rashes, hives, and dermatitis. In the most severe cases, the development of Quincke's edema is possible - a pathological condition that poses a serious danger not only to health, but also to human life. If any side effects of Levomycetin occur, you should consult a doctor to adjust the dose of the drug taken or replace it with a similar drug.

How to take Levomycetin for the treatment of diarrhea (diarrhea) in adults

This drug is intended to treat diarrhea and should be taken as recommended by a doctor. The tablets should be taken before meals or an hour after meals. The dosage of the drug for an adult should not exceed 2 grams of chloramphenicol per day, and this amount should be divided into 3-4 doses. An intestinal infection of high severity may be a reason to double the dosage from the permissible amount.

Levomycetin is quickly absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, where its maximum amount is observed within a couple of hours after taking the drug. The effect of using this medicine is about 4-5 hours. Levomycetin can lead to various side effects, therefore, while taking it, the patient's condition should be constantly monitored through a general blood and urine test.

Please note that treatment with this drug should not be interrupted even if all symptoms of the disease have disappeared, as this may lead to the remaining bacteria becoming resistant to chloramphenicol. And this often becomes the cause of a relapse of the disease or its transition to a chronic form.

Contraindications when taking chloramphenicol

This antibiotic affects protein synthesis and can reduce the number of platelets in the blood, which can lead to bleeding (in some cases). For simple forms of diarrhea, it is better to use gentler medications; the use of an antibiotic is a last resort. Levomycetin is dangerous for allergy sufferers, so it is better to find out a possible reaction in advance. Also at risk are patients with diabetes, because this antibiotic changes the blood formula, namely the glucose concentration. Levomycetin is contraindicated in young children: it can cause “gray syndrome” (when the skin becomes gray), disrupt the functioning of internal organs, make breathing short, and lower body temperature.

It is not recommended to take the drug for pregnant girls and nursing mothers, patients with eczema, psoriasis, fungal diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, people with unhealthy kidneys and liver.

The main rule for taking chloramphenicol for diarrhea is to consult a doctor or study the instructions in detail.

This is an antibiotic that has a bacteriostatic effect aimed at exterminating pathogenic microflora in the human body. Therefore, it is possible to treat diarrhea with this drug.

Levomycetin for diarrhea (diarrhea) in children

Taking Levomycetin is allowed in childhood, however, the dosage is calculated depending on the age and weight of the small patient. For children under three years of age, the daily dose of the drug is 15 mg per kilogram of body weight. In this case, it should be divided into 3-4 doses. At the age of 3 to 8 years, the daily dosage is 200 mg, and for children over eight years old - 300 mg.

It should be noted that Levomycetin has a rather unpleasant, bitter taste, so taking it in childhood can be difficult. In this case, it is recommended to purchase Levomycetin-actitab, which is completely tasteless, which does not in any way affect its effectiveness.

The admissibility of treating diarrhea with Levomycetin, especially in childhood, is currently causing a lot of controversy. Most experts agree that it should be used only in exceptional cases, when nothing else is available. In this case, you should be prepared for side effects, for example, nausea, vomiting, stool upset, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, general weakness and microflora disturbances in the future. Levomycetin is not a harmless drug, so its use should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist. The lack of treatment results should be the reason for the child’s immediate hospitalization in an infectious diseases hospital, where he will undergo all the necessary diagnostic procedures, which will allow him to develop a different, more effective course of therapy.

Side effects of the drug

The most serious side effect of chloramphenicol taken, which significantly limits the possibility of using the antibiotic, is refractory aplastic anemia. It is manifested by a decrease in the development of all blood cells. This complication occurs in approximately one patient out of 6-12 thousand.

Clinically, it is manifested by severe anemia, a decrease in the body’s resistance to pathogenic microorganisms and the development of secondary infectious processes. There is also a high tendency to bleeding, which is difficult to stop. This complication does not respond to drug therapy and the only treatment option is a bone marrow transplant.

The second dangerous complication of taking chloramphenicol is the development of toxic hepatitis with cytolytic and icteric syndromes.

In this case, symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy arise, and the course of detoxification processes in the body is disrupted.

The development of “gray collapse” has also been described, in which the patient experiences severe respiratory acidosis with a characteristic change in skin color, dysregulation of vital functions in the central nervous system and hemodynamic disorders.

