The season of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) is in full swing, and this is a good time for manufacturers of not only effective medicines, but also all kinds of dummies, aptly nicknamed “fuflomycin” among the people.
About what OTC drugs are not “magic pills” in the treatment of colds, flu and bronchiolitis, told the resource “Medical Russia”. And we offer this list to your attention.
If you already experience unpleasant symptoms of SARS, pay attention to the selection of cough and cold remedies for children and adults.
14. Arbidol
Thanks to a large-scale marketing campaign conducted in the 2000s, Arbidol (a trademark of the drug umifenovir) was at one time the best-selling medicine for the flu and the common cold in Russia.
However, marketing, marketing, and Arbidol cannot boast proven effectiveness in countering viruses. You will not find it in WHO guidelines for flu treatment, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not give Arbidol a “green light” for sale in the United States.
Despite the fact that Arbidol is present in the international drug classification system (ATX classifier), this does not prove its usefulness.
13. Amiksin (aka Tilaxin, Tiloron and Lavomax)
It is an inducer of interferon, used as an antiviral agent. Its safety is not proven. The studies were conducted, but were interrupted due to the risks of developing unwanted effects.
12. Broncho-munal
The active substance of this drug are lysates (fragments of destroyed cells) of 8 types of bacteria that must accumulate in the intestinal lymphoid plaques and “boost” innate and acquired immunity in the fight against SARS.
However, there is no evidence that Broncho-munal acts exactly as the manufacturer claims.
11. Galavit
There are no clinical studies confirming the effectiveness of this drug. Therefore, it can be safely attributed to the number of dummies, the most useless medicines for colds and flu.
10. Homeopathy
It’s tasty, because it contains sugar, but it’s useless. This type of dummy drug for colds and flu includes a number of remedies:
- Agri.
- Anaferon.
- Aflubin.
- Flu heel.
- Gnflucid.
- Oscillococcinum.
- Ergoferon.
9. Grippferon
This ARVI drug contains interferon alfa-2b. Interferon has a proven effect in the treatment of viral hepatitis, multiple sclerosis and even cancer.
But there is one BUT. It is effective when injected, but there is no evidence of effectiveness when administered locally (in drops, sprays, and suppositories).
In addition, when the concentration of interferon is sufficient to fight viruses, it causes side effects that are similar to the effects of acute respiratory viral infections on the body.
8. Derinat
The active substance is sodium deoxyribonucleate or an aqueous solution containing DNA residues, which for some reason should help the body in the fight against viruses.
Controlled clinical trials of Derinat have not been conducted, and in the foreign lists of WHO, FDA, as well as in the list of vital medicines in the Russian Federation, it is not available.
7. Imudon
Contains lysates of various microorganisms, including two types of candida. Recall that Candida albicans is a fungus that occurs in the microflora of any healthy person, and when actively propagated, it causes thrush and other diseases.
How lysates of candida and bacterial fungi can stimulate human immunity to fight SARS is unclear. And controlled studies will not answer this question, since there are none.
6. IRS-19
Once again, bacterial lysates are on the treatment stage. The only difference from Derinat and Broncho-munal is the nasal introduction.
5. Kagocel
The first five most useless medicines for colds and flu are discovered by a drug belonging to the group of interferon inducers. They should stimulate the production of their own interferon in the human body.
The effectiveness of Kagocel has not been proven, and the exact mechanism by which this agent should influence the production of interferons is unknown.
It is also worth considering that the precursor of the active substance of this drug is gossypol, which inhibits spermatogenesis, and is even considered as a male contraceptive. WHO researchers concluded that the harm of gossypol exceeds the benefits, and its use as a contraceptive was prohibited.
4. Polyoxidonium
According to the manufacturer, the Russian product with the active substance called “azoximera bromide” has antioxidant, immunostimulating, weak anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects.
It would be good if all these benefits were confirmed in the course of independent clinical trials that meet modern standards, but they were not carried out. What did not prevent azoximer bromide from becoming part of the influenza vaccine Grippol.
3. Cycloferon
The top 3 “fuflomycin” from SARS includes a drug that has no registration as a drug anywhere except in the CIS countries.
And although Cycloferon is on the Russian list of vital and most important medicines, not a single double-blind, placebo-controlled study has been conducted that can confirm or deny its benefit in the fight against SARS.
2. Tsitovir-3
This drug has not one, but three active ingredients:
- Alpha Glutamyl Tryptophan.
- Vitamin C.
- Bendazole
And on its official website, Tsitovir-3 is positioned as an immunomodulating and antiviral drug that is active against influenza viruses and other pathogens that provoke the development of SARS.
However, there are no studies on the effectiveness of Tsitovir-3, nor are there any justifications for its pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action.
1. Echinacea
Based on this herbal product, many flu and cold preparations have been created. Among them, Echinacea HEXAL, Echinacea VILAR, Immunal, Immunorm and many others.
Studies have not revealed significant efficacy of echinacea in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections.
