During pregnancy, the body of the expectant mother undergoes significant changes, which are expressed not only in a growing tummy, but also in a serious hormonal imbalance. As a result of hormonal changes in the body, a woman experiences sudden changes in mood, deterioration in well-being, digestive and stool disorders. Such symptoms can also occur in completely healthy people.
Many pregnant women are concerned about toxicosis, which can occur both in early and late stages of pregnancy and is expressed in the form of nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. These symptoms can be eliminated with the help of special medications, for example, smecta. Is it possible to take smecta during pregnancy and will taking the medicine harm you and your unborn child?
Smecta - description of the drug
Smecta is a medicinal product based on an active substance called dioctahedral smectite of plant origin, which has a pronounced absorbent effect.
The medication is available in the form of a powder, packaged in sachets weighing 3 g. Smecta looks like a gray, white or yellowish powder with a pleasant vanilla aroma and sweet taste. The medicinal powder must be diluted with water and consumed in the form of a suspension. It is recommended to drink smecta one sachet at a time - this is a one-time dose that helps eliminate heartburn, nausea, chronic or acute diarrhea, flatulence, and pain in the stomach. Smecta for heartburn during pregnancy is the best option for quickly and safely getting rid of nausea .
Characteristics of the drug
Smecta is an antidiarrheal drug that has an adsorbing effect. The medicine promotes the production of gastric mucus, which prevents the interaction of the gastric mucosa with hydrochloric acid. The product is completely of natural origin, is not absorbed, is excreted from the body in its original form, and does not stain the stool.
The active substance - diosmectite - is a compound of magnesium silicate with aluminum. Auxiliary ingredients: glucose monohydrate, sodium saccharin, vanilla or orange flavorings.
The medical product is produced in small sachets, with a total composition of 10 or 30 pieces per package. The cost of a small package barely exceeds 100 rubles, and a large one - 300. The drug is a fine whitish-gray powder with a sweetish taste. Features of Smecta's action:
- neutralization, restoration of the functioning of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract;
- preventing the action of pathogenic factors on the mucous membrane;
- adsorption of toxic substances (while beneficial compounds and salts remain intact).
Indications for use and principle of action of smecta
It is a popular drug that is widely used to restore water balance in the body and eliminate problems with digestion and stool..
Smecta during pregnancy is used in the following cases:
- Stool disorders, diarrhea. Smecta for diarrhea in pregnant women is one of the most effective remedies, fast-acting and completely safe for the growing fetus.
- The drug is used for poisoning, as well as digestive disorders caused by viruses, microbes or infection.
- Diarrhea associated with long-term use of medications, or resulting from an allergic reaction.
- The medicine is used for heartburn, which can occur during any month of pregnancy.
- The drug prevents dehydration of the body, helps reduce increased gas formation and quickly eliminate accumulated waste and toxins.
The drug is distinguished by its pronounced enveloping properties, which provide reliable protection for the damaged mucous surface of the stomach . In addition, smecta promotes increased production of special protective mucus, which protects the delicate mucous tissue of the stomach from the aggressive effects of acid.
Smecta effectively reduces the production of hydrochloric acid and promotes the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This drug is an excellent sorbent that accelerates the removal of harmful substances, waste and toxins from the body.
Smecta during pregnancy
Smecta during pregnancy is used to eliminate common problems such as heartburn, nausea, flatulence, and stool disorders . But no matter how useful the properties of the absorbent are, smecta, like any other drug, should never be taken by a pregnant woman on her own. All medications are prescribed by a doctor based on an analysis of the physiological state of the expectant mother, as well as the characteristics of her health condition.
Is smecta used for toxicosis in pregnant women? Doctors answer this question positively. The main advantage of the medicine is that it is as natural, safe and gentle as possible.
When consumed, smecta has a direct effect exclusively on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, without affecting other internal organs. Thanks to this, the active components do not penetrate the child’s body and have absolutely no effect on him.
In the initial stages of pregnancy, a woman’s body adapts to the fact that it is now in a new position - bearing a new life.
As a result of this adaptation process, various reactions from the nervous and digestive systems may occur. Smecta during early pregnancy has a mild therapeutic effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helps eliminate gastric infections and eliminate toxins naturally. The medicine helps the stomach get rid of viruses and infections due to the enhanced production of a protective base that covers the gastric mucosa. In addition, the suspension helps balance the level of hydrochloric acid, which allows it to effectively combat the symptoms of nausea, heartburn and flatulence.
Smecta quickly and painlessly eliminates unpleasant sensations. The medicine contains active ingredients that protect and restore the gastric mucosa . In addition, the drug has a powerful antacid effect, which reduces gastric acid. And this helps eliminate unpleasant phenomena such as heartburn or bloating.
Smecta during late pregnancy is the optimal solution for expectant mothers who are concerned about late toxicosis. The rapidly growing fetus puts intense pressure on the walls of the stomach and other internal organs, causing discomfort and unpleasant sensations. A characteristic manifestation of toxicosis in late pregnancy is nausea, vomiting, heaviness and bloating. The medicine effectively combats all these unpleasant phenomena, returning the expectant mother to excellent health and good mood.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
What is Smecta?
Wikipedia states that dioctahedral smectite is a mixed silicate (or, according to other sources, a mixed oxide) of magnesium and aluminum of natural origin.