In addition, the following side effects are possible when taking chloramphenicol in adults and children:

• allergic reactions of varying severity;
• disorders of the digestive system (feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea);
• the addition of an infection that is insensitive to the drug;
• headache;
• disorders of the sensory systems (tinnitus, hallucinations, photopsia, taste distortions);
• development of peripheral neuritis with parasthesia, pain syndromes and decreased muscle strength;
• increase in body temperature.

Dosage of the drug, how to use Levomycetin correctly

In each specific case, the duration of treatment, frequency of tablets and dosage are determined only by the attending physician, depending on the severity of the disease and concomitant pathologies. However, the annotation for the drug specifies an approximate treatment regimen. So, adults need to take Levomycetin 250-500 mg every 6-8 hours. In severe cases of the disease, the dose is doubled, but not more than 3 grams of the drug per day. Such treatment should be carried out exclusively in a hospital setting under constant medical supervision. On average, the duration of treatment with Levomycetin is 7-10 days. But if necessary and there are no side effects, the treatment course is extended to two weeks.

Treatment of diarrhea with Levomycetin, how to properly treat diarrhea

Such an unpleasant symptom as diarrhea often occurs as a result of infection of the body with all kinds of pathogenic microorganisms. In this case, the use of Levomycetin is completely justified, because it is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug, and therefore, most pathogens of infectious diseases are sensitive to it. Taking this drug gradually leads to cleansing of the body from bacteria that provoked the appearance of diarrhea, and, accordingly, the loose stool itself stops. However, we should not forget that Levomycetin is an antibiotic, therefore, it is necessary to approach such treatment with all responsibility, namely: maintain equal time intervals between doses of the drug and not stop the course of treatment unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, pathogenic microorganisms become accustomed to the active substance of the drug and the development of a chronic form of the disease is likely.

Analogues for diarrhea

Due to the high risk of intoxication, the presence of side effects and contraindications, after consultation with a doctor, it is possible to replace it with an analogue of Levomycetin. Many of these drugs belong to the group of less aggressive antibiotics. For the treatment of intestinal disorders the following is used:

1. Levomycetin Actitab. Improved version. It is distinguished by the absence of bitterness in taste and a wider spectrum of action.
2. Vilprafen. An antibacterial agent that has virtually no effect on the intestinal microflora. Used in the treatment of diphtheria, genitourinary tract infections, scarlet fever and other infections.
3. Monural. An antibiotic based on fosfomycin, suitable for getting rid of various infections.
4. Tetracycline. It is successfully used in protocols for the treatment of intestinal infections, brucellosis, purulent skin lesions, and various bacterial inflammations.
5. Amoxiclav, amoxicillin - antibacterial drugs based on penicillin, act on staphylococci, brucella, helicobacter, shigella, streptococci, clostridia, salmonella.
6. Gentamicin. A strong antibacterial agent that has a number of contraindications. Used in the treatment of chronic infections when other drugs are ineffective.
7. Sumamed. A drug based on azithromycin. Many microorganisms and bacteria harmful to the gastrointestinal tract are sensitive to it.
8. Rifaximin. Eliminates acute infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract caused by bacteria, “travelers' diarrhea”.
9. Doxycycline. An antibiotic used in the treatment of a large number of diseases, gastrointestinal infections caused by staphylococci, clostridia, E. coli, and salmonella.
10. Ciprofloxacin successfully fights enterococci, campylobacter, chlamydia, shigella and other bacteria.

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The drug can be replaced by drugs with the same active ingredient or with an antibacterial effect. Drug analogues include:

• Levomycetin Actitab, Levomycetin sodium succinate are complete substitutes for medications with the same active ingredient;
• Fluimucil - mucolytic tablets, granules and solution based on acetylcysteine;
• Bactroban - antibacterial cream and ointment containing mupirocin;
• Baneocin - bactericidal powder and ointment based on bacitracin and neomycin;
• Lincomycin – antimicrobial capsules, ointment, solution containing lincomycin;
• Gentamicin is a solution and eye drops from the group of antibiotics based on gentamicin;
• Fucidin - antibacterial cream, ointment containing fusidic acid;
• Neomycin is an antibiotic solution based on the component of the same name.

Levomycetin for children

Of course, only parents can decide which drugs to treat their child with. However, Levomycetin belongs to the group of antibiotics and to take it, you should conduct the necessary laboratory tests, as well as consult with a competent specialist. It is also worth considering the occurrence of side effects, such as urticaria, diarrhea, headache, decreased body defenses, impaired vision and hearing. In addition, only a doctor will be able to take into account all contraindications for taking this drug and prescribe the optimal dosage if necessary. Therefore, you should not self-medicate; a child’s health is not the place for experiments.

