Domestic immunomodulators of the latest generation. Types and use of immunomodulators

- for adults and children are medicines that eliminate the imbalance of various parts of the immune system. Thus, the action of these drugs should be aimed at normalizing the parameters of immunity, i.e. to reduce high or increase low rates.

In the Russian Federation, some-effective immunomodulators-registered as immunostimulants, including those of plant origin. It is believed that the use of these drugs leads to an increase in immunity indicators, however, this is not entirely true, since immunity indicators under the influence of such drugs do not exceed the level of the physiological norm. In connection with the above, it is more correct to use the term immunomodulators.

In this section, we will dwell on the description of various types of immunomodulators, which, depending on their origin, can be divided into three large groups: exogenous, endogenous and synthetic.

Exogenous immunomodulators (bacterial and plant origin)

Among immunomodulators of exogenous origin, bacterial and herbal preparations are distinguished.

Bacterial immunomodulators

The most famous drugs of this group are: "Imudon", "IRS 19", "Broncho-munal", "Ribomunil".

Main indications: chronic bronchitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis.

Contraindications: drug allergy, acute stage of upper respiratory tract infection, autoimmune diseases, HIV infection.

Side effects: drugs are tolerated very well, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea are rare.

Plant immunomodulators

The most famous drugs of this group are: "Imunal", "Echinacea Vilar", "Echinacea compositum CH", "Echinacea liquidum".

Main indications: SARS prevention.

Contraindications: drug allergy, tuberculosis, leukemia, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, pollen allergies.

Side effects: drugs are well tolerated, rarely allergic reactions (angioedema), skin rash, bronchospasm, lowering blood pressure.

Endogenous immunomodulators

Endogenous immunomodulators can be divided into the following groups: preparations isolated from the thymus and bone marrow, cytokines (interleukins, interferons and interferon inducers) and nucleic acid preparations.
preparations isolated from the thymus and bone marrow.

Medicines derived from thymus tissue (an organ of the immune system) are: "tactivin", "timalin", "timoptin"; from the bone marrow - "myelopid".

Main indications:

• for drugs from the thymus - immunodeficiencies with a predominant lesion of the T-cell immunity, developing with purulent and tumor diseases, tuberculosis, psoriasis, ophthalmic herpes;
• for drugs from the bone marrow - immunodeficiencies with a predominant lesion of the humoral immunity; purulent diseases, as part of the complex therapy of leukemia and chronic infectious diseases.

Contraindications: for preparations from the thymus - an allergy to the medicine, pregnancy.
for drugs from the bone marrow - an allergy to the drug, pregnancy with a Rh conflict.

Side effects: for preparations from the thymus - allergic reactions.
for drugs from the bone marrow - pain at the injection site, dizziness, nausea, fever.
cytokines - interleukins: natural ("superlymph") and recombinant ("betaleukin", "roncoleukin")

Main indications: for natural cytokines - treatment of wounds and trophic ulcers.
for recombinant cytokines: "roncoleukin" - purulent-inflammatory diseases, some malignant tumors; "betaleukin" - leukopenia (decreased number of blood leukocytes).

Contraindications: for natural cytokines - drug allergy, thrombocytopenia, renal and hepatic failure, epilepsy.
for recombinant cytokines: "roncoleukin" - drug allergy, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases; "betaleukin" - drug allergy, septic shock, high fever, pregnancy.
Side effects: for natural cytokines - exacerbation of inflammation (short-term)
for recombinant cytokines - chills, fever, allergic reactions.

cytokines - interferons: this class of immunomodulators is very extensive, it includes interferons of three varieties (alpha, beta, gamma); Depending on the origin, interferons are divided into natural and recombinant. The most common form of administration is injection, but there are other forms of release: suppositories, gels, ointments.
Main indications: very different depending on the type of interferons. Interferons are used in the treatment of viral, neoplastic diseases and even multiple sclerosis. In some diseases, the effectiveness of interferons has been proven by many studies, in others there is only moderate or even little experience of successful use.

Contraindications: drug allergy, severe autoimmune, cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, diseases of the central nervous system, severe liver disease, pregnancy, childhood.

Side effects: interferons have different severity and frequency of adverse drug reactions, which may vary depending on the drug. In general, interferons (injectable forms) are not well tolerated by everyone and may be accompanied by a flu-like syndrome, allergic reactions, and other undesirable drug effects.

cytokines - interferon inducers: this class of immunomodulators is represented by substances that stimulate the production of interferons in our body. There are forms of medication for oral administration, in the form of external agents, injectable forms. Trade names of interferon inducers: "cycloferon", "alloferon", "poludan", "tiloron", "neovir", "megosin", "ridostin".

Main indications: treatment of chronic viral infections as part of complex therapy.

Contraindications: drug allergy, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children's age (up to 4 years).

