Metamizole sodium: what it is for, dosage and side effects

Metamizole sodium, metamizole magnesium or dipyrone, is part of the group of NSAIDs, also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that act effectively as analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory . This drug hit the market in 1922, and could be purchased without a prescription until the 1970s, when agranulocytosis was discovered as one of the main adverse effects of metamizole sodium.

Dipyrone acts at the level of the central and peripheral nervous system, mainly inhibiting cyclooxygenase, the enzyme related to fever and pain, as well as prostaglandins, pro-inflammatory factors and, finally, exerting a direct inhibition in smooth muscle to be able to act as a mild antispasmodic in colic

Metamizole sodium for acute or chronic pain

Metamizole sodium acts as an inhibitor of pain signals . Therefore, it is useful to treat acute and chronic pain, such as:

• Neuritis
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Severe dental pain
• Tumor pain
• Trauma
• Surgeries
• Gout
• Cancer

Metamizole sodium for mild or occasional pain

Similarly, metamizole sodium is also used to treat other pain, such as:

• Migraine
• Crampy pain, be it stomach, biliary, uterine, or kidney
• Neoplastic pain
• Postoperative pain
• Joint pain

Metamizole sodium for fever

Second, metamizole is useful for treating fever , especially those that are difficult to handle, that is, they do not subside with other antipyretic drugs such as acetaminophen, or those fevers that do not decrease with the application of physical means.

Metamizole sodium is available in various formats, which can be purchased according to the needs of each patient:

• Suppositories : 250 mg and 500 mg.
• Tablets : 500 mg.
• Capsules : 500 mg and 525 mg.
• Blisters : 1, 2 and 2.5 gr.

Metamizole sodium: dosage

The standard dose for adults is:

• 1 deep intramuscular ampoule every 6 to 8 hours.
• 1 ampoule intravenously dissolved in 20 cc of solution for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Oral route 500 to 575 mg every 6 to 8 hours.
• Rectal route 1 g every 6 to 8 hours.

In children , the dose ranges from:

• 2 to 6 drops every 6 to 8 hours, from 4 months to 4 years of age.
• 10 to 15 drops every 6 to 8 hours for children between 5 and 14 years of age.
• For teens over 15 years of age, the standard dose is 20 drops every 6 to 8 hours.
• Oral route, intramuscular route and rectal route of 10 to 20 mg / kg every 6 or 8 hours. It is recommended not to exceed the maximum dose of 2 grams / dose or 6 grams per day.
• For intramuscular use, the stipulated dose is 40 mg / kg every 8 hours. The maximum daily dose is 6 gr.

Metamizole sodium begins to act 30 or 60 minutes after being administered and has its maximum effectiveness peak 90 minutes after administration. You should never administer this medicine without the indication and supervision of a specialist.

A study published by the Revista Mexicana de Pediatría ^[1] , in relation to the effectiveness of ibuprofen, metamizole, nimesulide and paracetamol in children to treat fever, it was concluded that after having administered the drugs, metamizole showed greater efficacy in terms of to the durability of the normal temperature and in terms of the rapidity to decrease the fever, since it is a relatively safe drug in children up to 12 years of age at doses of 10 to 15 mg / kg every 6 or 8 hours. The adverse effects described after prolonged administration include agranulocytosis, leukopenia and hemolytic anemia, among others.

There are some specified cases in which metamizole sodium is contraindicated, such as:

• Hypersensitivity : people with hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or who have had previous allergic reactions.
• Babies : it is contraindicated in newborns and infants weighing less than 5 kilos or less than 3 months of age.
• Under one year : likewise, infants who are less than one year old, cannot be administered metamizole rectally or intravenously.
• Asthma or urticaria : patients who present with asthma or urticaria reactions after taking other analgesics, such as acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol.
• Bone marrow : it is also contraindicated in patients with bone marrow disorders.
• Hepatic impairment : Metamizole sodium is also recommended for people with impaired liver function.
• Hematopoietic diseases : patients suffering from hematopoietic diseases should not take metamizole.
• Hypotension : its use is also discouraged in patients with hypotension.
• Renal insufficiency : it is also not recommended in patients with renal insufficiency.
• Pregnant women : during pregnancy, especially in the first and second trimesters, do not take metamizole sodium.
• Lactation : its use is also discouraged during breastfeeding.
• Alcohol : it is not recommended to take metamizole sodium if you have drunk alcohol in the last few hours.
• Driving : while driving, refrain from taking metamizole sodium.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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