The use of a drug is associated with a certain risk. In addition, almost all drugs have a number of contraindications. Therefore, the sensational pharmacological innovations should not be used without prior consultation, or even the full help of doctors. "Avestin" refers to such drugs.
An injection in the eye ( necessary for the best absorption of the medicine ) in this case is performed with the direct assistance of doctors. You will learn about how the procedure is performed, in what cases it is carried out, and what effect it has.
Generalized drug information
"Avestin" is a medicine used in ophthalmology to inhibit the growth of blood vessels. It is prescribed for patients suffering from the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, with diabetic retinopathy and other diseases.
What is the principle of action? When is Avestin used? A description of the drug, indicating the form of release, constituent components, frequency and features of use will help answer all these most common questions.
What pharmacological group does it belong to?
"Avestin" (an injection in the eye with it helps to get rid of the growth of capillary nets and other ailments) refers mainly to antitumor drugs. It is also known as a multichannel antibody that selectively blocks the further growth of old and the appearance of new vascular endothelium. With it, you can stop the division of tumor and cancer cells, as well as restore vision.
A few words about macular degeneration
Since medical terms, like the handwriting of doctors, are difficult for ordinary people to understand, we will try to make them easier and explain in the most accessible language. So, most often this drug is prescribed to patients with a diagnosis of macular degeneration. What is it? And what effect does Avestin have on it? An injection with this drug is performed with the aforementioned medical verdict. But does it give the expected result?
This ailment, doctors say, occurs with age, when irreversible aging processes are already fully launched. However, there are cases when the disease progressed in younger patients. Most often, it occurred against a background of other health problems, for example, with an advanced stage of myopia. What is the cause of this ailment? And what consequences can it lead to?
So, that's what the doctors say about the disease. Over time, degeneration of the walls of the vessels occurs, because of which their number and quantity increase. They themselves are displaced under the retina, begin to press, and later completely destroy the "yellow spot".
Recall that it is exactly what we need for a full view. This spot makes it possible to examine objects in detail, including the smallest elements and additions. It is believed that if you do not use Avestin on time (an injection in the eye in this case will help get rid of possible health problems), further overgrowth of blood vessels can lead to complete blindness. Currently, about 12-15 people out of 1000 suffer from such a disease.
What methods are treated?
Like any other disease, macular degeneration has its own characteristics and stages of development. For example, it is conditionally divided into a “wet” and a “dry” variety. In particular, in the treatment of "wet" macular degeneration, laser therapy is most often used. However, this approach, as practice shows, does not always allow maintaining full vision. The simplest treatment is considered a drug called "Avestin" (an injection in the eye) . Reviews about him give an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of this method in practice.
With "dry" macular degeneration, medication and therapeutic methods can be used. Also for this purpose, patients are prescribed special vitamin preparations.
When is the drug "Avestin" prescribed: indications
This drug can be prescribed for metastatic colorectal cancer (for example, with a tumor of the mammary gland), renal cell tumors, glioblastoma, epithelial cancer of the ovaries, abdominal cavity, and pelvic organs. And, of course, it is a permanent panacea for “wet” macular degeneration and macular degeneration.
In addition, "Avestin" (instructions for use confirms this fact) is assigned as an additional method of treatment. For example, it is used together with chemotherapy. It is also used in tandem with other means, for example, with paclitaxel and interferon.
In a word, this is a wonderful drug that can be easily combined with others. However, any of these systems is usually a doctor. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. Example instructions:
What is included in the composition?
Since the drug is administered through the most vulnerable shell of the eye, its component is as close to natural as possible. So, in his instructions it is said about the following substances: sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, dihydrate trehaloses, anhydrous sodium hydrogen phosphate, polysorbate and water. In its composition, you can also find bevacizumab and other additional substances.
In what forms is it produced?
Avestin is usually sold in cardboard packaging wrapped over a glass container with a tight lid. It is an almost colorless or slightly brownish liquid. It is used as a concentrated solution for infusion or injection. This drug is available in bottles of 100 or 400 mg.
How it works?
Treatment with the drug occurs according to the following principle: the concentrate medicine is diluted with sodium chloride solution, placed in a syringe. Then there is a puncture of the pre-treated place of the eyeball, and the drug is injected through the needle inside. In this case, it is necessary to have time to introduce the drug "Avestin" (an injection in the eye carried out very carefully) in just a few seconds.
After a 60-minute break, a reaction to the drug is expected. If everything went well, re-injection is carried out after this time. With further positive reactions, the waiting time (between infusions) can be reduced to half an hour.
How is the drug dosed?
The drug "Avestin" (analogue of "Lucentis") must be properly dosed. The standard dosage for one procedure is 1.5 mg. A full course of treatment involves the use of the drug for 3-4 months.
Next, the patient is sent for a routine examination. And according to its results, the attending physician may advise to stop or repeat the entire course again. In this case, the well-being of the patient will play a huge role in the future plan of action. For example, if the patient has a visual impairment, then the use of the drug, as a rule, resume.
What contraindications exist?
Anyone who uses the drug "Avestin"!
This drug has contraindications. Therefore, before using this inhibitor, be sure to obtain the approval of a doctor and carefully read the instructions. This must be done in order to avoid possible negative consequences.
So, contraindications to the drug include individual intolerance to any of its components. It is not recommended to use the medicine for problems with the kidneys and liver (in case of pathologies and other types of deviations). It is strictly forbidden to use the drug for pregnant and lactating women, as well as minor children. According to the instructions, the drug is designed for people from 18 years of age.
It is not necessary to prescribe treatment with "Avestin" to people whose eye problems are complicated by various kinds of inflammation and suppuration. The following persons should also take the medicine carefully:
- old age (from 65 years);
- suffering from thrombophlebitis;
- with heart or kidney failure;
- with congenital hemorrhagic diathesis.
What can be replaced?
The most suitable in composition and principle of action of the drug is "Lucentis". However, unlike Avestin, this medicine has a higher price and is used exclusively to treat various eye deviations. Both medicines are sold exclusively by prescription.
What kind of feedback can you hear?
You can hear completely diverse reviews about this drug. He helped someone, but someone was disappointed. For some, the healing process dragged on for a long time. Others complain about a whole list of side effects that they observed during the period of use of the drug. For example, the most common is dysbiosis, acute eye pain, allergic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, spatial disorientation, headaches and redness in the vascular region.
Among the reviews you can find those that talk about the senseless waste of money. According to such users, the drug did not help them at all. For this reason, they did not reuse it. Some refer to the fact that after using the medicine, their eyesight did not improve, but it became, on the contrary, worse. They note the appearance of blurry images, extraneous spots in front of the eyes, swelling and pain in the injection area.