Cheaper analogues of Gastal, what can replace the drug?

Gastal is a combined antacid drug that helps cope with high acidity in the stomach. Prescribed for children from the age of six. There are contraindications that should not be ignored to avoid adverse reactions. Before starting the course, it is recommended to take into account drug interactions. The product has an average cost of 190–510 rubles. The price depends on the packaging. The selection of analogues of Gastal cheaper for heartburn is carried out exclusively by a gastroenterologist.

Indications for use of Gastal

Gastal is prescribed to patients with the following pathologies and disorders:

1. Dyspeptic symptoms that occur as a result of drinking alcohol, coffee, smoking, and taking certain groups of medications.
2. Stomach ulcer.
3. Gastritis.
4. Reflux esophagitis.
5. Hiatal hernia.

The drug is not recommended for patients under 6 years of age and older age groups (over 65 years), as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Before starting a course of treatment in children, the total body weight must be taken into account.

Interaction with other drugs

"Gastal" significantly affects the absorption of many drugs. These include tetracyclines, iron supplements, barbiturates, fat-soluble vitamins and many other medications. Therefore, you should not take Gastal at the same time as other medications: you should separate their intake by at least an hour. In general, this applies to all antacids, and not just such a representative as Gastal: analogues and substitutes of the drug also do not need to be taken together with any medications. This is fraught with unpleasant consequences.

Gastal - instructions for use

According to the instructions for use, Gastal is recommended to be absorbed in the oral cavity. The dosage depends on the diagnosis and the age category of the patient:

1. Adults and children over 12 years of age (weight over 50 kg): 2-4 tablets 4-6 times a day, 60 minutes after meals, and also before bedtime. The duration of the course is 14 days.
2. Heartburn (adults and children over 12 years of age): 2-4 tablets 4-6 times a day, regardless of meals. The duration of the course is 14 days.
3. Children over 12 years old (weight less than 50 kg), as well as from 6 to 12 years old: 1–2 pcs. 2–3 times a day. The duration of the course is no more than 14 days.

How to take Gastal: before or after meals

Gastal is recommended to be taken 50–60 minutes after meals. This helps reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and alleviate the condition. As for taking the drug for heartburn, it is absorbed regardless of meals.

Analogues of Gastal

On the shelves of pharmacies there is a wide assortment of some inexpensive analogs of Gastal and foreign substitutes, which differ in composition, indications, release form, course duration, drug interactions, age restrictions and cost.

When choosing an analogue, you should pay attention to the information specified in the instructions. You should not ignore the nuances of use and dosage, as this can lead to negative and irreversible consequences.

Prices for analogues of Gastal.

The cost of analogues depends on many nuances, for example, on the dosage and country of manufacture. What else can replace Gastal?

Gastal or Rennie - which is better for heartburn

Manufacturer: BAYER, France
Release form: chewable tablets

Active ingredient: calcium carbonate

Rennie is a foreign analogue of Gastal, which is prescribed to children from 12 years of age. The drug is an antacid. Helps fight high acidity. The effect of taking it is observed within a few minutes. It is excreted along with feces.

Rennie is prescribed for symptoms associated with increased acidity and reflux, dyspepsia. There are contraindications and drug interactions, which are recommended to be familiarized with before starting the course. The drug is used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If the recommendations and prescribed dosage are not followed, an adverse reaction of the body is observed.

For heartburn, you can use both Gastal and Renia. These two drugs are equally effective.

Active ingredients in antacid preparations and their classification

In antacid pharmacological agents, the active substances are compounds of sodium, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, silicon and bismuth. Attempts to classify this group of drugs have taken place repeatedly. Perhaps the most logical is to divide all antacids into soluble, and therefore absorbed into the blood, and insoluble - drugs that do not have a systemic effect on the body.

The first group of drugs includes soda, burnt magnesia, magnesium and calcium carbonates, as well as the popular drugs Tums and Rennie. The effect of taking such drugs is very fast, but does not last long, and there are side effects: belching, bloating (due to carbon dioxide formed as a result of a chemical reaction), increased blood pressure (due to the effect on the body’s water-salt balance), and the so-called “acid rebound”. This term refers to an increase in acid production after the antacid ends. As a result, heartburn returns quickly and with renewed vigor.

Non-absorbable antacids, among which is Gastal (cheaper analogues can belong to both the first and second groups), are devoid of these disadvantages. As a rule, these are combined products that contain various magnesium and aluminum compounds, as well as additional components that have antispasmodic, laxative and carminative effects.

Gastal or Gaviscon - which is better for reflux

Manufacturer: RECKITT BENKISER, UK
Release form: chewable tablets, suspension

Active ingredient: algeldrate + benzocaine + magnesium hydroxide

Gaviscon is a foreign inexpensive analogue of Gastal. Refers to antacids. Helps reduce hydrochloric acid in the stomach. After administration, it forms a protective barrier in the stomach that lasts for 4 hours. The drug reduces the irritable mucous surface within three minutes. The drug is not absorbed in the digestive tract.

What's best for reflux? For this disorder, you can use one of the drugs presented. They are equally effective. A gastroenterologist is responsible for prescribing, adjusting the course and dosage.