Side effects: allergic reactions.
nucleic acid preparations: "ridostin" and "derinat".
Main indications: secondary immunodeficiencies manifested by viral and bacterial infections.

Contraindications: drug allergy, pregnancy, breast-feeding, children's age (up to 7 years), myocardial disease, severe renal and hepatic insufficiency.
Side effects: allergic reactions, fever.

Immunomodulators of synthetic origin

This group of immunomodulators is represented by drugs that are different in their chemical structure, and therefore each drug has its own characteristics of the mechanism of action, tolerability and undesirable effects. This group includes: isoprinazine, galavit, gepon, glutoxim, polyoxidonium, imunofan, thymogen, licopid.

Main indications: secondary immunodeficiencies associated with chronic viral and bacterial infections.

Contraindications: drug allergy, pregnancy, breastfeeding. "Isoprinazine" is also contraindicated in case of padagra, urolithiasis, chronic renal failure and arrhythmias.

Side effects: allergic reactions, soreness at the injection site (for injectable drugs), exacerbation of gout (isoprinasine), etc.

Immunoglobulins

Intravenous immunoglobulins are drugs that are protective blood proteins that protect us from bacteria, viruses, fungi and other foreign microorganisms.

There are immunoglobulins (antibodies) directed against a certain foreign particle (antigen), in which case these antibodies are usually called monoclonal (i.e. all as one clone are the same), if the immunoglobulins (antibodies) are directed against many foreign particles they are called polyclonal, such polyclonal antibodies are intravenous immunoglobulins. Monoclonal antibodies are drugs of the 21st century that can effectively fight some tumors and autoimmune diseases. However, polyclonal antibodies are very useful as well. they are successfully used in a variety of diseases. Intravenous immunoglobulins usually consist predominantly of immunoglobulins G, however, intravenous immunoglobulins are also enriched with immunoglobulins M (“pentaglobin”).

The main intravenous immunoglobulins registered in the Russian Federation include: intraglobin, octagam, humaglobin, cytotect, pentaglobin, gamimn-N, etc.

Main indications: primary immunodeficiencies associated with a lack of immunoglobulin synthesis, severe bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases (Kawasaki disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, some systemic vasculitis, etc.), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, etc.

Contraindications: allergic reactions to intravenous immunoglobulins.
Side effects: allergic reactions, increase or decrease in blood pressure, fever, nausea, etc. With slow infusion, many patients tolerate these drugs well.

Stimulation of the immune system, the help of "foreign" immune cells is necessary when the body itself cannot cope with the disease. When your own defenses are unable to control the infection. To stimulate the immune system, pharmacists offer immunomodulators and immunostimulants. What are their differences from each other? What is the harm and benefit? And how to use these potent drugs?

Immunomodulators - means to change immunity

In medical terminology, the term "immunomodulator" is a general term for a group of drugs that somehow affect the immune system. The word "modulate" literally means "change". That is, immunomodulators change human immunity. And they can do it for good or bad.

A reasonable question arises: if modulators can change immunity for the worse, then why is this needed? This is necessary in some pathological conditions, when one's own immunity works against survival:

• with autoimmune diseases (severe allergic reactions);
• after an organ transplant operation (when one's own immunity "does not accept" a foreign organ, and its rejection is possible);

In these cases, artificially lowering immunity allows you to save a person's life. Drugs that lower the immune system are called immunosuppressants. They are necessary in strictly defined situations. And it would never occur to anyone to use immunosuppressants “just like that”, “just in case”. Unlike their close "relatives" - drugs with an immunostimulating effect.

Immunostimulants - for enhanced immune function

In contrast to immunosuppressants, there are other drugs. They are called immunostimulants. The action of general stimulants is understandable - they spur reactions, accelerate blood flow, make heartbeat and breathing more frequent. Immune stimulants - enhance immune responses, cause the body to produce more immune bodies, fight infection more actively.

Immunostimulants can manifest themselves in different ways. Some of them make human cells immune to infection. Others act directly on the virus, paralyzing its activity and destroying its particles. Still others supply foreign immune bodies to the body. That is, they are "crutches" for their own immunity. They replace its lack of activity with their presence, allowing their own body to remain weak.

Regardless of the mechanism of action, all synthetic immune modulators are foreign bodies. Therefore, their use is not always advisable, may have side effects, undesirable consequences.

In addition, the accumulated knowledge about the work of immunity and the action of the immune system warns against imprudent introduction into its work. Often attempts to correct immune reactions are fraught with complex violations in its further work. Therefore, stimulation of the immune system can have serious consequences.

The action of immune stimulants often turns out to be a "gross" invasion of the human immune system. It has a special "rudeness" in relation to the immunity of children, which is only being formed.

