Medicinal reference book geotar. Zirgan eye gel Zirgan eye gel

Registration number: LP 000988-181011
Tradename: ZIRGAN®
International nonproprietary name: Ganciclovir
Dosage form: Eye gel

Compound
1 g of eye gel contains:

Ganciclovir 1.5 mg

Benzalkonium chloride 75 mcg, carbomer 4.83 mg, sorbitol 50 mg, sodium hydroxide sc. consumption to pH 7.4, purified water to 1 g.

Description
Colorless gel

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiviral drugs

ATX code:

Pharmacological properties

Pharmacodynamics
Ganciclovir is a nucleoside that inhibits the replication of human viruses Herpes simplex first and second types.
In infected cells, ganciclovir is converted to the active form of ganciclovir, ganciclovir triphosphate.
Phosphorylation occurs predominantly in infected cells, and the concentration of ganciclovir triphosphate in uninfected cells is 10 times lower.
The antiviral activity of ganciclovir triphosphate consists of inhibiting viral DNA synthesis using two mechanisms: competitive inhibition of viral DNA polymerase and direct incorporation into viral DNA, disrupting chain termination and preventing its replication.

Pharmacokinetics
After installing the drug into the eye 5 times a day for 11 - 15 days for the treatment of superficial herpetic keratitis, ganciclovir plasma concentrations were very low: on average 0.013 μg/ml (0 = 0.037).

Indications for use

Treatment of acute superficial keratitis caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to ganciclovir, acyclovir or any of the components of the drug; pregnancy and breastfeeding; children up to 12 years of age.

Directions for use and doses

Instill 1 drop into the lower conjunctival sac of the affected eye 5 times a day until complete re-epithelialization of the cornea, then 1 drop 3 times a day for 7 days.
The duration of treatment should not exceed 21 days.

Side effect

The most common side effects are blurred vision (60%), eye irritation (20%), punctate keratitis (5%) and conjunctival hyperemia (5%).

Overdose

There is no information about overdose.

Interaction with other drugs

Not found.

special instructions

This drug is not intended to treat cytomegalovirus infection of the retina.
Efficacy against keratoconjunctivitis caused by other types of viruses has not been established.
No specific studies have been conducted in immunocompromised patients.
For women of childbearing age, contraception is necessary.
Due to genotoxicity demonstrated in animal experiments, men using ZIRGAN® are advised to use reliable methods of contraception during treatment and for three months after its completion.
Benzalkonium chloride may cause eye irritation and discoloration of soft contact lenses. The drug should not come into contact with soft contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before using the drug and reinstall them no earlier than 15 minutes after instillation.

Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and machinery

The patient should refrain from driving or operating complex machinery in case of any visual impairment during treatment with the drug.

Release form
Eye gel 0.15%.
5 g of the drug in a tube with a tip and a screw cap. The tube, along with instructions for medical use and a removable stand, is placed in a cardboard box.

Storage conditions
Store at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C. Keep out of the reach of children.

Best before date
3 years. After opening the tube - 4 weeks.
Do not use after the expiration date stated on the package.

Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies
On prescription

Registration Certificate Holder
Laboratories Thea
12, st. Louis Blériot, 63017 Clermont-Ferrand, Tsedex 2, France

Manufacturer
Farmila-Tea Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (Farmila-Thea Pharmaceutici S.p.A)
Via E. Fermi, 50 - 20019 Settimo Milanese (Milan), Italy

Through vision, a person receives more than 80% of information about the environment. Processing a light signal is a complex process consisting of many stages. Although scientific and technological progress has made human existence easier, computers and televisions do not have the best effect on vision. As a result, the ability to see clearly decreases, diseases progress, and most people feel constant fatigue in the eyeballs.

One of the common eye lesions is keratitis, caused by the herpes virus, staphylococcal and other infections. The pathology affects not only the mucous membranes and skin, but can also appear on the conjunctiva and cornea. Typical complaints include:

• irritation of the surface of the eye;
• lacrimation;
• photophobia;
• sensation of the presence of a foreign body.

However, modern ophthalmology presents many means to get rid of the disease and prevent the development of complications. One of the effective remedies is Zirgan eye gel.

Instructions for use

The active substance in this drug is ganciclovir, which has high antiviral activity. It is used primarily to suppress cytomegalovirus infections and prevent their occurrence. It is CMV that belongs to the herpesvirus, and it occurs in 50% of the population of the entire planet. But keratitis is not only herpes infections, it is staphylo- and streptococcal infections, acanthamoeba and ordinary flu. Problems can arise due to injuries. The instructions for the Zirgan eye gel indicate that the product will also help in the fight against tuberculosis.

Untreated keratitis can lead to huge problems in the future: from a slight decrease in vision to clouding of the cornea, that is, the appearance of a cataract.

Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics

The drug is intended for local treatment. As indicated in the instructions for the Zirgan eye gel, the active substance belongs to a series of nucleosides that suppresses the human herpes simplex virus. The effect of the drug has been proven only against viral infections of types 1 and 2. The essence of the action of the active substance is that it inhibits the synthesis of viral DNA, disrupting chain termination, and prevents its resumption. The concentration of genciclovir in plasma layers is very low, about 0.013 mcg. per 1 ml.

Dosage form

As indicated in the instructions for the Zirgan eye gel, it belongs to the clinical and pharmacological group “antiviral drugs intended for local treatment.”

The drug is available in 5 gram tubes, colorless gel. For 1 g of the drug there is 1.5 mg. active substance.

The medicine also contains excipients, namely:

• sorbitol (50 mg) - hexahydric alcohol used to create a gel consistency;
• purified water, about 1 g;
• benzalkonium chloride (75 mcg) - an antiseptic with an antifungal effect, also capable of inactivating viruses caused by herpes simplex;
• sodium hydrochloride;
• carbomer (4.83 mg), which is used in ophthalmology to relieve dry eye syndrome.

Indications for use and dosage

The instructions for the Zirgan eye gel indicate that the product should not be used for more than 21 days in a row.

The product must be instilled into the lower conjunctival sac. Regularity of use: once a day, 1 drop in one eye. After complete re-epithelialization of the cornea occurs, the product is already used 3 times a day, 1 drop, for about 7 days.

The gel is indicated for the treatment of acute superficial keratitis.

Side effects and contraindications

Despite the high effectiveness of the drug in the fight against the herpes virus, a sufficient proportion of patients experience side effects:

• discomfort associated with blurred vision - 60%;
• irritation in the form of redness and discomfort in the eye area - 20%;
• inflammatory process on the cornea in the form of punctate keratitis - 5%;
• redness of the mucous membrane, that is, conjunctival hyperemia, - 5%.

The drug is not recommended for use in childhood until the child reaches 12 years of age. Cannot be used in the treatment of Zirgan during pregnancy and lactation. Do not use the medicine if you are hypersensitive to any of the components of the drug.

People who have regular sex life must use contraception if they do not want to have a child. The drug is classified as genotoxic, therefore it is undesirable to conceive a child during the treatment period and for 3 months after the end of therapy.

Analogs and prices

There are a number of drugs on the pharmaceutical market that are similar in their mechanism of action, which is described in the instructions for the Zirgan eye gel. The price of the drug itself varies from 700 to 850 rubles, depending on the size of the markup in a particular pharmacy chain.

Analogues of the drug include:

Instructions, prices for Zirgan and analogues can be found at the pharmacy, but it is still not recommended to use such products on your own - this is possible only after prior consultation with a doctor and after diagnosis.

special instructions

To date, there is no information about an overdose of the drug. The drug cannot be used in the treatment of CMV retinal infections.

The effectiveness of the drug against keratoconjunctivitis that appeared against the background of other types of viral infections has not been established; this is not indicated in the instructions for the Zirgan eye gel. Reviews of analogues and the drug itself are quite laudatory. Patients claim that, despite the high likelihood of side effects, the drugs are well tolerated.

It should be remembered that Zirgan can cause discoloration of contact lenses, therefore, before applying the gel, they should be removed. The shelf life of the medicine is very short; from the moment you open the original packaging, you can only use the product for 21 days.

Zirgan eye gel has an antiviral effect on the eye area.

Zirgan eye gel is an effective antiviral agent.

Once the pathogen gets into the source of the virus, it destroys them. It has been applied and used for quite a long time.

Effect of the drug

The drug is an active antiviral agent.

Acts as a substrate, integrates into DNA and inhibits the production of viral DNA, in other words, destroys the virus.

The drug is active against cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus, Varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr virus.

When is it appointed?

It is used for diseases such as keratitis.

Eye Gel Zirgan instructions for use

The ointment should be used 1-2 drops into the lower bag 5 times within 24 days.

You should use the ointment until complete recovery. After which the use is reduced to 1 drop 3 times a day, the duration of the course should be no more than 21 days.

When using the ointment, you need to be extremely careful, avoid interaction of the drug with the skin. If you wear lenses, remove them before using the ointment; after installation, you can return them after 15-20 minutes.

During the period of time when you use Zirgan, increase your fluid intake to quickly remove the drug from your body.

Composition and release form

• Carbomer.
• Sodium hydroxyl.
• Benzalkonium chloride.
• Sorbitol.
• 1.5 mg Ganciclovir.
• Purified water.

In pharmacies it is sold as Zirgan eye gel in a 5 ml tube with a plastic cap. Packed in a cardboard box.

Zirgan eye gel is available in 5 ml tubes.

