Epilepsy is a neurological disease of a chronic nature, which manifests itself in the predisposition of the human body to the sudden development of convulsive attacks. The pathogenesis of this condition is based on paroxysmal discharges in the nerve cells of the brain.
general information
Epilepsy is characterized by typical recurrent seizures or disorders of consciousness (somnambulism, twilight dizziness, trance). Also, this disease is characterized by a gradual development of personality changes and epileptic dementia. Sometimes such a disease provokes the appearance of psychoses that occur in acute or chronic form. They can be accompanied by such affective disorders as, for example, fear, aggressiveness, longing, high ecstatic mood, delirium, hallucinations.
In the event that the development of epileptic seizures is due to somatic pathology, then they speak of symptomatic epilepsy.
In medical practice, they often encounter so-called temporal lobe epilepsy. A convulsive focus in this condition is localized exclusively in the temporal lobe of the brain.
Can epilepsy be cured? Diagnosis and therapy of this disease is carried out by epileptologists and neurologists. Experts say that it is not possible to completely eliminate such a pathology. However, there are quite a few drugs that can suppress neuropathic pain and improve the patient's quality of life. One such medicine is Katena (300 mg). Instructions, reviews, analogues and other features of this tool are presented below.
Composition, packaging and form of release
In what form does the Katena drug go on sale? Reviews of patients report that such a tool is found in pharmacies only in the form of capsules.
The dosage of the medication in question may be different. 100 mg capsules (No. 3 size) are white, 300 mg (No. 1 size) are yellow, and 400 mg (No. 0 size) are orange.
The contents of the drug is a white crystalline powder.
Capsules are placed in blisters and cardboard packs, respectively.
What is the active ingredient in the Katena medication? Reviews of experts report that the high effectiveness of this drug is directly related to its main active ingredient - gabapentin. Also, the composition under consideration includes such additional components as corn starch, talc and lactose monohydrate.
As for the capsule shell of the capsules, it consists of gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171) and yellow / red iron oxide dye.
pharmachologic effect
How does an antiepileptic agent like Katena work? The reviews of specialists, as well as the attached instructions contain information that the therapeutic effectiveness of such a medication is due to the presence of gabapentin in it, that is, a substance that is similar in structure to the neurotransmitter GABA or the so-called gamma-aminobutyric acid. However, it should be noted that the mechanism of action of this drug is different from the influence of other drugs that interact with GABA receptors.
According to the instructions, gabapentin is able to bind to the Ξ±2-Ξ΄ subunit of voltage-independent calcium channels, as well as inhibit the flow of Ca ions, which is one of the causes of neuropathic pain.
Other properties
Why is Katena so popular? Reviews of doctors and patients report that taking this medication significantly improves the general condition of the patient. This is primarily due to the fact that with neuropathic pain, the active substance of the drug can reduce glutamate-dependent death of nerve cells, increase GABA synthesis, and also inhibit the release of neurotransmitters belonging to the monoamine group.
In therapeutic doses, the drug in question does not bind to neurotransmitter receptors, including benzodiazepine, glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, glycine, GABAA and GABAA receptors. Unlike drugs like Carbamazepine and Phenytoin, Katena (reviews of it below) does not interact with Na channels.
Pharmacokinetic features
Is the active substance of the Catena preparation (300 mg) absorbed? Instructions and expert reviews state that gabapentin is absorbed from the digestive tract.
After oral administration of capsules, the maximum concentration of the main active ingredient in the blood is reached after 3 hours. The absolute bioavailability of the drug is approximately 60%. Simultaneous ingestion of food (including foods with a high fat content) has no effect on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of gabapentin.
The active component of the drug does not bind to plasma proteins. In patients with epilepsy, its concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is approximately 20% of those in plasma.
Excretion of gabapentin is carried out through the renal system. Signs of biological transformation of this component in the human body are not detected. Gabapentin is not able to induce oxidases, which are involved in the metabolism of other drugs.
Withdrawal of the drug is linear. The half-life of it does not depend on the dosage taken and is about 5-7 hours.
Gabapentin clearance decreases in the elderly, as well as in patients with impaired renal function. The active substance of the drug is removed from the blood during hemodialysis. The plasma concentrations of gabapentin in children are similar to those in adults.
Indications for taking capsules
In what cases can a patient be prescribed a drug such as Katena (300 mg)? Instructions and reviews report that the following conditions are indications for the use of the mentioned medication:
- neuropathic pain in adult patients;
- partial convulsions (including conditions with secondary generalization) in adolescents from 12 years old and adults (as monotherapy);
- partial convulsions (including conditions with secondary generalization) in children from 3 years old and adults (as an additional drug as part of complex treatment).
