"Arbidol" during pregnancy: indications and instructions for use

Arbidol is a domestically produced antiviral immunomodulatory drug, which is considered to be conditionally safe. It is sold in any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription and is prescribed from the age of 3. But pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life, during which even seemingly safe medications can negatively affect the development and health of the unborn baby. Therefore, doctors have mixed opinions regarding the use of Arbidol during pregnancy.

Despite the fact that this drug has been produced by the pharmaceutical industry for a relatively long time (about 20 years), its effect on the human body has not been fully studied. The instructions do not provide precise information about whether Arbidol can be taken during pregnancy. This suggests that the necessary clinical trials on women during pregnancy were not carried out.

Fever during pregnancy and other cold symptoms

However, if an increase in temperature during pregnancy is accompanied by symptoms of illness, then you should definitely consult your doctor.
Based on the tests, he will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. In any case, ARVI in women who are in an “interesting” situation should be treated with folk remedies, not antibiotics. As a last resort, doctors prescribe antiviral drugs, but the balance of harm and benefit must be taken into account.

A cold during pregnancy, if not treated correctly, can negatively affect the health of your future baby.

Remember that colds are worst experienced in early pregnancy, when the baby is just beginning to form. Therefore, during this period it is necessary to be extremely attentive and careful, and try not to travel in public transport or visit crowded places.

Treatment of colds during pregnancy should be accompanied by proper and fortified nutrition so that women's immunity increases.

For example, if a pregnant woman has a sore throat, she should constantly gargle it with a decoction of oak, calendula, sage or calendula.

Thus, pregnant women need to take their well-being seriously, because she bears enormous responsibility for the health of her unborn child.

Reviews about the drug

It is impossible to talk about the drug as an effective viral agent, since the statements of many doctors make one doubt its effect. Experts say that antiviral drugs do not exist at all.

For an expectant mother, if she uses a chemical drug, it is important to know that it will really help. Having studied forum pages where pregnant women spoke negatively about the effect of the drug or did not notice any effect, mothers look for alternative medications or go to another doctor who will prescribe a more effective medication.

In order not to think about the question of whether Arbidol can be taken by pregnant women, the expectant mother should worry about her health in advance. Planning pregnancy in this sense is very important, because the more a woman pays attention to strengthening her immune system before conception, the lower the risk of contracting a viral infection while carrying a baby.

Prevention

What you definitely shouldn’t do is take Arbidol for prevention. Although many forums advise: if you don’t want to get sick, feel free to take pills for prevention. Don't trust the advice of non-professionals. Arbidol is a medicine. And quite strong. These are not vitamins or nutritional supplements. Moreover, it is not recommended to take it for the first 2-3 months at all. Even in the case of a cold or flu: too dangerous. What can we say about prevention?

By the way, this drug is prohibited for small children under 3 years of age, especially infants: they are too defenseless. What can we say about the fetus in the mother’s belly?

Although Arbidol is not toxic, it stimulates the immune system, or rather the system that responds to hormonal levels. During pregnancy, it is extremely dangerous to interfere in any way with the activity of already raging hormones. And it is quite difficult to predict in advance how the immune system will react to interference in its activities.

Composition and active substance

Arbidol contains:

Arbidol tablets, coated from white to white with a creamy tint, biconvex shape, 2 layers are visible on the cross section 1 tablet contains arbidol (ethyl ester 6-bromo-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-2-phenylthiomethylindol- 3-carboxylic acid hydrochloride monohydrate) 0.05 g excipients: methylcellulose, potato starch, calcium stearate, stearic acid, sugar, polyvinylpyrrolidone, aerosil, basic magnesium carbonate, talc, titanium dioxide pigment, beeswax. Arbidol yellow or yellow and white capsules 1 capsule contains arbidol (ethyl ester 6-bromo-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-2-phenylthiomethylindole-3-carboxylic acid hydrochloride monohydrate) 0.1 g.

