In psychotic conditions, doctors prescribe the drug "Azaleptin." The instruction reports that this medicine is an atypical antipsychotic. This means that, unlike antipsychotic drugs of the old generation, this drug is much less likely to cause side effects. Extrapyramidal disorders (tremors, motor disorders) are rare and mild. This antipsychotic is well tolerated by patients and successfully used in the treatment of many mental disorders.
Composition and effect of the drug
The active component of the drug is clozapine. This substance blocks receptors that are sensitive to dopamine, and also acts on the parts of the brain that are responsible for human emotions and behavior. The drug relieves manifestations of psychosis (delirium, agitation, hallucinations) and soothes the central nervous system. In addition, the drug has an antiemetic and hypnotic effect.
Unlike many other antipsychotics, clozapine does not cause cataleptic disorders, does not affect cognitive function and does not increase the level of the hormone prolactin.
The instruction of "Azaleptin" reports that the therapeutic effect of the drug develops in stages:
- In the first 3 to 6 days of treatment, the patient decreases mental agitation, anxiety, aggressiveness and irritability.
- In 7-14 days after the start of the course of therapy, the manifestations of psychosis disappear.
- After 20 - 40 days, the patient's signs of negativity are reduced - a condition in which the patient counteracts any request and tries to do the opposite.
The medicine is produced in the form of tablets, each of which contains 25 mg or 100 mg of the active substance. The composition of "Azaleptin" also includes additional ingredients: lactose, calcium stearate and starch. They contribute to better absorption of the active ingredient.
Indications
This antipsychotic has a pronounced and rapid sedative effect. There are many mental and neurotic disorders that can be treated with Azaleptin. Indications for use of the drug are as follows:
- Acute and chronic schizophrenia, accompanied by psychotic symptoms.
- Bipolar disorder is a disease in which periods of unnaturally high spirits and increased activity alternate with phases of depression and loss of strength.
- Manic states in various diseases of the psyche. These are pathologies characterized by unreasonable fun, unjustified optimism, excessive talkativeness, hyperactivity and sleep disorders.
- Increased nervous irritability and excessive emotionality in children.
- Insomnia against a background of neurotic disorders.
It is important to remember that this drug is strictly prescription and self-medication in this case is absolutely unacceptable. Prescribe a powerful antipsychotic "Azaleptin" can only be a doctor. Psychiatrists often use this medicine in cases where the patient has developed tolerance to other antipsychotic drugs.
Contraindications
However, such a medicine can not be taken by all patients. Instructions "Azaleptin" reports the following contraindications to the appointment of this antipsychotic:
- The drug should not be taken in patients with an allergy to clozapine and other components of the drug.
- The medicine is contraindicated if in the past the patient had deviations in the clinical analysis of blood after treatment with antipsychotics.
- This medication should not be taken with severe liver and kidney diseases, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, as well as with myasthenia gravis.
- Neuroleptic is not used to treat psychosis of toxic etiology (including alcohol delirium).
- The use of the drug is strictly prohibited in the treatment of pregnant women and nursing mothers.
- Children under 5 years of age are not prescribed this medicine. The question of the possibility of using the drug at an older age is decided by the children's psychiatrist.
Unwanted effects
This drug has a milder effect than other antipsychotics and is usually well tolerated by patients. However, the Azaleptin instruction warns of possible undesirable effects during the course of treatment.
In the first weeks of taking the medicine, the patient may have deviations from the hematopoiesis. In some patients, the number of granulocytes in the blood sharply decreases, up to the occurrence of agranulocytosis. Symptoms of this condition resemble flu: the patient has a fever, chills and sore throat. Therefore, during the treatment period, it is necessary to take a blood test periodically. If the phenomena of agranulocytosis have already arisen, then the drug is canceled.
The central nervous system can also negatively react to the drug. Drowsiness, lethargy, dizziness are sometimes noted. Extrapyramidal symptoms (tremors, restlessness, hyperkinesis) are observed very rarely and are not very pronounced.
Some patients have dyspeptic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dry mouth. The drug can cause tachycardia and changes in blood pressure with a change in body position (orthostatic collapse). Long-term use of an antipsychotic can lead to an increase in body weight.
Azaleptin tablets should be taken only as prescribed by the doctor, carefully observing the dosage. Exceeding the recommended amount of the drug is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe poisoning. It is important to remember that this medicine is an active psychotropic drug. An overdose of such tablets leads to severe drowsiness, stupor, and in severe cases, to collapse and coma. Treatment of poisoning is carried out in a hospital, where the patient is given droppers with detoxification solutions and resuscitation is carried out to maintain cardiac and respiratory function.