Contraindications to taking capsules
When should you not take Katena? Instructions and reviews report that such a medication is strictly contraindicated in children under 3 years of age. It is also prohibited for use when observing a patient with high sensitivity to the components of the drug.
With extreme caution, the medication is prescribed for people with renal failure.
The drug "Catena": instructions for use
Reviews of specialists and instructions for use report that the drug in question is a highly effective and popular antiepileptic drug. Taking it inside is permissible regardless of the meal. Reduce the dosage, cancel the medication, or replace it with an alternative medicine, you need to gradually, over a week.
With neuropathic pain, the initial daily dose of the drug (in adults) should be 900 mg (in three doses). If the effect obtained is insufficient, then the dosage is gradually increased.
The maximum daily dose of Katena is 3600 mg.
The interval between doses of capsules should not be more than 12 hours, as there is a high risk of the recurrence of seizures.
With the development of partial seizures in children 3-12 years old, the medication is prescribed in an initial dose of 10-15 mg / kg (divided into 3 doses). Over 3 days, the dosage is gradually increased (to the most effective).
What else do you need to know before you start taking Katena? According to experts, it is not necessary to monitor the concentration of this medication during treatment. The medication in question can be used in combination with other anticonvulsants.
Side effects
What side effects can a Katena medication (300 mg) cause? Reviews report that after taking this drug, it is possible to develop the following conditions (one or more at the same time):
- amnesia, leukopenia, rhinitis, ataxia, pneumonia, confusion, bone fractures, impaired coordination of movements, cough, depression, pharyngitis;
- thrombocytopenic purpura, dizziness, diarrhea, dysarthria, decreased white blood cell count, increased nervous irritability, arthralgia, nystagmus, myalgia;
- drowsiness, urinary incontinence, impaired thinking, manifestations of vasodilation, tremors, urinary tract infections, cramps, itching, amblyopia, maceration of the skin, diplopia, rash;
- hyperkinesia, acne, strengthening / weakening / absence of reflexes, arterial hypertension, paresthesia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anxiety, impotence, hostility, erythema multiforme, gait disturbance, back pain;
- change in staining of teeth, fatigue, increased appetite, swelling of the face, dry mouth, asthenia, nausea, weight gain, vomiting, accidental trauma, flatulence;
- anorexia, peripheral edema, gingivitis, flu-like syndrome, abdominal pain, fluctuations in blood glucose concentration, viral infection, otitis media, pancreatitis, asthenia, changes in liver function tests, general malaise.
Drug interaction
Can I take Katena capsules with other medicines? Reviews of experts indicate that while taking this medication with antacids, the absorption of gabapentin from the digestive tract is reduced.
When used in parallel with Felbamate, the half-life of the latter is likely to increase.
It's important to know!
The abrupt cessation of anticonvulsant treatment in people with partial seizures provokes the development of convulsive status. Therefore, if it is necessary to reduce the dose, cancel gabapentin or replace it with an alternative medicine, this should be done gradually, over one week.
Capsules "Katena" do not represent an effective tool for the treatment of abscess convulsive seizures.
The parallel use of the mentioned drug with other anticonvulsant drugs often caused false-positive results of the test, which was conducted to determine the protein in the urine. Therefore, during treatment it is recommended to use a more specific method of precipitation of sulfosalicylic acid.
People with impaired renal function, as well as those who are on hemodialysis, need to adjust the dosage regimen.
Elderly patients may also need to adjust the dosage regimen of the drug, since in this category of patients a likely decrease in renal clearance.
The safety and effectiveness of the treatment of epilepsy with the Katena medicine in young patients, as well as in children under 12 years of age, have not been established.
During the treatment with such a drug, alcohol is prohibited.
The drug "Catena": reviews of doctors and patients, analogues
The analogues of the medicine in question are: Eplirintin, Gabagamma, Gabapentin, Neurontin, Tebantin, Konvalis, Egipentin.
According to experts, the medicine "Katena" is a fairly effective antiepileptic medicine, which is especially popular with those who regularly suffer from seizures and seizures with eiplepsy. As for patients, they fully support the opinion of doctors.
However, negative feedback is often found among positive reviews. According to most patients, the most important drawback of the drug in question is its overpriced (compared with similar medicines). Experts argue that the drug, the active substance of which is gabapentin, has much fewer contraindications for use, as well as side effects manifested by the nervous system.