Arbidol during pregnancy

As you know, many expectant mothers have a negative attitude towards the treatment of any disease with drugs. And with good reason: most of them are potentially harmful in their position. However, during the entire period of pregnancy, rarely does anyone manage to avoid getting sick. Most often, expectant mothers suffer from viral diseases transmitted by airborne droplets. A drug such as arbidol is commonly prescribed for the treatment and prevention of influenza and ARVI.

Is it possible to take Arbidol during pregnancy?

Arbidol is an effective immunostimulant and antiviral drug. It was developed back in the seventies and immediately became a popular remedy for combating viral infections. However, the drug is currently considered obsolete. In 2007, at a meeting of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, a decision was made to withdraw arbidol from sale, but this did not lead to results, since this medicine is actively prescribed by doctors for the treatment of influenza and other viral diseases and infections. It is worth noting that in Western Europe and the USA the drug is prohibited for use and sale. Despite such not entirely pleasant words about arbidol, in fact it copes with its responsibilities quite effectively, and does so almost completely safely. Since we are considering arbidol for pregnancy, then it is worth citing an excerpt from the instructions for use of the drug: Pregnancy and lactation: Data on the use of Arbidol during pregnancy and during breastfeeding are not provided. This information suggests that clinical trials of the drug aimed at finding out how it affects pregnancy and fetus were not carried out. However, as many years of medical practice show, the use of arbidol during pregnancy does not lead to pathologies in the development of the fetus. Like many things in the USSR, arbidol was released into free circulation and tested on real patients. Be that as it may, doctors quite often prescribe this medicine for the treatment of viral diseases, as well as for their prevention. The action of the drug is to suppress the protein shells of microorganisms, thereby reducing their activity and depriving colonies of viral pathogens of the opportunity to multiply.

Arbidol is used to treat the following diseases:

1. Influenza A and B.2. ARVI, including those complicated by bronchitis and tracheitis.3. Complex therapy for acute intestinal diseases.4. Immunodeficiency states.5. Complex therapy of chronic bronchitis, herpes infection, pneumonia.6. Immunomodulation.7. Prevention and treatment of postoperative viral diseases. It is worth noting that the drug has virtually no contraindications for use. The main problem that you may encounter when taking arbidol is individual intolerance to any components of the drug. A noteworthy fact is that arbidol does not belong to category A drugs, which means that the drug is officially prohibited during pregnancy. However, if there are indications, the doctor still has the right to prescribe you treatment with arbidol

To do this, he will definitely weigh all the risks and find out whether the benefits of taking arbidol during pregnancy will cover its possible harm. Please note that arbidol is available freely, without a prescription. But under no circumstances start taking the medicine on your own! Before using the drug, be sure to read the instructions and consult your doctor

Arbidol during pregnancy 3rd trimester

If in the second trimester the baby actively increased its height, then from now on active weight gain will begin. The improvement of facial features and internal organs continues, the baby is becoming more and more like a newborn baby.

It is extremely undesirable to get sick close to the expected date of birth. During labor, a woman needs all the strength her body has, and poor health can significantly complicate the process - at best. Depending on the type of disease and the severity of its course, a newly born baby may become infected with all the ensuing consequences.

Therefore, at the very first symptoms of the disease, even barely noticeable ones, the expectant mother should urgently run to the doctor and take all necessary measures, perhaps even the use of Arbidol and other powerful drugs that can put her back on her feet in a short time.

When is the drug prescribed to pregnant women?

Indications for the use of Arbidol are the following conditions:

• influenza type A or B;
• with severe acute respiratory syndrome of viral etiology;
• secondary immunodeficiency;
• pneumonia, bronchitis (together with other drugs);
• preventing relapses of herpes;
• treatment of rotavirus intestinal diseases.

"Arbidol" during pregnancy is allowed to be used for influenza, but doctors prescribe the drug for other diseases that correspond to the indications for use in the instructions. For example, for the complex treatment of herpes, there are very few drugs approved for use in pregnant women. And “Arbidol” is considered a relatively safe drug that can reduce the risk of intrauterine damage to the fetus.

Rotavirus is often accompanied by large volumes of fluid loss, which is very dangerous during pregnancy. The need to quickly eliminate viruses also forces doctors to prescribe Arbidol.

