Gemiton

Gemiton is a medicinal product with hypotensive effect.

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Indications Gemitona

It is used to treat various types of hypertensive pathology, including the prevention of hypertensive crisis (except for the development of this disease with pheochromocytoma).

It also eliminates withdrawal symptoms that occur as a result of sudden cessation of drug use (opium).

In ophthalmology – in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma.

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Release form

The drug is produced in tablets of 0.075 mg. There are 10 tablets in a blister pack. There is 1 such pack in a pack.

Pharmacodynamics

Clonidine is a hypotensive substance that affects the body by neurohumoral stabilization of vascular tone. When passing through the BBB, this element selectively stimulates the activity of α2-adrenoreceptors of nuclei located inside the vasomotor center in the medulla oblongata. This allows for a slowing of sympathetic impulses sent by the central nervous system, contributing to a decrease in blood pressure and vasodilation. Along with a decrease in sympathetic activity, there is also a decrease in catecholamine levels (especially norepinephrine) in the urine and blood plasma.

The use of clonidine helps to reduce the heart rate, and in addition, the values of diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Long-term use of the drug helps to reduce myocardial hypertrophy and improve the work of the left ventricle.

The drug has an analgesic and sedative effect. Its central action allows eliminating somatovegetative symptoms of withdrawal caused by alcohol or opiates.

Gemiton reduces IOP by reducing secretion and improving the outflow of aqueous eye fluid.

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Pharmacokinetics

After taking the tablet, the medicine is completely and quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. The bioavailability index is close to 100%. Peak plasma values are noted after 1-2 hours. The antihypertensive effect appears after 0.5-1 hour after administration and lasts for 8-12 hours.

Approximately 50% of the active element of the drug undergoes hepatic metabolism, during which inactive compounds are formed.

Excretion occurs with urine (40-60% of the substance), as well as with feces (10% of the dose). The half-life varies widely and averages 12 hours.

Delayed excretion of clonidine is observed in people with severe renal insufficiency.

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Dosing and administration

Portion sizes are selected individually by the attending physician - initially small doses are used, which are then gradually increased.

To eliminate mild and moderate hypertension, it is necessary to prescribe 0.5 tablets of the drug twice a day. If necessary, the single and daily dose can be gradually increased with the doctor's permission. Average daily doses are 1-2 tablets twice a day.

If higher doses are required, it is recommended to use Gemiton 0.3 mg tablets. Single doses of the drug exceeding 0.3 mg are prescribed in exceptional situations; they are recommended to be used only in a hospital setting.

Therapy for withdrawal symptoms that develop after discontinuing the use of narcotic drugs should be performed exclusively in a hospital setting with daily monitoring of pulse rate and blood pressure values. The medication is prescribed in a dose of 0.3-0.8 mg/day, which is divided into 4-6 uses per day.

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Use Gemitona during pregnancy

Although there is currently no data on the presence of embryotoxic properties in clonidine, it is prohibited to prescribe the medication in the first trimester, and in addition to this, in case of late toxicosis of a hypertensive nature (these are complications that develop in the second half of pregnancy, in which there is an increase in blood pressure, the appearance of edema and the secretion of protein in the urine).

Gemiton is prohibited for use during lactation.

Contraindications

Main contraindications:

• the presence of intolerance to clonidine or other components of the drug;
• disturbances of cardiac excitability (in the sinus node), due to which problems with the heart rate arise (severe degree of sinus bradycardia, 2nd and 3rd degree AV block);
• severe disorders of peripheral blood flow function.

The doctor must make a decision on the use of drugs, taking into account the benefits of therapy and the degree of possible risk, in the following disorders:

• acute myocardial infarction;
• state of depression;
• problems with blood flow within the cerebral vessels (due to arteriosclerosis);
• IHD.

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Side effects Gemitona

Usually, taking the drug causes dryness of the nasal and oral mucous membranes, the development of a feeling of fatigue and a sedative effect. Often, as therapy continues, these symptoms go away on their own.

Due to the retention of sodium and water in the patient's body, weight may increase, and sometimes diarrhea or loose stools may occur.

People who wear contact lenses should remember that sometimes the use of medication leads to a decrease in tear production.

Occasionally, depending on the size of the dose, orthostatic side effects may occur - a state of numbness, a tendency to collapse, and dizziness. Because of this, people who have taken the drug must very slowly change their position from horizontal to vertical, and in hot temperatures, refrain from performing heavy physical manipulations, as well as from staying in a standing position for a long time.

Given the dosage of the drug, patients occasionally experience inhibition of the heart rate or pulse rate. If disturbances in the functioning of cardiac conduction and excitability were detected before therapy, the use of the drug in high doses may cause potentiation of cardiac arrhythmia (AV block).

Occasionally, at the initial stage of therapy, a paradoxical increase in blood pressure values develops.

Also, occasionally there may be problems with sleep (sometimes nightmares), depression, a tendency to develop constipation or intestinal atony, as well as disturbances in perception and transient states of confusion or visual disturbances (disorder of ocular accommodation).

In addition, it is possible to develop symptoms of hypersensitivity (allergy) and pain in the parotid salivary glands. If the patient has such a tendency, sensitization disorders, paresthesia and a feeling of cold in the limbs may appear, as well as the development of gynecomastia in men.

In case of sudden cessation of drug intake, withdrawal syndrome is observed - blood pressure increases, headaches, nausea, a feeling of nervousness and tremors occur.

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Overdose

In case of intoxication, the victim experiences hypothermia, apnea, respiratory depression, a feeling of drowsiness, orthostatic signs, as well as symptomatic hypotension, periodic vomiting, bradycardia and xerostomia.

Symptomatic procedures are often sufficient when these disorders occur. Tolazoline can be used as a special antidote to the drug. An intravenous injection of 10 mg of tolazoline or oral administration of 50 mg of the substance neutralizes the effect of clonidine in a dose of 0.6 mg.

Interactions with other drugs

Diuretics, vasodilators, and in addition a diet that limits the consumption of table salt, potentiate the properties of Gemiton in terms of lowering blood pressure. At the same time, the effect of the drug can be potentiated when combined with antihistamines.

Combined use with β-blockers or CGs can lead to inhibition of the heart rhythm, and in addition, it occasionally causes a disturbance in heart rhythm (development of AV block).

If it is necessary to discontinue the simultaneous use of Gemiton and a β-blocker in order to avoid the development of negative symptoms of increased sympathetic innervation, the β-blocker should be gradually discontinued first, and then the doses of Gemiton should also be gradually reduced (large doses should be reduced over several days).

A decrease in the hypotensive properties of the drug is observed when it is combined with tricyclics.

Tolazoline is able to completely eliminate the effect of the drug, and therefore it is used as an antidote for poisoning with a large dose of drugs or intoxication with an antihypertensive drug.

Gemiton can enhance the effects of drugs that have a depressant effect on the central nervous system - sleeping pills and sedatives, as well as antihistamines and alcoholic beverages.

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Storage conditions

Gemiton must be kept in a place closed to small children. Temperature conditions – up to 25°C.

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Shelf life

Gemiton can be used for 5 years from the date of manufacture of the drug.

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Analogues

The drug's analogues are such medications as Moxogama with Physiotens, Clonidine with Tenaxum, and also Moxonide with Estulik.

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