History of the use of antacids

People have been struggling with heartburn, the main symptom of acid-related diseases, since ancient times, using coral powder, belladonna extract, sodium bicarbonate or, more simply, baking soda. It must be said that many drugs have been developed that not only neutralize already produced hydrochloric acid, but also reduce its secretion. First these were anticholinergic drugs, then histamine H2 receptor blockers, and, finally, the most modern development - proton pump inhibitors. However, these drugs do not act immediately, have contraindications, and, moreover, are more expensive than the same Gastal. Any cheaper analogue of Gastal has a fairly quick effect - this is the main advantage for consumers of antacids, so it is unlikely that these drugs will leave the domestic pharmaceutical market anytime soon.

Gastal or Maalox - which is better?

Manufacturer: SANOFI, France
Release form: chewable tablets, suspension

Active ingredient: algeldrate + magnesium hydroxide

Maalox is an antacid. Helps neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The drug also reduces the peptic activity of gastric juice. It has absorbent and enveloping properties. Reduces the influence of factors whose impact negatively affects the mucous surface of the stomach and esophagus.

This analogue of Gastal is prescribed to patients with the following diseases:

1. Gastric and duodenal ulcers in the acute phase.
2. Esophageal hernia.
3. Reflux esophagitis.
4. Dyspepsia and its prevention.
5. Painful sensations arising in the epigastric region.
6. Heartburn due to non-compliance with proper nutrition, coffee abuse, smoking, and drinking alcohol.

Gastal and Maalox are equally effective for heartburn and other digestive tract disorders.

"Gastal": composition and release form

This antacid contains two components as active substances: aluminum hydroxide-magnesium carbonate in the form of a dried gel (450 mg in one tablet), and magnesium hydroxide (300 mg). The use of magnesium and aluminum compounds in a duet is justified: the first component has a mild laxative effect, neutralizing the fixing effect of the second. As a result, Gastal does not have a pronounced effect on the motor-evacuation function of the intestine.

Sorbitol, mannitol, lactose, starch, talc and others are used as auxiliary components in this preparation.

"Gastal" is produced in the form of cylindrical lozenges, with a score. You cannot swallow these tablets whole, and this is difficult - they are quite large. You shouldn’t even chew them: the best effect of the drug is achieved through gradual resorption. Thus, the convenience of tablets is combined with the effectiveness of a suspension.

This product is available in three types: tasteless tablets with mint flavor, cherry, and mint. Cardboard packs contain 2, 4, 5, 8 or 10 foil blisters with 6 tablets of the drug in each.

Gastal or Phosphalugel - which is better?

Manufacturer: ASTELLAS PHARMA, France
Release form: gel, suspension

Active ingredient: aluminum phosphate

Phosphalugel is an analogue of Gastal for heartburn. The drug is prescribed to children from 1 year of age. Refers to antacids. It has acid-neutralizing, enveloping and adsorbing properties. After use, there is no re-increase in hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The analog helps get rid of toxins, gases, pathogenic microorganisms.

The drug is prescribed to adults for the following pathologies:

• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• gastritis with normal and high acidity;
• hiatal hernia;
• reflux esophagitis;
• non-ulcer dyspepsia syndrome;
• diarrhea.

As for children, the Phosphalugel analogue is recommended for them for esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Russian antacids

Among antacids, no matter how large their list is, it is quite difficult to find a Russian analogue of Gastal that is cheap and effective. There is a domestically produced synonym for Rennie - the drug Inalan, which contains exactly the same active ingredients: calcium and magnesium carbonates.

Combined antacid drugs are also produced in Russia: Vikair and Vikalin, which is similar in composition and mechanism of action, produced by several pharmaceutical companies. The last two drugs are interesting because they contain not only magnesium, sodium and bismuth compounds that reduce acidity and protect the gastric mucosa, but also plant components: calamus rhizomes and buckthorn bark, which have antispasmodic and laxative effects. We can assume that Vikair is a cheap analogue of Gastal - the price for it, like Vikalin, is only 25-30 rubles for 10 tablets, while Gastal costs about 150 rubles for 12 tablets.

Gastal or Almagel - which is better

Manufacturer: TEVA, Bulgaria
Release form: suspension

Active ingredient: algeldrate + magnesium hydroxide

Almagel is a high-quality foreign analogue that belongs to antacid drugs. It helps neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach and reduces pepsin activity. The drug envelops and has adsorption properties. The effect of taking it is observed within a few minutes. If you use the product after meals, the effect lasts up to 3 hours. It is excreted along with feces.

Gastal analogue Almagel is recommended for the following disorders and pathologies:

• acute gastritis;
• gastritis of the chronic stage during the period of exacerbation with increased and normal acidity;
• colitis, duodenitis;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• hiatal hernia;
• reflux;
• erosion;
• pancreatitis in acute and chronic stages;
• heartburn, pain in the epigastric region.

Before starting the course, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the available contraindications, precautions, and drug interactions. Almagel is not prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Omez

Manufacturer: DR.
REDDIS, India Release form: capsules

Active ingredient: omeprazole

Omez is a foreign analogue of Gastal. The active substance affects hydrochloric acid in the stomach, that is, it reduces its production and concentration. The maximum effect of therapy is observed 4 days after the start of the course. The drug is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Indications for use of Omez:

• Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
• GERD.
• Hypersecretory states.
• As a combination therapy for gastric and duodenal ulcers caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
• Damage to the mucous surface of the stomach and duodenum while taking NSAIDs.
• Dyspepsia and erosion of the mucous surface.

Omez is prescribed to children from two years of age. Before starting the course, the child’s weight and diagnosis are taken into account. There are a significant number of contraindications.

The Omez analogue can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Before use, it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist if the patient is already taking other drugs from this group.

Gastal substitutes are medications that help cope with pathologies and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.