A sore throat suffered during pregnancy is fraught with malformations of the fetal cardiovascular system. The symptoms of the disease are acute, body temperature often rises to alarming levels. "Arbidol" for sore throat helps relieve symptoms and speedy recovery of the pregnant woman.

Arbidol during pregnancy

So, to begin with, every pregnant woman should know: there is a common opinion, which is growing stronger in the eyes of the public every day, that antiviral, and especially immunomodulatory drugs do not exist in nature. Each virus requires its own individual period to pass through all stages up to self-destruction. There is even a saying: “If the virus is not treated, it will go away in a week, and if treated, then in 7 days.” What is it for? To ensure revenue for pharmaceutical companies - this is what supporters of this version believe. And all these antiviral drugs, of which there are more and more every day, belong to the category of drugs with unproven effectiveness. An active supporter of this position is the respected pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky, who posts a lot of material in support of it on his official website.

However, if some drug has already helped you in the past, and you can confidently say that it was thanks to it that you got back on your feet earlier or endured it easier than usual, well, such an opinion also has a place to be.

Be that as it may, expectant mothers should still try to avoid drugs like Arbidol, especially without a doctor’s prescription. The fact is that clinical trials have shown that taking it does not cause any harm to the embryo, but not a human one, but an animal one. Such experiments have not been carried out on people, so no one can say anything with 100% probability. It acts at the cellular level, and this makes us think about the potential risk for the development of the baby. The manufacturers themselves indicate in the instructions that taking pills during pregnancy is only possible if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the unborn baby.

Rules for taking the drug

• Do not take the drug without consulting a doctor. This is very dangerous both for the woman and for the intrauterine development of the baby. Only a specialist can assess the possible risks and expected effect of taking the drug.
• It is necessary to refrain from taking medications in the first trimester of pregnancy, when all the child’s organs are forming, as well as the active development of the nervous system. The second and third trimester are more favorable for taking medications.
• A single dose should not be higher than 200 mg. During pregnancy, you can take no more than 4 tablets (50 mg each) per day.
• If after 2 days of taking the medication no improvement is observed, you should inform your doctor. Perhaps the medicine did not work and needs to be replaced with another.
• If allergic reactions occur while taking Arbidol, you should immediately seek medical help. This condition is extremely dangerous for the fetus.

Let's sum it up

By and large, there is no clear answer to the question: “Is it possible to take Arbidol during pregnancy.” Unfortunately, in the age of technology, not only everyday items are advertised, but also medicines, among which the same competition as in other markets is actively developing. The most important thing is to avoid taking Arbidol and other medications in the first trimester of pregnancy, and then everything is not so scary and dangerous. Whatever happens, don’t be nervous - after all, it’s rare for anyone to survive without a single disease for the entire 9 months, and absolutely healthy babies are born. Remember that everything will pass, and this too will pass. Be healthy!

Arbidol for children, adults, during pregnancy, instructions for use of the drug

· You will need to read: 8 minutes

The cold is one of the most common human diseases, which is associated with a decrease in immune strength, hypothermia, and virus attack. Numerous studies have shown that a cold treated in time does not cause complications.

But if the disease is started and the body is not helped to resist bacteria and viruses, then it gives complications in the form of bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, sinusitis, sinusitis

It is very important to start treatment on time. For this purpose, there are dozens of drugs with antiviral and immunostimulating properties.

The drug Arbidol is a drug for the treatment of influenza and colds, as well as their prevention. Manufacturer – Russian Federation. Arbidol release form: capsules, tablets. The first are available in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg. Arbidol tablets are found in blisters of 10 pcs. or in jars from 10 to 40 pcs.

This medicine is widely used as its effectiveness has been proven. Studies have shown that among patients who took this drug as treatment, the percentage of complications or exacerbations of chronic ailments after an acute respiratory illness decreased significantly.

Arbidol is a very popular medicine, as it is used from the prevention stage

What does Arbidol help with?

If you study the composition of the drug Arbidol, its main active ingredient is umifenovir. This is an active substance that increases the body's immune strength at the cellular level.