How to take the drug
The medicine "Azaleptin" is recommended to be taken after a meal. The dosage of the drug is determined by the attending physician. Usually, therapy is started with a small amount of the drug: from 25 mg to 50 mg per day. Then, if necessary, the dosage is gradually increased by about 25-50 mg daily. Maximum per day is allowed to take no more than 600 mg of antipsychotic.
After improving well-being, the patient is transferred to maintenance doses from 25 mg to 150 mg per day. Patients of advanced age are prescribed reduced dosages of the drug.
You can not abruptly stop taking "Azaleptin." Otherwise, withdrawal syndrome may develop, especially if the drug has been taken for a long time and in large doses. This condition is characterized by anxiety, insomnia, and exacerbation of signs of a mental illness. Therefore, antipsychotics are canceled gradually, gradually reducing the daily dose.
special instructions
While taking "Azaleptin" should completely eliminate the use of alcohol. Joint administration of a neuroleptic drug with alcohol causes a sharp depression of breathing and cardiac activity, which threatens with loss of consciousness up to a coma.
During the period of treatment with an antipsychotic, it is forbidden to drive a car and perform complex types of work. This drug is a powerful sedative and can significantly attenuate concentration.
Interaction with other medicines
The drug "Azaleptin" interacts with many drugs. Therefore, if the patient takes any other medications, then before appointing an antipsychotic it is necessary to warn the attending physician about this.
During the course of treatment with Azaleptin, it is not recommended to take the following drugs:
- Other antipsychotics, as well as antidepressants and benzodiazepine tranquilizers. This combination of drugs can lead to the development of malignant antipsychotic syndrome, which is accompanied by high fever and seizures. In addition, there is a risk of respiratory depression and a sharp drop in blood pressure.
- Drugs that inhibit bone marrow. Their joint administration with Azaleptin can lead to agranulocytosis. Such medicines include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gold preparations, drugs for malaria and thyreostatics, as well as "Carbamazepine".
- Medicines "Cimetidine" and "Erythromycin". These medicines increase the side effects of antipsychotics.
- Preparations containing lithium. They increase the toxicity of antipsychotics, which can lead to seizures, delirium and extrapyramidal disorders.
- Pentetrazole central nervous system stimulator. Joint administration of this medicine with a neuroleptic may provoke a convulsive attack.
Storage, price and analogues
Tablets should be stored at a temperature not exceeding +30 degrees. In such conditions, they remain valid for 3 years.
As already mentioned, this drug is dispensed from pharmacies strictly by prescription. The price of the medicine is from 390 to 1300 rubles, depending on the dosage of the tablets.
Patients are often interested in analogues of Azaleptin. Such drugs exist, these are antipsychotics, which also include clozapine. These include:
- "Closasten."
- "Azaleptol".
- Azapin.
- Alemoxan.
- Leponex.
The price of Azaleptin analogues is from 400-800 rubles (25 mg tablets) to 1500-2000 rubles (dosage 100 mg).
There is also an analogue in therapeutic effect - this is the atypical antipsychotic "Olanzapine". It contains another active component, but has a similar effect on the body. Its price is from 150 to 250 rubles.
Reviews about the drug
You can find a lot of positive reviews about "Azaleptin" from patients. People note a strong sleeping pill effect of this drug. For many patients with neurotic disorders, this remedy has helped cure persistent insomnia. In this case, the medicine did not cause any unpleasant side effects.
Judging by the reviews, this medicine effectively affects psychotic symptoms. After a course of treatment, hallucinations and delusions gradually disappeared in patients with schizophrenia, aggressiveness decreased, and behavior became more adequate.
However, there are also negative reviews about Azaleptin. Patients note a strong sedative effect of this drug. You can find reports that after taking the drug, patients experienced severe lethargy, drowsiness, lethargy. Such phenomena are possible in the early days of treatment. Usually they disappear on their own as the body adapts to the antipsychotic. If such unwanted effects persist for a long time, then you should consult a doctor to adjust the dosage of the medicine.
Many patients report that the drug has a severe and unpleasant withdrawal syndrome. Because of this, it is sometimes very difficult for patients to stop taking this antipsychotic. It is important to remember here that the withdrawal of psychotropic drugs should be gradual and take place under the supervision of the attending physician. You can not independently and abruptly stop taking the drug. This can lead not only to persistent insomnia, but also to exacerbation of symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.