In order to avoid heatstroke, many citizens will bring some summer medicine. Among them, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water has become an essential medicine for everyone to prevent and treat heatstroke.
Recently, the high temperature has continued in various regions, and many people suffering from heatstroke may have overlooked a fatal detail. Please remember that Huoxiang Zhengqi can't be eaten with cephalosporin, which is highly toxic. Is it true that the doctor said that taking Huoxiang Zhengqi water with cephalosporin will kill them immediately?
"Although the expression is not rigorous, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water really can't be eaten with cephalosporin." Xu Lianghui, a clinical pharmacist in the Chinese pharmacy of the First People's Hospital of Hangzhou, said.
Huoxiang Zhengqi preparation has the functions of relieving exterior syndrome, eliminating dampness, regulating qi and regulating middle energizer. It can be used for treating common cold caused by exogenous wind-cold, internal injury and dampness stagnation or summer injury and summer dampness, with symptoms of headache, heaviness in chest and diaphragm, abdominal distension and pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Clinically, Huoxiang Zhengqi preparation is often used for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cold and heatstroke.
At present, besides Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, there are oral liquid, soft capsules and dripping pills on the market.
However, among all preparations, only Pogostemon rugosa Zhengqi water contains 4-5% ethanol (commonly known as alcohol). Alcohol plays a role in the disulfiram-like reaction caused by taking Huoxiang Zhengqi water and cephalosporin at the same time.
Xu Lianghui explained that when taking antibacterial drugs such as cephalosporins or metronidazole, even a small amount of alcohol or alcoholic beverages may cause adverse reactions such as headache, vomiting, palpitation and dyspnea, and in severe cases, symptoms such as respiratory depression, myocardial infarction, shock and acute heart failure may occur.
this reaction is called the sulfur-like reaction of abstinence, also known as the disulfiram-like reaction.
The chemical structures of these antibacterial drugs contain structural components similar to Disulfuron, and their effects are similar to those of abstinence from alcohol. Therefore, once a patient drinks alcohol after taking antibacterial drugs containing alcohol-abstaining sulfur, this component will prevent acetaldehyde, a harmful substance in alcohol, from being oxidized and metabolized into water and carbon dioxide, which will lead to an increase in acetaldehyde concentration in the human body, and then a sulfur-abstinence-like reaction will occur, resulting in discomfort.
This means that other preparations of Huoxiang Zhengqi without alcohol will not cause disulfiram-like reaction with cephalosporin.
"In fact, citizens don't need to panic at all. We have made an introduction and explanation here, so everyone should pay more attention to it in their daily lives." Li Qingyu, chief pharmacist of the pharmacy department, said.
At present, commonly used oral drugs containing ethanol include Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, Ten Drops of Water, Compound Glycyrrhiza Oral Solution, L-carnitine Oral Solution, Erguoting Caffeine Oral Solution, etc. Topical preparations include bonesetting water, Qushang Xiaozhong Tincture, Jintongxiao Tincture, Shujin Huoluo Liquor, Shexiang Shuhuo Liniment, Shexiang Qutong Liniment, Xiaozhong Zhitong Tincture, etc., as well as drugs containing ethanol mentioned in the instructions.
Both these drugs and cephalosporins may cause disulfiram-like reactions.
Li Qingyu reminded that from the perspective of safety, if you take cephalosporins, don't drink alcohol, don't take drugs containing ethanol, such as Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, etc. within 7 days after stopping taking them, and avoid using drugs containing ethanol externally. If you take drugs containing ethanol, it is best to wait two days before taking cephalosporins to avoid discomfort.
If disulfiram-like reaction occurs carelessly, patients with mild reaction can generally subside without special treatment, and the symptoms will be alleviated or disappeared after stopping drinking; In case of serious poisoning reaction, you must seek medical treatment immediately.
In fact, there are many traditional Chinese medicines to prevent heatstroke, such as wind oil essence and cooling oil, which are relatively cheap and safe, and should be used with caution for allergic people, infants and pregnant women. Oral Chinese medicines include Kelihua capsule and honeysuckle dew, and Chinese herbal pieces such as honeysuckle, mint, agastaches, lotus leaves and chrysanthemums can also be kept for tea.