The active substance arbidol - umifenovir is characterized by blocking a protein that affects the attachment of the virus to the membrane of human cells. This protein is called hemagglutinin. With strong immunity, its action is blocked by human interferon, which is produced by the body. But with weakened forces, the virus manages to gain a foothold in cells and begin its development.

Ardidol tablets or capsules are best used in the early stages of a cold, which is characterized by chills, headache, and worsening nasal breathing.

At the initial stage of development of the disease, the human body has not yet activated its immune forces, and the drug helps prevent the virus from developing, activating defense and blocking the ability of the microorganism to attach to a human cell. Doctors call the following indications for the use of the drug:

• early stages of acute respiratory illness;
• treatment of herpetic rashes;
• in complex therapy of viral pneumonia;
• in the treatment of rotavirus diseases affecting the gastrointestinal system;
• influenza (type A, B).

After taking the drug, its complete absorption and pharmacological action begins in part of the small intestine. Helps produce human interferon, launching the body's immune system.

Arbidol is also used as a prophylaxis against colds during flu epidemics and acute respiratory diseases. If a patient has a bacterial infection of the nasopharynx, then the effect of the drug can only be effective when used together with other antibacterial agents.

This medicine tens of times reduces possible complications after a viral infection and the manifestations of intoxication during the acute period of the disease. The disease passes faster, and the patient does not need much time to restore vitality.

The drug helps fight the virus

Arbidol as an antiviral drug

The instructions for use of the drug say that this medicine is antiviral, which has a good therapeutic effect when used in a timely manner. Its action is narrowly specific and acts only against microorganisms of viral etiology. After administration, the drug begins to act. This happens in several stages.

1. The capsule with the active substance enters the small intestine, where it dissolves and umifenovir granules are released.
2. Contact with the epithelium activates immune cells, suppressing and blocking the work of the hemagglutin protein, which helps attach the virus cell to the cell membrane of the human body.
3. After this, the drug enters the bloodstream, which transports it to the bone marrow.
4. As you know, it is in the bone marrow that special blood cells are produced that are responsible for human immunity. The drug stimulates the production of special blood cells - lymphocytes, which fight virus-infected cells.
5. Secondary immune defense is formed through the interaction of the active substance with hepatocytes. This helps reduce the possibility of weakened but not yet cleared viral cells re-entering.

Role in the fight against viruses

The drug "Arbidol" is an antiviral drug with an immunomodulatory effect. The active ingredient is umifenovir.

• Effect on viruses. "Arbidol" is an inhibitor of the process of fusion of the lipid membrane of the virus with the cell membranes of epithelial tissues and internal organs. The mechanism of action is the binding of viral hemagglutinin. The drug slows down the spread of the virus through organs and tissues, as a result, it reduces the number of cells affected by the virus and reduces the risk of developing complications of a viral infection.
• Effect on immunity. "Arbidol" increases the speed of humoral reactions that provide an immune response. The drug stimulates and accelerates the natural production of interferon, and also activates the work of the body’s defenders - T-helpers and killer cells. Improves phagocytosis by stimulating macrophage activity. This effect primarily affects the frequency of exacerbations and the severity of chronic diseases of infectious origin.

During pregnancy, both mechanisms of antiviral action are important. Slowing the spread of the virus reduces the risk of it damaging the tissues and organs of the fetus in the womb. The immunomodulatory effect has a positive effect on the patient’s condition and reduces the likelihood of complications of acute respiratory infections due to bacterial infections against the background of a physiological decrease in immunity caused by an increase in the concentration of progesterone in the blood.

Arbidol during pregnancy. Precautionary measures

Even if you are not pregnant, prevention is always better than cure! Therefore, the following recommendations are suitable for everyone, but expectant mothers should pay special attention to them:

1. Of course, you should first of all be attentive to your surroundings, especially during an outbreak of the next flu. Namely, do not visit places with large crowds of people! And even more so, you should limit yourself from contact with sick or sick people. If one of your loved ones gets sick, isolate them if possible, and when in contact, both wear masks; fortunately, they are now sold in any pharmacy. Ventilate the room more often so that viruses have no place to multiply.
2. In general, it is worth ventilating always and everywhere, if possible. Even if you yourself feel the first symptoms, you should not lie in the same room without leaving it at all. Make it a rule - while you are in one room, the other is being ventilated.
3. Another indicator that is no less important is air humidity. With cool, humid air, the chances of getting sick are significantly reduced.
4. Walk more - physical activity and, of course, the presence of fresh air are important here, and this has a beneficial effect on the condition and development of the baby.
5. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits, they contain many important vitamins that support immunity.
6. Expectant mothers are usually prescribed special multivitamin complexes - they contain everything to support the immune system and the proper development of the baby. Example - Femibion ​​1 or 2.

ethnoscience

The concept of traditional medicine is very broad and sometimes specific.

But speaking about the expectant mother, it is important not to go too far and follow only the principles of common sense. That is, do not drink medicinal and seemingly harmless decoctions, for example

Some of them can cause uterine tone and cause miscarriage or premature birth.

1. Ventilating and humidifying the room has become even more important!
2. Drink plenty of warm drinks even through “I don’t want to.” And the closer its temperature is to the body temperature of the sick person, the sooner the liquid is absorbed by the body. Fruit drinks, teas with lemon, honey or raspberry jam are perfect!
3. Bed rest and no going to work, even if you really need to! From now on, responsibility lies with the woman not only for her own health, but also for the health of the unborn baby.
4. Even if it gets better, don't rush. You always need to get quality treatment, and only then return to your old life. Surely there have been situations in everyone’s life when, at the first improvement, they abandoned all treatment and plunged headlong into work. Then they developed complications and took much longer to be treated.

By and large, that's all. Remember that from now on health comes first!

Arbidol during pregnancy in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester

Is it possible to use Arbidol during pregnancy?

With the onset of cold weather, the risk of getting sick increases, and no one is immune from this. Pregnant women have the hardest time, because their immunity is so vulnerable. What makes the situation worse is that during pregnancy any medications are, to put it mildly, undesirable, especially in the 1st trimester.

However, most often it is very difficult to cope with a cold using improvised means, and the possible complications are frightening. As a result, expectant mothers have a question about which medications can be taken and which ones should be avoided.

Now a popular and quite effective drug is Arbidol during pregnancy. But is it possible to take it? This is what we will talk about.

Pharmacological description

Arbidol is a strong antiviral medicine that stimulates the body's protective functions during illness. Developed in the 70s of the twentieth century, it became very popular among the population. Although there were periods when Arbidol was banned, a little later it began to appear on pharmacy shelves again.

The active components of the drug reduce the activity and inhibit pathogens, which does not allow virus colonies to multiply.

The drug should be taken only at the beginning of the disease, as soon as the first symptoms appear. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that in the “height” of the disease, the appointment of Arbidol will be useless.

Indications for use

Having assessed the woman’s condition, the doctor may prescribe Arbidol during pregnancy in the following cases:

• correction of weakened immunity;
• ARVI;
• flu;
• treatment of postoperative conditions;
• acute intestinal infections;
• tracheitis, bronchitis.

Arbidol has almost no contraindications; however, there is a risk of an allergic reaction due to individual intolerance to the components of the medication. The doctor can prescribe it after analyzing the whole picture, the expected benefits and taking into account the condition of the expectant mother. We should not forget that in the first trimester of pregnancy you should be especially careful.

Relevant to know

If questions arise about the correctness of taking Arbidol during pregnancy, you need to analyze its effect on the expectant mother in more detail:

• It is impossible to say with absolute certainty that this drug is harmless during pregnancy, because clinical trials have not been conducted on this issue.
• Experts say that Arbidol taken during pregnancy treats the pathological condition, but does not improve immunity. You should be careful about this when starting a course of treatment.
• The drug, affecting the human body at the cellular level, prompts thoughts about the health of the unborn child.
• During pregnancy, the benefit of the medicine is not so high, because it only alleviates the symptoms of the disease.
• A doctor can prescribe a drug with full confidence in its effectiveness only if the cause of the disease is category A influenza. In this case, Arbidol will help the expectant mother recover faster.

