Application of Cladribine in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a serious and dangerous disease characterized by a progressive course with the development of serious complications, one of which is respiratory failure. Modern treatment of the disease is based on the use of drugs that disrupt the immune and metabolic system. One of these drugs is Cladribine in multiple sclerosis, the reviews and the price of which are quite positive, especially when compared with analogues. However, patients with multiple sclerosis need to know how to take the medicine and its side effects with prolonged use.

General information about

Cladribine is a concentrate that is diluted immediately before use. The resulting solution is administered intravenously. The main substance that has a therapeutic effect is cladribine. The composition of the drug includes additional substances that stabilize the solution.

The drug works by pronounced cytotoxic action: it disrupts the intracellular systems responsible for cell division, leading to their damage and subsequent death. As a result, the progression of the disease slows down, and the patient begins to feel much better. By stabilizing the symptoms of the disease, the number of exacerbations decreases.

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Indications and contraindications for the use of

The drug is used in accordance with strict indications and contraindications. The main indication is that the patient has a repeated form of multiple sclerosis, associated with persistent relapses of the disease, a gradual deterioration in the general condition of a person.

There are a number of states in which Cladribine can not be used. Contraindications include:

• renal, hepatic insufficiency of any severity;
• can not be used Cladribine with drugs that depress the bone marrow;
• acute infectious diseases or exacerbation of chronic;
• period of pregnancy, breastfeeding;
• the age of the patient is less than 18 years;
• hypersensitivity to the drug or allergic reactions to past cases of its use.

If a patient has a contraindication to the use of the drug, then the latter must be discarded in favor of other drugs.

How to apply Cladribine?

The instruction for Cladribine sets the permissible dosage of the drug. Usually, patients receive 10-20 mg of medication per day. The administration of the solution is carried out in the form of prolonged intravenous drip infusions, lasting 2 or 24 hours. It is important to note that the duration of therapy, the dosages used are determined by the individual characteristics of the patient, the nature of the course of the disease.

Important! Increasing the dosage of the drug above the indicated does not lead to an increase in the therapeutic effect.

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the patient, to take a clinical blood test. The drug suppresses the bone marrow, which leads to a reduction in the number of cells in the blood, causing side effects.

Side effects and overdose

The use of drugs not according to the instructions or individual characteristics of the patient lead to the appearance of side effects, manifested by the disruption of the work of various organs and body systems:

1. The most common disorders are bone marrow, characterized by a decrease in the number of leukocytes, red blood cells or platelets in the blood.
2. Possible dyspeptic phenomena in the form of nausea, vomiting, stool discomfort in the form of constipation or diarrhea, pain in the abdomen.
3. As a result of the activation of hepatic enzymes, there may be an increase in their number in the blood, as well as an increase in the concentration of bilirubin.
4. In addition, Cladribine is characterized by headaches, dizziness, various sleep disorders, and sensitivity disorders on the skin.
5. Allergic reactions are possible: hives, itching.

If these side effects occur, you should contact your doctor to adjust the dose or to cancel it. Overdose Cladribine leads to a sharp damage to the central nervous system and kidneys, a significant inhibition of bone marrow. In such a situation it is necessary to carry out symptomatic treatment, since there is no specific antidote.

Additional information

Cladribine is used only under conditions of constant medical control. The attending physician should have experience in the use of antitumor drugs. Such requirements are associated with the possibility of the drug very quickly lead to suppression of hematopoiesis with the development of severe complications.

For the prevention and follow-up of such situations, the patient must take a clinical blood test every two weeks to count the formed elements, and to detect their reduction. If the patient has kidney and liver diseases, during the treatment it is necessary to monitor the biochemical parameters that allow to detect their violations( bilirubin, AsAT, ALAT, urea).

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Cladribine is an effective drug for the control of multiple sclerosis in its recurring course. Antimetabolite action of the medication allows to reduce the rate of progression of the disease, to prevent its repeated attacks.

The main requirement for treatment is a constant medical monitoring of the patient's condition, monitoring changes in the cellular composition of peripheral blood. Following these dosages is the most important way to prevent the development of side effects and symptoms of overdose.