The action of the drug is aimed at binding and removing various substances (including toxic) and gases from the digestive tract.
Pharmacodynamics
Diosmectite has a stereometric structure and is a highly plastic viscous substance.
These properties explain the selectivity of the sorption effect of the drug (Smecta selectively adsorbs viruses and bacteria of the digestive canal ) and the high enveloping ability relative to the mucous membrane of the digestive canal .
By interacting with mucin glycoproteins (mucosal secretion of the gastrointestinal tract) and forming polyvalent bonds with them, diosmectite increases the cytoprotective properties of mucus and, consequently, its resistance to irritants: bile salts, hydrogen ions (hydrochloric acid), pathogenic microorganisms, the toxins they produce and other aggressive factors .
Blind randomized studies of the effectiveness of the drug compared to placebo , which included 602 patients aged 1 month to 3 years with a diagnosis of acute diarrhea , showed that in the group receiving Smecta in combination with oral rehydration solutions, the frequency of bowel movements was significantly reduced over the course of first 72 hours.
Pharmacokinetics
Aluminum contained in smectite is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, including in diseases of the digestive tract, which are accompanied by symptoms of colonopathy and colitis .
Dioctahedral smectite is characterized by a slight swelling effect, in therapeutic doses does not change the physiological time of passage of food through the intestines, does not stain feces, is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged.
The drug is x-ray transparent.
Mode of application
How should pregnant women take smecta?
In no case should you prescribe the medicine yourself, as the risk of an allergic reaction or individual intolerance cannot be excluded. The drug is available in powder form with a natural and safe composition, with a pleasant vanilla or orange flavor. That is why smecta is approved for the treatment of not only pregnant women, but also newborn babies. The drug is available in a practical and convenient form - in 3 g sachets. A smecta sachet must be dissolved in a glass of warm still water, gently stirring with a teaspoon so that all lumps are completely dissolved . For heartburn, the drug can be taken 5-10 minutes after eating. In case of upset stool, flatulence or nausea, Smecta should be taken an hour after meals.
The optimal dose of the drug is determined by the attending physician and most often varies within 1-3 sachets over 3-4 days. This dosage may vary depending on the condition of the pregnant woman. In case of minor symptoms of heartburn, nausea or diarrhea, it is enough to take one sachet throughout the day.
According to the instructions, the suspension is allowed to be taken throughout all trimesters of pregnancy and breastfeeding , since the drug is completely harmless to the body of a pregnant woman. Depending on the severity of the disease, the course of treatment can range from 3 to 5 days. As a rule, this period is quite enough to eliminate all digestive problems and restore health to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Next, you need to take a break for 6-10 days, after which, if necessary, repeat the course of treatment. The extent to which a repeated course of taking smecta is necessary should be decided together with your doctor.
Instructions
Smecta is a powdered medicine based on dioctahedral smectite. This substance is of natural origin. The drug has a multifaceted effect. During pregnancy, Smecta can be taken either once or in a course, depending on the severity of the circumstances. When prescribing a medicine, the doctor is obliged to prescribe its dosage, which will not be suitable for you personally.
But one should not ignore the fact that the use of Smecta during pregnancy and other drugs or food should be carried out separately, with an interval of at least 1.5-2 hours. An exception to this rule is esophagitis. Then Smecta should be drunk immediately after meals. To prepare the medicine, you need to dissolve the contents of the package in 0.5 cups of warm water. The powder must be poured into the liquid, and not vice versa. This way the solution will be homogeneous.
Contraindications and side effects
Despite the fact that smecta is a completely natural and safe drug, like any medicine, it has a list of contraindications for which the use of the drug is strictly not recommended.
For example, the medicine is strictly not recommended for use by pregnant women who have problems with intestinal patency or a tendency to constipation . In such cases, the medication can only be taken according to the strict instructions of the doctor and in the recommended dosage. The most common side effect of the drug is constipation - this is due to the antidiarrheal effect of the drug.
A common problem that accompanies late pregnancy is constipation. If a pregnant woman has this problem, it is better to stop taking smecta and replace it with another drug with a similar principle of action.
Smecta is an effective and safe drug that helps eliminate many digestive problems and improve the well-being of a pregnant woman. The medicine does not have any effect on the growing fetus , but before using it you should definitely consult a doctor, since the risk of an allergic reaction or individual intolerance can never be ruled out.
Side effects
Negative consequences when taking Smecta are rare and mild. However, in some cases it is possible to develop:
- Constipation - goes away after discontinuing the drug, reducing the dosage or frequency of administration.
- Allergic manifestations - a rash is possible, especially when choosing a drug with fruit fillers. Urticaria, itching, and Quincke's edema are also likely to occur.
- Vitamin deficiency - occurs when intake standards and course duration are exceeded. Since the drug adsorbs not only harmful substances, but also useful components - vitamins, minerals. In this case, taking multivitamins is indicated.
Pregnancy is characterized by a physiological decrease in peristalsis of the digestive tract. This causes stool retention. Taking Smecta, for example, to eliminate heartburn, can aggravate the situation, causing chronic constipation. For the same reason, you should not take the drug for hemorrhoids. In order not to cause an exacerbation of the pathology.