Rules for taking the drug

• It is strictly not recommended to take Arbidol without consulting a specialist and contrary to its instructions for use. This is unsafe for both the mother and her unborn baby. Only a doctor can accurately determine the benefits and consequences of using the medication.
• You also need to refrain from using Arbidol in the first trimester of pregnancy, because then the nervous system develops and the internal organs of the child are formed. It is safer to use the drug in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
• During pregnancy, it is recommended to take no more than 4 tablets (50 mg one) during the day, the dose of the drug per day is 200 mg.
• If after two days of using the medicine there is no improvement, you should stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor for further advice. There is a possibility that the medicine is not effective, and it is more advisable to replace it with another one.
• If an allergic reaction occurs while taking Arbidol, you should immediately consult a doctor. This condition is very dangerous for the health of the unborn child.

Price variations and analogues

Arbidol can be purchased at almost any pharmacy without a prescription. The average cost is 165-185 rubles.

Aflubin, Imunostat, Remantadine, Kagocel, Arbivir have the same antiviral effect. These medications are very effective in the treatment and prevention of viral diseases.

The cost of Arbivir and Imunostat is approximately the same as Arbidol, and the composition is almost the same

But you need to pay attention that during pregnancy it is better not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor who will select the right drug without risk to health

Contraindications and side effects

Arbidol, like any other drug, has contraindications, including:

1. Individual intolerance to individual components of this product.
2. Severe diseases of the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system.

Over the entire long history of using Arbidol, no obvious side effects have been found. The only possible problem is an allergic reaction to the drug.

I drank even while lactating. The pediatrician at the hospital said it was possible.

Nick and avatar

https://otvet.mail.ru/question/46125120

During pregnancy, I took arbidol for a cold. I don’t know how harmful it is or not, but it didn’t affect my baby’s health in any way.

ne_Angel

https://otvet.mail.ru/question/30056563

When I was 8 months old I came down with the flu, so the doctor told me to bring down the temperature only with children’s paracetamol and only above 38.5, plus drink a lot of sour drinks and walk as much as possible! That is, just walk around the room, do not lie down, so as not to cause complications in the lungs. She walked with force, or rather, she crawled. I only took a couple of paracetamol tablets. Three days later she was completely sane and without consequences for the baby. But the effect of arbidol is rather meaningless, if not dangerous for the baby. And if you have a cold, then hitting the body with arbidol is not at all justified.

Virinea

https://www.nn.ru/community/my_baby/my_baby/?do=read&thread=591047&topic_id=11306504&year=2008

There are antiviral drugs that are allowed during pregnancy. Why take the risk and take drugs that are not recommended during pregnancy if there are approved ones? The main thing is to consult a doctor and not self-medicate if the case is very advanced.

Button

https://www.babyblog.ru/user/id1330375/62975

This is important to know

If there are doubts about the advisability of taking a medicine during pregnancy, it is necessary to study in more detail the features of its effect on the human body:

1. Arbidol has not yet been fully studied by doctors. But animal experiments have shown that the medicine does not have any dangerous effects on the fetus. No studies have been conducted on humans, so it is impossible to speak with complete confidence about the safety of the drug during pregnancy.
2. Immunologists claim that the drug does not increase immunity, but treats pathological conditions in which immunity is reduced. This should be taken into account before starting treatment.

Arbidol acts on the human body at a complex cellular level. This makes us think about its safety for the developing fetus.

The benefit of the drug during pregnancy is not so high: it can only alleviate some of the symptoms of ARVI, the disease will still manifest itself. A doctor can confidently prescribe the drug to an expectant mother only if the cause of ARVI is type A influenza (namely subtypes H1N1 and H5N1). In such a situation, the medicine really helps to recover faster in the shortest possible period.

There are analogues of Arbidol: Immusstat (Ukraine) and Arpetol (Belarus). You need to understand that only the names differ, the active substance inside the tablets is the same.

Features of taking the drug in different trimesters of pregnancy

Experts agree that the 1st trimester of pregnancy is extremely important. During this period, the most important organs and tissues are formed in the fetus, so taking any medications can negatively affect the development of the child’s systems and functions in the future. In view of this, taking Arbidol in the first three months of pregnancy unless absolutely necessary is not recommended.