Side effects

• Conjunctivitis.
• Burning eyes.
• Mottled keratitis.
• Decreased vision clarity.
• Hyperemia of the eyes.
• Drowsiness.
• Dry mouth.
• Nervousness.
• Hepatitis.
• Arrhythmia.
• Chills.
• Dizziness.

During the treatment period, if you feel a deterioration in your vision, we recommend that you refrain from driving and other activities that require high emphasis on vision.

Contraindications

1. Children under 12 years old.
2. Pregnant women.
3. During lactation.
4. In case of allergy to the components of the drug.
5. For cytomegalovirus infections of the retina.
6. For immunodeficiency.

Special instructions for use

Apply eye gel into the conjunctival cavity 4-5 times within 24 hours. As the condition improves, the number of installations decreases.

J.05.A.B.06 Ganciclovir

S.01.A.D.09 Ganciclovir

Zirgan eye gel has been successfully used in ophthalmic practice for several years to treat inflammatory eye diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus. In this article we will look at the features of using the drug, its properties based on the action of the active substance, similar medications and reviews of patients who have used this medication.

Composition and description of action

Zirgan is a colorless eye gel, available in 5 gram tubes. The active component of the drug is ganciclovir. Its concentration in the gel is 1.5 mg per 1 g.

Wikipedia says that ganciclovir is a drug with antiviral activity that is used to treat and prevent cytomegalovirus infection (CMV). Let us recall that cytomegalovirus belongs to the herpesvirus family, and more precisely to human herpes virus type 5.

The excipients present in the gel are preservatives and thickeners. These are benzalkonium chloride, sorbitol, purified water, carbomer and sodium hydroxide.

How does the active ingredient work? According to its chemical structure, ganciclovir is a nucleoside that can slow down the replication of Herpes group viruses, especially types 1 and 2. In simple words, it prevents the virus from creating its own copies and integrating them into the DNA of a human cell.

Once in the body, the substance is converted into its active form (ganciclovir triphosphate) and begins to competitively inhibit the viral DNA polymerase (an enzyme involved in DNA division) faster than the polymerase of the cell itself. However, this is not a one-day process, since when the concentration of the active substance decreases, viral DNA replication resumes.

Indications for use

Although ganciclovir is active against several types of the virus, the use of Zirgan eye gel is mainly indicated for the treatment of superficial keratitis (inflammation of the ocular cornea) caused by Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.

Herpetic keratitis is treated not just with antiviral drugs, but also with drugs that have antiherpetic activity.

Contraindications

It is prohibited to use the medicine in the following cases:

• hypersensitivity to one of the components;
• allergic reaction to acyclovir and its derivatives;
• persons under 12 years of age;
• pregnant and lactating women.

The instructions draw special attention to the fact that a number of studies have revealed teratogenic activity (developmental disorders in the fetus), as well as an effect on the ability to produce offspring and potential genotoxicity. Therefore, during the course of treatment and for 3 months after its completion, it is strongly recommended to use protection during sexual intercourse.

Mode of application

The gel form allows the drug to stay in the eye longer than eye drops, but still, to achieve an effect, the use of the drug is quite frequent: 1 drop 5 times a day until the cornea is completely epithelialized. After this, treatment is continued for another week, instilling 1 drop three times a day. Therapy should not exceed a 21-day course.

The gel is placed in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye. Hands must be clean.

special instructions

This drug is a prescription drug, which means it should be prescribed only by a doctor for specific indications. The drug has not been found to have an effective effect on keratoconjunctivitis caused by other types of viruses. Also, no studies have been conducted on the effect of Zirgan on the body of people with immunodeficiencies.

The benzalkonium chloride contained in the drug can cause redness and irritation of the eyes. In addition, it has a destructive effect on soft contact lenses, changing their color. Therefore, before applying the eye gel, the lenses must be removed. Their further installation should be no earlier than 15 minutes after using the gel.

The medicine is stored out of the reach of children at a maximum temperature of 25 °C. Shelf life – 3 years from the date of manufacture. However, after opening the bottle, the gel should be used within 4 weeks.

Analogs

One of the biggest disadvantages of the gel is its price. At the time of writing, it was 800-850 rubles. Therefore, some people wonder whether the drug can be replaced with a similar drug.

If we consider that in pharmacology, an analogue is considered to be drugs with the same active ingredient, but produced under different brand names, then Zirgan has few such analogues. In Ukraine, the drug is known as Virgan eye gel.

The drug Cymevene is also registered with ganciclovir, but it is intended for intravenous administration, that is, it is not suitable for local treatment of a viral eye disease.

Eye ointments Virolex and Zovirax, the active component of which is acyclovir, are similar in action. If there are difficulties in acquiring Zirgan, the doctor may consider it advisable to include one of them in the treatment regimen