A sufficiently long known drug such as "Piracetam". Years pass, but the means of their positions do not give up. He is still prescribed by a doctor for a variety of neurological pathologies. What is the secret of this medicine? Are there any analogues? “Piracetam” is a popular medicine, therefore our review will be useful to many.
Drug action
The medicine belongs to the pharmacological group of nootropics. The action of "Piracetam" is aimed at stimulating cerebral circulation. As a result, the patient improves memory, speech, emotional state. The medicine "Piracetam" helps to improve cerebral metabolism and the restoration of connections between the hemispheres. The increased blood circulation increases the concentration of attention, stimulates the processes of memorization.
A big plus is the lack of sedative effect on the central nervous system. The drug is characterized by instant absorption and spread through the nerve tissues. The maximum concentration of the active substance is observed in the body after half an hour.
Dosage Forms
The drug is available in the form of:
- capsules, each of which contains 400 mg of the active substance;
- tablets - they may contain 200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg of the active ingredient;
- solution for injection - 200 mg.
Indications for appointment
Despite the numerous analogues available, Piracetam is quite in demand with many pathologies. The medicine is prescribed if the patient is diagnosed with:
- Cerebrovascular chronic insufficiency, which is manifested by dizziness, pain, speech disorders, memory.
- Ischemic stroke and its consequences.
- Dementia - vascular, senile. Alzheimer's disease.
- Psychoorganic syndrome. Even one that is due to alcoholism.
- Traumatic brain injury and its consequences.
- Acute neuroinfection of a viral nature.
- The consequences of intoxication. Including pathologies provoked by the use of morphine, barbiturates, ethanol, amphetamine.
- Pathologies of the nervous system, characterized by a reduced level of wakefulness, behavior disorders, deterioration of intellectual functions, and disturbances in the emotional background.
- Depression resistant to antidepressant treatment.
- Epilepsy.
Piracetam is often included in combination therapy to combat sickle cell anemia. To prevent the development of a vaso-occlusive crisis, the patient is recommended a tablet form of the drug. To stop the pathological process allow injections "Piracetam".
The use of the drug is advisable for many pathologies: dizziness, sluggish state. It demonstrates an excellent effect in the treatment of neurological, somato-vegetative consequences resulting from the use of antipsychotics or psychotropic drugs.
The drug is in demand in pediatrics. It is prescribed for complications of central nervous system damage, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, oligophrenia, memory impairment , speech disorders , poor learning ability.
Contraindications
A sufficiently effective medicine “Piracetam”, the price of which allows you to purchase this drug to all sectors of society, is not recommended for use with the following factors:
- allergy to the drug;
- lactation and pregnancy;
- renal failure;
- hemorrhagic stroke (especially in the acute stage);
- psychomotor agitation;
- Huntington's chorea;
- age up to 12 years.
The instruction for the drug warns that it is extremely cautious to take the medicine for bleeding, before serious surgical interventions and in patients with impaired hemostasis.
Dosage and Administration
Capsules and tablets are taken orally with water. The dose of medicine for each patient is selected strictly individually. At the same time, the age of the patient and his illness are taken into account.
The daily dose varies, as a rule, within 1.2-2.4 g. It is divided into 2-4 doses. In order not to provoke a sleep disturbance, it is recommended to use the last dose before 17.00.
Parenteral administration (injection) is prescribed to people who cannot take the medicine on their own. For example, in an unconscious state. The drug "Piracetam" can be administered intramuscularly. If necessary, the drug is prescribed by the intravenous drip or inkjet method.
Side effects
Along with high efficiency, the use of the drug can be accompanied by unpleasant effects. With the following side effects, it is necessary to inform the doctor in order to select more effective analogues. Piracetam is able to provoke:
- motor disinhibition;
- Depression
- mental agitation;
- irritability;
- headache and abdominal pain;
- asthenia;
- drowsiness;
- anxiety;
- sleep disturbance;
- exacerbation of epilepsy;
- imbalance;
- ataxia;
- hallucinations;
- confusion of consciousness;
- vomiting, nausea;
- itchy skin;
- weight gain;
- dermatitis;
- allergic reactions;
- urticaria;
- thrombophlebitis;
- fever
- pressure reduction.
Analogues of the drug
Do not forget that only a doctor can replace the prescribed medicine. Do not look for more effective analogues on your own.
"Piracetam" in terms of active substance is similar to the following drugs:
- Nootropil.
- "Lucetam."
- Memotropil.
- "Escotropil".
Allocate drugs with a similar mechanism of action. These include drugs:
- Amilonosar.
- "Acefen."
- "Vinpocetine."