When the 2nd trimester begins, this medication can be prescribed based on the vital signs of the woman and fetus. The fact is that at this time the fetus continues to develop organs and tissues, and viruses can lead to disruption of these processes. Therefore, if a woman gets the flu, she may be prescribed the antiviral and immunostimulating drug Arbidol.

The greatest danger is influenza and viral infections in the last months of gestation. The 3rd trimester is especially critical - the period when the fetus can receive serious defects. However, taking medications is not always advisable, especially if they have not undergone clinical trials and doctors are unsure of their effectiveness and safety. Therefore, doctors treating women in the last months of pregnancy prescribe Arbidol only when the potential benefit outweighs the possible risk.

Indications for use of the drug

Arbidol is a domestic drug that has a pronounced antiviral and immunomodulatory effect.
In the human body, this drug stimulates the active production of interferon, an antiviral protein. Arbidol “triggers” the immune system, acting effectively not only against viruses, but also against various bacterial infections. The drug prevents complications after viral diseases and significantly reduces the number of exacerbations of chronic bacterial diseases.

Arbidol is a domestic antiviral drug

The doctor prescribes pregnant women to drink Arbidol in the following cases:

• influenza, ARVI, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, sinusitis, sinusitis;
• to improve immunity;
• acute intestinal infections;
• The first symptoms of a cold are body aches, fever, cough, runny nose.

The advantage of this medicine is that it has almost no contraindications and can be used by children from 2 years of age and by women while pregnant. It is recommended to take tablets or powder to prepare a suspension. Arbidol Maximum has a high concentration of umifenovir, so it should not be taken during pregnancy.

Benefit or harm

1. Firstly, the flu is especially severe in pregnant women, especially in the last trimester, and can even cause death.
2. Secondly, it can cause the development of defects in the fetus or lead to miscarriage.

Therefore, to calm their own nerves, some women take Arbidol during pregnancy for prevention. Moreover, they do this both in the early stages and in the later stages.

It is important to highlight that the drug has not undergone clinical trials, so its safety during pregnancy, as well as its effectiveness, have not been fully studied. Experts' opinion

Experts' opinion.

1. The drug should not be used in the 1st trimester, like most other medications. This time is the most important for the development of the fetus; all functions and systems are being formed. Any external influence can have a negative impact on this process.
2. In the 2nd trimester, Arbidol can be prescribed for health reasons. The child’s organs continue to actively develop, and viruses can cause underdevelopment of the nervous system, brain functions, placental disorders, and fetal hypoxia.
3. In the 3rd trimester, the flu is especially dangerous and can have a very negative impact on the condition of the fetus, causing defects that are incompatible with life. At this time, doctors usually assume that the benefits of Arbidol far outweigh the possible harm. Therefore, this medicine is prescribed, but only when they are sure that they cannot do without it.

Thus, the use of Arbidol for the treatment of pregnant women can be justified only in one case: when a viral infection threatens the patient’s life, and the medication can reduce this threat (influenza types A and B, as well as coronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, in other words, atypical pneumonia).

Also find out the whole truth about Valerian extract during pregnancy.

The drug is prescribed to pregnant women according to the standard regimen:

• for influenza – 200 mg 4 times a day for up to 5 days;
• for SARS - 200 mg twice a day for up to 1.5 weeks.

1. In the 1st trimester.
2. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, when the condition of the mother or fetus is not in danger.
3. When pregnancy is accompanied by various complications.
4. When a woman suffers from cardiovascular diseases, kidney or liver dysfunction.

Many people are interested in the question: can Arbidol be used when planning a pregnancy? There are no concerns here. The antiviral drug is eliminated from the body within a day. Until implantation has occurred, it cannot affect the fertilized egg. Even if it has already occurred, the consequences of severe flu or pneumonia may be much stronger than from using Arbidol for several days.

Therefore, during pregnancy planning, both a woman and a man can safely take the drug, and the likelihood of harming the unborn child is hypothetical.

Before treatment with this drug, you should consult a gynecologist.

Summarizing all of the above, Arbidol during pregnancy has the following advantages and disadvantages.

