Nootropil is one of many trade names for a drug whose active substance is piracetam. Popular brands in Brazil and Europe: Nootropil, Lucetam, Oikamid, Geratam, Biotropil. In Russia - Nootropil. In the USA, Nootropyl. Breinox - in Ecuador and Venezuela. Dinagen - and Mexico. Noostan - in Argentina. The chemical name of piracetam is 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. 400 mg capsules, 20% and 33% solutions in 125 ml vials, 20% solution in 5 ml ampoules, and also tablets (with a dosage of 800 and 1200 mg of piracetam) are available. Nootropil in our country is used in narcological, psychiatric and neurological practice. Doctors prescribe piracetam for certain diseases, for example, for the diagnosis of myoclonus (involuntary twitching of muscles or muscle groups), but it also has a wider range of uses.
The mechanism is unclear how the Nootropil drug works for various diseases. The instruction contains information that piracetam affects neural, cognitive functions (increases mental performance and memory) and vascular function. But it does not act as a sedative or stimulant. An increase in blood flow and oxygen consumption in part of the brain was found, but this may be a side reaction of increased brain activity, and not the primary effect due to the mechanism of action of the drug. Nootropilum affects the functions of the central nervous system, changing the rate of propagation of excitations in the brain, improves metabolic processes in nerve cells. In addition, the drug affects the rheological properties (fluidity increases) and improves blood microcirculation, while not causing a vasodilating effect.
The drug Nootropil is characterized by low toxicity. The instruction provides a large list of indications for the use of the drug. These include the psycho-organic syndrome: decreased elderly memory, inattention, low activity, mood variability, impaired gait, Alzheimer's disease, dementia. Piracetam is successfully used in the treatment of speech disorders, the emotional sphere as a result of ischemic stroke, as well as to increase mental and motor activity. Nootropil is prescribed for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and psycho-organic syndromes in chronic alcoholism, as well as for the recovery from a coma after injuries or intoxication of the brain. With the help of this drug, dizziness is treated in elderly patients. Piracetam helps children with low learning ability.
There is a marked decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients who use the drug Nootropil. Instructions for piracetam indicate its effective positive effect in the treatment of the effects of stroke and ischemia. It is also used to reduce the symptoms of aphasia (damage to various forms of speech activity as a result of injuries, strokes, some mental illnesses and tumors). It has beneficial effects on nerves and muscles, so it is sometimes prescribed to help muscles. Especially in cases of agraphia (loss of ability to write while maintaining intelligence and without disturbance of the functions of the upper limbs) and dyspraxia (due to focal lesions in the brain, violations of targeted actions and movements occur while preserving their correct elements).
The doctor prescribes the drug Nootropil. How to take it for adults or children (duration, dosage) - this order depends on the age of the patient and the nature of the disease. Adults take 2–4 doses from 0.03 to 0.16 g per kg of body weight. The duration of treatment is prescribed from 6 to 8 weeks. The initial dose in a serious condition of the patient can reach 12 g per day. Children take the drug 2-3 times a day from 0.03 to 0.05 g / kg of the child's weight. The course of treatment should be at least 3 weeks. Evening medication is canceled if sleep disturbance is observed. For vasospastic disorders (Raynaud's syndrome or deep vein thrombosis), treatment with a daily dose of 4.8 to 9.6 g is most effective. It is divided into three doses with an interval of 8 hours. In order to improve learning ability, 800 mg is usually taken twice a day.
The drug Nootropil has very few side effects. The instruction lists them so that patients can understand and control their condition, and if necessary, explain to the doctor what is happening to him because of the effect of the medicine. Usually these are symptoms of general irritability: anxiety, insomnia, irritability, headache, agitation, nervousness and tremor. Headache is due to the use of large doses of piracetam, it can be alleviated by the joint administration of acetylcholine or other analogues.