Suprastin, Zodak or Zirtek - which is better for allergies?

Suprastin is a Hungarian drug produced in the form of tablets and injection solution. If the first option can be purchased at a pharmacy freely, then the second one is available only by prescription, since most often it is still used in a hospital setting. The medicine contains chloropyramine as an active ingredient, which belongs to the first generation antihistamines.

Zodak and Zirtek are very similar, the difference is only in the name and manufacturers. Both drugs are available in the form of tablets and drops for oral administration. Medicines can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. Cetirizine in the composition of drugs belongs to the latest generation of antihistamines, has a powerful and relatively safe effect. At the same time, Zirtek is an original drug based on cetirizine, and Zodak is a generic, although of high quality.

Although Suprastin contains one active ingredient, and Zodak and Zyrtec have another, the list of indications for use in drugs is similar, and in many respects even identical. All of them are prescribed for urticaria, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. In indications for use, Zirtek also has Quincke's edema and hay fever, which are not listed in the instructions for the Zodac. Suprastin, in addition to the previously listed symptoms, also helps with reactions to insect bites, acute and chronic eczema, atopic dermatitis, and serum sickness.

Recommendations for the use of drugs by adults and children are detailed in the table.

Suprastin tablets for adults will have to be taken 3-4 times a day, which is a little inconvenient. This dosage form is allowed for children from the age of three, although not every child already knows how to swallow tablets at this time.

Suprastin in the form of a solution for injection is used infrequently. It is allowed to be administered intravenously, but only with severe manifestations of allergies and under the strict supervision of a doctor. In standard situations, intramuscular administration is practiced, which is allowed not only for adults, but can also be used in a child from the age of 1 month.

Recommendations for the use of drugs Zodak and Zirtek are almost identical. Adults only need to take 1 tablet once a day. The same scheme is recommended for children over 6 years old, but in the case of Zodak, the manufacturer suggests dividing the medicine into 2 doses.

Drops for taking Zodak and Zirtek also have practically no difference. This dosage form is aimed primarily at children, but can also be used in adults. You can take both drugs from the age of 6 months, but it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a doctor and according to his prescription.

In children, Zodak and Zirtek in tablet form are prohibited up to 6 years, Suprastin up to 3 years. At the same time, injections with Suprastin can be given to a child from the second month of life, but only for acute indications and under medical supervision.

Analyzing the above information, we conclude that Suprastin is far from the most convenient drug for allergies in terms of comfort of use, but the list of indications is more detailed and understandable for an ordinary person. It is much more convenient to take Zodak or Zirtek once a day, and they are allowed for children from 6 months, but the indications for use are literally single.

Suprastin based on chloropyramine is a classic antihistamine drug from the ethylenediamine group. In addition to antiallergic action, it also has antiemetic and moderate antispasmodic. The effect develops within 15-30 minutes, reaches a maximum by the end of the first hour and lasts for 3-6 hours. It is important that even with prolonged use, the drug does not accumulate in the blood serum, which eliminates the risk of overdose.

Zodak and Zirtek, which contain cetirizine, belong to the latest generation of antihistamines, act more precisely because they have a selective effect. Their action is aimed at blocking histamine H1 receptors and quickly relieving symptoms. The drugs begin to work literally within 20 minutes after ingestion and retain their effect up to 24 hours.

As can be seen from the above, all three drugs begin to work quite quickly, but Zirtek and Zodak are much more effective, because they retain their effect during the day, and Suprastin only for 3-6 hours.

Although Suprastin, Zodak and Zirtek are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, these drugs have many contraindications for use. Before you start taking them, it is extremely important to at least read the annotation, and ideally still consult with your doctor.

Suprastin should not be taken with lactose deficiency and intolerance, acute attacks of bronchial asthma, sensitivity to the components of the drug.With caution, the medicine should be taken by those who have impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver, cardiovascular pathologies, closed glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia and suffer from urinary retention.

Zodak and Zirtek have a list of contraindications almost identical to Suprastin, but it additionally contains epilepsy and increased convulsive readiness. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, all three antihistamines are prohibited for use. Also, each of them is prescribed with caution to elderly patients.

The list of side effects that are described in the annotations to Suprastin, Zodak and Zirtek is quite extensive and can scare many. In fact, the unpleasant consequences of taking each of these drugs occur infrequently, but it is still useful to know about them.

Each of the compared drugs is capable of causing dizziness, headache, fatigue and drowsiness. The last side effect is more typical for Suprastin, but it can also appear when taking its more modern counterparts.