Differences between modulators and stimulants of immunity

Modulators - a general group of drugs, which includes both stimulants and modulators of immune responses. Stimulants are one of the types of modulators, the action of which is aimed at enhancing immune responses, general stimulating the body.

Now you rarely meet a person who managed to avoid a runny nose, cough, fever in the cold season. And if some people endure the disease quickly and are already on their feet in a few days, then others get out of the cold quite hard, with the development of various complications.

Immunomodulators and immunostimulants

The reason for the protracted course is a decrease in the body's resistance, which happens when immunity is insufficient. There are drugs that have some effect on the human immune system - immunomodulators. These funds stimulate defense mechanisms, while the body begins to effectively fight viruses and bacteria.

It should be said that there is confusion between concepts such as immunomodulators and immunostimulants. Many people think that these funds belong to the same group. However, there is a difference between them. Immunostimulants affect the nonspecific resistance of the body, increase the natural ability to resist infectious diseases.

Immunomodulators are used in the presence of malfunctions in the immune system and the restoration of its function. The group of immunomodulators includes immunosuppressants - drugs used to suppress the immune response. Such an action is necessary during the treatment of autoimmune and oncological diseases.

The drugs in this group have the following effect:

• stimulate immune processes;
• activate immunocompetent cells (these include T and B lymphocytes);
• increase the body's resistance;
• accelerate the processes of tissue regeneration.

The use of immunostimulants in infectious and infectious-inflammatory diseases helps a person to cope with the disease faster.

Depending on the origin, immunomodulators are:

• exogenous origin - bacterial and herbal remedies;
• endogenous origin;
• synthetic.

Immunostimulants - herbal preparations

They are created on the basis of medicinal plants - clover, lungwort, echinacea, chicory, magnolia vine. They naturally restore defenses without negatively affecting hormonal balance.

Among the means of this group, echinacea has a powerful stimulating effect. This perennial plant has a rich composition: trace elements (selenium, calcium, silicon), vitamins. Echinacea preparations work:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antiviral;
• antibacterial;
• diuretic;
• antiallergic;
• detoxification.

Echinacea is a part of such medicines as Immunal, Immudon.

Immunal

The medicine consists of echinacea juice and ethanol, is available in drops. Immunal is used to increase the body's resistance to recurrent colds, during an influenza epidemic as a prophylactic measure, to prevent immunodeficiency during antibiotic treatment.

Herbal preparations are often used as immunostimulants for children (with frequent and prolonged colds). Use in pediatrics due to the fact that the funds are well tolerated and do not have a toxic effect. However, even such seemingly harmless drugs have their own contraindications. Herbal immunostimulants should not be used for autoimmune diseases, when the immune system is too active and produces antibodies against its own cells. Immunostimulants are contraindicated in leukemia, diabetes mellitus, individual intolerance, collagenoses.

Immunostimulants of bacterial origin

Effective means of this group are Immudon, IRS-19.

Immudon

The drug contains lysates of many bacteria and fungi, which are part of the tablets for resorption in the mouth. Immudon stimulates the production of lysozyme in saliva, and this substance has a detrimental effect on bacteria. It also has an immunostimulating effect.

Immudon is used for inflammatory diseases in the mouth (periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis), as well as for inflammatory processes in the pharynx - pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Among the contraindications is individual sensitivity, the medicine has no side effects and is well tolerated by patients.

IRS-19

The product is produced in the form of a metered aerosol. Contains standardized lysates of inactivated bacteria. IRS-19 is used to treat respiratory diseases and inflammation in the oral cavity (rhinitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis), as well as to prevent complications of influenza and colds.

Immunostimulants of endogenous origin

Medicines are obtained from the thymus gland (thymus) and bone marrow. The thymus gland plays an important role in the functioning of cellular and humoral immunity. The maturation of lymphocytes and stem cells occurs in it, and the gland also secretes specific substances - hormones that affect the differentiation of lymphoid tissue cells. Extractive preparations (Timalin, Taktivin) are obtained from the thymus, which are used to treat immunodeficiencies with a predominant lesion of T-cell immunity (purulent and tumor diseases, tuberculosis, herpes).

The bone marrow preparation - Myelolid - is used to treat diseases that occur with damage to humoral immunity (leukemia, chronic infections, purulent diseases).

Endogenous stimulants also include nucleic acid preparations and cytokines. Cytokines are low molecular weight proteins that carry information about the functioning of the immune system, they are able to influence the processes of cellular interaction. There are many types of cytokines, but the most active are interleukins - substances secreted by leukocytes. Cytokines are used to treat purulent-septic diseases, wounds, burns and some types of tumors. Preparations - Betaleukin, Roncoleukin.

Synthetics

Medicines are obtained through scientific development and chemical synthesis. These include Polyoxidonium, Amiksin, Neovir.

Let's look at options for immunomodulators, a list of effective drugs for colds, the prices of which depend on the region.