Also find out the whole truth about Maalox during pregnancy and Ingavirin in early pregnancy.

How safe is the medicine for women and fetuses?

In the pharmaceutical world, Arbidol is considered a low-toxic drug. This is due to the fact that 40% of the dose taken is excreted unchanged by the patient’s liver. In addition, the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood plasma is observed within an hour and a half after administration, and almost the entire incoming dose is excreted from the body within a day.

The evidence base on the safety of the drug for pregnant women consists only of the results of studies conducted on animals. Tests confirmed the absence of teratogenic or embryotoxic effects of Arbidol on the fetus. It was also confirmed that the drug has no effect on the course of the gestational period and the process of delivery that completes it. Recommendations for safe use are as follows.

• 1st trimester. One of the contraindications to the use of Arbidol is the 1st trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the natural suppression of the immune system of a pregnant woman, which is completely physiological. Taking Arbidol in the early stages of pregnancy can enhance the body's immune response, which can provoke a miscarriage. Because of this, Arbidol is harmful during pregnancy from the first to the 13th week.
• 2nd trimester. In the 2nd trimester, the drug can be taken, following the doctor’s recommendations and adhering to the dosages recommended by him. A cold at this stage can cause underdevelopment of the vital organs of the fetus, so the use of an antiviral agent will bring more benefit than harm.
• 3rd trimester. If a viral disease is observed in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, there is a risk of intrauterine infection of the child, which ends in severe pathologies in the neonatal period (congenital pneumonia, for example), and the risk of premature birth also increases. The doctor prescribes Arbidol in late pregnancy based on the risk-benefit ratio.

According to doctors, in the middle and end of pregnancy, Arbidol is well tolerated by patients. The relative safety of the drug is evidenced by:

• few side effects;
• a narrow list of contraindications;
• no risk of overdose;
• successful tests on animals during the gestational period;
• rapid elimination of the drug.

The number of contraindications for the drug is minimal: individual sensitivity, first trimester of pregnancy. Side effects: allergic reactions. It is worth noting that they do not arise from the active substance of Arbidol (umifenovir), but from the dyes included in the encapsulated shell (E 104, E 110, E 171). Cases of overdose with umifenovir have not been reported.

Can Arbidol be used during pregnancy?

So, Arbidol is a new drug, the effect of which has not yet been fully studied. As a result of studying the effect of the drug on animals, it was revealed that Arbidol does not have a pathological effect on the fetus. However, such studies have not been carried out with human embryos, so it is too early to speak about unambiguous conclusions. That is why in the instructions for Arbidol you can read that the use of the drug during pregnancy is recommended only if the expected benefit for the woman exceeds the possible risk for the baby.

Considering the fact that Arbidol is, rather, a prophylactic drug that can help the body only at the initial stage of the disease, taking the drug when you are already ill is, at a minimum, pointless.

Arbidol is considered an antiviral and immunostimulating agent. However, some immunologists say that the drug does not increase immunity, but eliminates pathologies that reduce this immunity.

Interestingly, Arbidol, like any other antiviral drugs, is not classified as category A, which means that such drugs, due to their unsafety, are not permissible for use during pregnancy. It is also known that Arbidol affects the body at the cellular level - this makes you think about how safe this drug is, and how its use can affect the baby.

We can only say with certainty that you cannot take Arbidol without a doctor’s recommendation - these are not vitamins, this is a serious drug that can both help you cope with the disease and lead to serious complications. Therefore, do not self-medicate, trust professionals, and be healthy.

Reviews from expectant mothers

Reviews from pregnant women who took Arbidol differ. Some say they have seen absolutely no changes, others speak negatively about this drug. After all, even the instructions for use of the drug say that taking Arbidol is contraindicated for pregnant women.

There are also those for whom taking Arbidol helped, and everything went well for the health of the mother and her unborn child. From this we can conclude that the consequences of taking Arbidol during pregnancy are strictly individual, which is why the reviews are so different.

Doctors also cannot come to a clear opinion, because studies of the drug’s effect on the human body have not been conducted.

Health and warmth, dear expectant mothers!