Zodak and Zirtek can cause tachycardia, and Suprastin can also cause arrhythmia, lowering blood pressure. All three drugs have potential ways to affect the digestive system. Against the background of their use, discomfort and pain in the abdomen, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhea, and a change in appetite may occur.Changes in vision, urinary and immune systems are also possible.

All potential side effects that occur while taking these drugs are of a short-term nature and quickly disappear after discontinuation of the drug. Any discomfort from the medicine is a reason to refuse it and go to the doctor to choose another more suitable one.

If we compare the lists of side effects described in the annotations to the analyzed antihistamines, it can be noted that most of them are listed in the instructions for the Zodak, and the least - for Suprastin. But still, given the fact that Suprastin has an indiscriminate effect, it is he who is more likely to cause side effects.

The instructions for Suprastin clearly indicate that the drug can cause drowsiness, dizziness and fatigue, especially at the initial stage of treatment. During this period, it is necessary to give up driving a car, as well as managing potentially dangerous mechanisms, work with which requires increased concentration of attention.

Zodak and Zyrtec, when used at the recommended dose, should not cause adverse reactions that could affect the ability to drive vehicles. However, in some individual cases, the appearance of drowsiness during the reception is still possible. If such a symptom is observed, then it is better to stop driving a car for a while.

A package of 20 Suprastin tablets costs from 120 to 145 rubles in different pharmacies. Considering that 3-4 tablets are to be taken per day, treatment during the day will cost 20-26.5 rubles. Suprastin for injections is sold at a price of 129 to 156 rubles for 5 ampoules. 1-2 injections per day will cost 29-58 rubles.

10 Zodak tablets cost from 150 to 164 rubles. One tablet is enough per day for an adult, which costs an average of 15.7 rubles. 20 ml of Zodak in the form of drops for oral administration cost from 160 to 180 rubles. Since one dose of 20 drops is enough per day (this is an average of 1 ml), the cost of treatment for one day will be only 8.5 rubles.

Zyrtec is available in packs of 7, 20 and 30 tablets. The average format of 20 tablets costs from 203 to 225 rubles. Zirtek in drops costs an average of 178 rubles. for 20 ml, 1 tablet per day will cost 10.7 rubles, and taking drops at 8.7 rubles.

Although the packaging of Suprastin in tablets is the cheapest, in the end it will cost more to take it, because you need to drink 3-4 tablets per day versus 1 tablet from Zodak or Zirtek. The most cost-effective is Zyrtec.

Zirtek and Zodak in drops are a little less popular than in tablets, but at the same time, they are much more cost-effective than the tablet form of these drugs. Their daily intake will cost only 8.7 and 8.5 rubles, respectively.

Based on the reviews of doctors that we found on the websites of Doctors.rf and Protabletky.ru, we can conclude that each of the compared drugs cannot be called ideal. According to the results of the comparison, Zodak receives the highest average score, although he was not rated very highly on the Vrachi.rf website.

All three drugs get pretty high ratings from those who have ever taken them to treat allergies. But absolutely on all the sites that we took for analysis, people rated the Zodak higher than others. Although it is worth noting that the difference in estimates with other drugs is not so high.

If we analyze the number of reviews on the sites Yandex.Market, Otzovik, IRecommend and Otabletkah, we get the following picture:

• Suprastin - 918 reviews;
• Zodak - 1221 reviews;
• Zyrtec - 685 reviews.

Here, the leader is also the Zodak, which people discussed more often than other allergy remedies. But the situation with user requests in the Yandex search service looks a little different:

• Suprastin - 350,050 requests per month;
• Zodak - 221,866 requests per month;
• Zyrtec - 160,485 requests per month.

Given these data, it can be judged that people are more likely to look for information about Suprastin, and least often about Zirtek. It should be noted that in general, all three drugs are very popular.

According to the results of the comparison of antihistamines, according to nine criteria, Zyrtec medicine wins with a small margin. In its properties and characteristics, it differs slightly from the Zodak, which has a similar composition, but is not the original, but a generic.

Zodak scores are also quite high. At the same time, he became the winner of the National and Medical ratings, but he still could not get the status of a leader. This does not in any way mean that the medicine is bad or worse than the original analogue.

Suprastin is a first-generation antihistamine, incredibly popular, quite effective, but no longer able to compete with more modern drugs. It is also more expensive at a price, taking into account the need for at least three doses, and gives more side effects, and does not have a form of release in the form of drops that is convenient for children.

When choosing an allergy drug for an adult or a child, the results of our comparison can be used for informational purposes only. In each case, different drugs show the best efficiency, and only a doctor's consultation will help make the right choice.