- Vinpotropil.
- "Ginkgo biloba".
- Gopantam.
- Ginkoum.
- "Demanol."
- "Idebenone."
- Pantogam.
- Kogitum.
- "Cerebrolysate".
Drug cost
A big advantage is the low price for the drug "Piracetam". Below is the average cost of an effective remedy:
- pills (pack of 60 pills) - 35 rubles;
- capsules (60 pcs.) - 50 rubles;
- ampoules - about 40 rubles.
Piracetam or Nootropil?
Talking about the distinguishing characteristics of the two drugs is extremely difficult. Since the drugs "Nootropil", "Piracetam" contain the same active substances. Their effects on the body are also identical. The drug Nootropil is an analogue of the domestic medicine Piracetam.
Both drugs have an effect on the brain, stimulating its functioning in sick and healthy people.
The obvious difference between drugs (Nootropil, Piracetam) is the cost. Domestic medicine is much cheaper. The price of an analogue is 206.90 rubles.
Some doctors are inclined to the drug Nootropil. They believe that the medicine “Piracetam” is worse cleaned. It is as a result of this feature that the last drug in case of prolonged use causes problems with the liver and kidneys.
However, one should not forget that each body reacts to medications in its own way. Therefore, it is possible to determine which medicine is more effective only by testing both remedies.
Effective combination
In practice, the medicine "Piracetam" is often combined with a variety of drugs. This allows you to enhance the beneficial effect on the body. The most successful combination is considered a combination of drugs "Piracetam" - "Cinnarizine".
The last drug is an antihistamine, which was obtained to combat motion sickness, Meniere's disease. Further research allowed the drug “Cinnarizine” to be administered to the group of nootropics.
The action of this drug is to disrupt the entry of calcium ions into the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. As a result, the tone of arterioles decreases, and resistance to hypoxia increases. However, no effect on blood pressure was detected. In addition, the medicine “Cinnarizine” reduces blood viscosity by increasing the elasticity of red blood cells.
The main side effects of the drug are disruption of the digestive tract (constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea), headache, sweating, dry mouth.
The combination of drugs “Piracetam” - “Cinnarizine” significantly enhances the supply of oxygen to the brain. Today, the pharmaceutical industry has developed and produces special medicines that combine both drugs. These medicines are:
The drug "Mexidol"
This drug belongs to the pharmacological group of drugs that affect the nervous system.
The medication is distinguished by the following properties:
- antioxidant;
- antihypoxic;
- membrane stabilizing;
- nootropic;
- anxiolytic.
The drug "Mexidol" is characterized by pronounced stress-protective effects. In other words, the drug contributes to the body's resistance to stressful situations. This tool improves memory, is able to prevent, stop convulsions.
It is most advisable to prescribe a medicine for the following pathologies:
- head injuries;
- cramps
- epilepsy;
- phobias, neurosis;
- sclerosis;
- VVD;
- encephalopathy of a diverse nature.
Contraindicated in acute renal, hepatic insufficiency.
This medicine differs significantly, like other drugs "Piracetam" analogues, price. The cost of the Mexidol medication is 412.8 rubles.
If we talk about side effects, then the following manifestations are possible:
- nausea;
- drowsiness;
- dry mouth
- allergy.
A beneficial effect for the body can be achieved by a combination of drugs "Piracetam" - "Mexidol". This combination improves the results of stimulation of mental abilities, in the recovery of patients after ischemic stroke, coma, in the treatment of psycho-organic syndrome, chronic alcoholism.
The big plus of Mexidol is the lack of an activating effect on the body. This tool, unlike the drug "Piracetam", does not cause sleep disturbances. In addition, it does not provoke convulsive activity.
Compared to Piracetam, Mexidol significantly surpasses it in therapeutic efficacy.
special instructions
Do not use the medicine "Piracetam" without a doctor's prescription. Patients who are recommended this drug should remember the following special instructions:
- In case of brain damage, the effective Piracetam should be used in combination with psychotropic drugs.
- It is forbidden to abruptly discontinue the drug with prolonged treatment of myoclonia.
- With frequent sleep disturbance, it is better to transfer the evening medication to the morning.
- During therapy with Piracetam, the functioning of the kidneys should be monitored. For liver problems, the work of this body is also monitored.
- When using this medication, it is advisable to exclude vehicle driving and hazardous activities that require concentration and special attention from a person.
It is quite difficult to answer the question of what is better than Piracetam. This drug for a long time does not descend from the shelves of pharmacies. It is prescribed for many different pathologies. And besides, the cost of the medicine is low. This makes it accessible to all segments of the population.