Contraindications

In light of the fact that Levomycetin Actitab is a very strong drug, it has a certain number of limitations. In such situations, it is better to refuse treatment with this medication and find a more suitable remedy:

• Individual intolerance to the substances included in the composition;
• Renal dysfunction;
• Pregnancy;
• Certain skin diseases: eczema, psoriasis, fungal diseases;
• Lactation period (breastfeeding);
• Hepatic porphyria;
• Diabetes;
• Prohibited for use in patients under 4 months of age;
• If you have allergies, you should also avoid this medication.

In other cases, the drug is approved for use, but you need to know how to take chloramphenicol for diarrhea, because the course of the disease and the speed of recovery depend on this. If the dosage is chosen incorrectly, it can only cause problems in various body systems.

• Weakened vision;
• Headache;
• Decreased hearing level;
• Depression;
• General weakness;
• Drowsiness;
• Cramps.

• Leukopenia;
• Thrombocytopenia;
• Erythrocytopenia.

Cost of the drug Levormycetin

Demand creates supply - this is how representatives of factories producing Levomycetin explain the strong increase in prices for this drug in recent years. The more than affordable price has increased by 400-500%, which is completely incomprehensible, because on the shelves of pharmacies there is now a large selection of similar medicines, many of which are much more effective. Most likely, the majority of the population of our country buys Levomycetin out of habit, because it has been used for decades and has proven itself well.

Levomycetin reviews of the drug for the treatment of diarrhea

Elena: For as long as I can remember, since childhood, there have been Levomycetin tablets in our home medicine cabinet. And they saved the whole family from diarrhea more than once. Moreover, the hospital was located in another locality and it was not always possible to get there, especially with repeated loose stools. Thus, Levomycetin was our lifesaver and, fortunately, no one in our family ever experienced side effects.

Ivan: Without exaggeration, this drug once saved my life. During a family vacation at sea, my wife and I decided to try cold smoked fish. They took it straight from their hands, of course, there was no question of any quality certificate, but it looked very appetizing. As a result, the next day I began to have severe diarrhea, and, of course, dehydration. It’s good that there were Levomycetin tablets in the medicine cabinet and a few hours after I started taking them, I felt much lighter, and the next day I was able to pack my things and go home. The holiday turned out to be memorable.

Levomycetin reviews

Mitya:

I don’t know how anyone thinks, but I’m sure that chloramphenicol should be in absolutely every first aid kit. This drug is quite effective and efficient, in addition, I have been familiar with it since childhood and am confident in its effectiveness; my parents also do not go on a trip without these pills. At any seaside resort, after you drink the local water, you feel so bad that you don’t even want to live, but these pills always help out. And, by the way, I have never encountered the side effects described on the package insert.

Igor:

My name is Igor, I am already 38 years old, and I want to tell you something about these antibiotics. I don’t want to be dramatic, but if I think soberly, these pills once saved my life. It happened like this. When my wife and I went to a resort village, on the coast of Crimea by the sea, to relax. My wife is a pharmacist. And, already on the first day I just had terrible diarrhea, which was accompanied by vomiting. At first, I tried to hide it, but it didn’t last long, because it was impossible to hide such vomiting. Fortunately, my wife always has a mini-pharmacy with her, not a first aid kit, but a pharmacy. What did she have there, but mostly a bunch of modern drugs. Having taken everything I needed, I “died” within two more days, but the symptoms did not decrease. And only after starting to take chloramphenicol, as the last thing that could help, we successfully packed up home and left. This is how I spent a wonderful weekend with my wife.

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Diarrhea is the popular name for diarrhea, which is characterized by loose, profuse stools, with a frequency of up to 10-15 bowel movements per day. Diarrhea is caused by pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria that enter the human body through:

• unwashed hands;
• stale or unwashed foods consumed as food;
• unboiled water.

Diarrhea is not a dangerous phenomenon for health, but its consequences for the body are dangerous, that is, dehydration. There are other reasons for the appearance of diarrhea in humans, for example, it can be associated with chronic diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's syndrome) and with stress (nervous). But only for diarrhea of ​​infectious etiology can the antibiotic chloramphenicol be used.