Solutions for injection: "Neovir", "Altevir", "Reaferon EC", "Ridostin", "Ingaron", "Cycloferon", "Timogen", "Erbisol", "Timalin".

Powder: "Reaferon EU".

Immunostimulators for children

The child's immunity is in the process of formation, any intervention unreasonable by extreme necessity can only do harm. Until the age of one, it is better not to know what it is - immunomodulatory drugs, they are prescribed only for severe illnesses. The very process of formation of protective mechanisms occurs as a response to the ingress of viruses and bacteria. Therefore, you should not grab the pills right away, it is important to follow this natural path.

It is preferable to strengthen the body and restore strength with natural products, after making sure that there is no allergic reaction. For children after 1 year of age, manufacturers develop convenient forms and acceptable dosages, for example, "Tsitovir-3" in the form of a syrup or powder for preparing a suspension is prescribed for often ill children during the ARVI period.

Appointments should only be made by a doctor. For this reason, we do not provide detailed descriptions and ratings of children's immunomodulators, drug names. Self-medication is unacceptable here, it is very easy to break the fine line, and it may take years to recover.

Our health depends on many factors. Despite the fact that the properties of immunity are far from being fully understood, it is assigned one of the main roles.

Uncontrolled medication, stress, lack of sleep have a great influence on the functioning of the immune system. Its formation, maintenance, restoration is a long painstaking work of nature, medicine and, of course, man himself. For many decades, science has been studying immunomodulators and their effect on the body, creating ever more advanced drugs. The main task is to do everything in our power to help preserve the natural defense mechanisms laid down from birth, to strengthen them.

Follow the well-being and health of your loved ones with "Tsitovir-3".

Immunostimulants are substances that stimulate immune responses at the cellular level. They are essential for us to protect the body and fight external pathogens (bacteria, microorganisms, viruses).

Immunostimulants - the list of drugs includes: vaccines, hormones, vitamins, synthetic stimulants. Most often we meet with this group for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory viral infections.

Natural immunostimulants - list

Made with Echinacea purpurea extract. They contain active substances that help strengthen the immune system, suppress the growth and reproduction of microorganisms:

• Immunal
• Echinacea-ratiopharm
• echinacea tincture
• Echinacea compositum

Indications for use:

1. Uncomplicated viral infections
2. Prevention during epidemics
3. Antibiotic therapy against the background of reduced immunity

Their effectiveness in the fight against herpes and hepatitis viruses has also been proven.

Synthetic immunostimulants - list

The list includes the best immunostimulant drugs obtained in a laboratory way, but no less effective from this.

• Cycloferon(acredoneacetic acid)

1. Stimulates the production of its own interferon in the body.
2. It has an immunostimulating, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effect.
3. Effective against influenza, herpes, hepatitis, papilloma, HIV viruses.
4. Enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics and can be prescribed for intestinal infections.

• Amiksin (tiloron)- immunomodulatory and antiviral agent.

1. Stimulates the production of interferon, enhances the formation of antibodies and inhibits the reproduction of viruses.

For the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, preparations containing interferon directly are also used, and not just stimulating its production.

• Interferon- a whole group of specific proteins that are produced by the body during the introduction of infectious agents.

1. Stimulates the immune system to fight viruses by changing inside infected cells.
2. Suppresses the synthesis of viral proteins and prevents further reproduction of viruses.

There are several forms of release of interferon:

For nasal administration:

• Nazoferon
• Laferon
• Laferobion

Getting on the mucous membrane, it plays the role of a substance that enhances the immune response. According to some researchers, this form of release is not effective due to the short period of exposure to cells. However, clinical trials prove the effectiveness of such use in the prevention of viral infections.

Interferon-based immunostimulant preparations on the list can be recommended to children almost from birth, as well as to pregnant and lactating women due to their high safety and low side effects.

Immune preparations for vaginal and rectal administration

Produced in the form of suppositories (candles). This list complements the list of effective immunostimulant drugs:

• Laferobion
• Viferon
• Genferon

This group of immunostimulant drugs provides a longer circulation in the blood than other methods of administration. They are prescribed as part of the complex therapy of infection-inflammatory processes, urogenital infections, the treatment of chronic and acute viral hepatitis.

Intramuscular administration - used on the recommendation of a doctor if there is a need for higher doses of the substance.

Preparations immunostimulants based on lyophilizate lysates of bacteria

Their mechanism of action is similar to that of vaccines. After entering the body, they are perceived as foreign bodies, and provoke the production of specific antibodies. They include the most common pathogens of infections of the upper respiratory tract and respiratory tract.

• ribo munil
• Broncho-munal
• broncho waxing
• Imudon

1. Indicated for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases of the respiratory system (otitis media, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis).
2. It is possible to assign them to children from six months.