Why is Piracetam prescribed to patients? You will learn the answer to this question from this article. We will also provide you with information on how to take this remedy, in what form it is produced, whether it has side effects and contraindications, can it be used during lactation and during pregnancy.
Forms of release of the drug, packaging and composition
Before telling you why Piracetam is prescribed by doctors, you should tell how it can be purchased in pharmacies.
Today, there are several forms of this drug. Let's consider them in more detail.
- Capsules This form of the drug contains 0.4 g of piracetam and goes on sale in cardboard packs of 60 pieces.
- 20% solution. This form is sold in ampoules of 5 ml, which, in turn, are placed in cardboard packaging of 10 pieces.
- Tablets. The medicine is coated with a yellow shell and contains 0.2 g of the active substance. You can buy tablets in a cardboard pack of 120 or 60 pieces.
- Granules for babies. The drug has a light pink color (let's say brownish sediment), is available in glass jars of 56 g.
It should also be noted that each form of the drug has its own excipients.
Pharmacodynamics of the drug
Why can Piracetam be prescribed to humans? This is a nootropic drug that can have a positive effect on the blood circulation of the brain and its metabolic processes.
The medication improves metabolic processes and increases glucose utilization. It also inhibits the aggregation of activated platelets.
Reception "Piracetam" has a protective effect in case of brain damage caused by electric shock, intoxication or hypoxia. In addition, this drug improves the integrative functioning of the brain without providing a psychostimulating and sedative effect.
Drug properties
What are the properties of the drug "Piracetam"? What is this remedy prescribed for? The medication in question is able to activate associative processes in the central nervous system, as well as improve mood and memory in both patients and healthy people.
Why can Piracetam be prescribed for children? This tool is able to increase intellectual activity, increase mental performance, facilitate learning processes, improve conductivity (synaptic) in the cerebral cortex and the connection between its hemispheres (left and right). Also, the drug restores and stabilizes impaired speech, memory and consciousness.
The principle of action of the drug
How does the medicine "Piracetam"? What is it used by young people and the elderly?
The drug in question normalizes the ratio of ATP and ADP, and also activates phospholipases A, accelerates the exchange of neurotransmitters and helps stimulate plastic and bioenergetic processes in nerve tissues.
Why can Piracetam (injections, powder, capsules and tablets) be prescribed to patients? This drug is able to block platelet aggregation, improve microcirculation and optimize the passage of red blood cells through microscopic vessels.
It should be noted that this agent increases regional blood circulation in ischemic areas of the brain, enhances alpha and beta activity, but at the same time reduces delta activity.
The medication reduces vestibular nystagmus. With hypoxia, trauma and intoxication, it has a neuroprotective effect.
Due to its antihypoxic properties, this drug is very effective in the treatment of myocardial infarction.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
How long is the drug “Piracetam” absorbed (what is this medicine prescribed for, we will discuss later)? After oral administration, the drug is rapidly and completely absorbed. Its bioavailability is one hundred percent.
Oral administration of the drug in an amount of 2 g gives the maximum concentration in plasma after thirty minutes. The tool does not bind to proteins, penetrates into all organs and tissues, including through the placental barrier.
The drug is practically not metabolized, but selectively accumulates in the parietal, occipital and frontal areas of the brain, as well as in the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
The half-life of this drug is five hours. About 95% of the drug is excreted in the urine unchanged (after about thirty hours). In people with renal failure, this period of time increases.
What is Piracetam for? Indications for use
The considered nootropic agent has a wide spectrum of action. According to the instructions, indications for its use are the following conditions:
- ischemic stroke, as well as all its consequences;
- chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (for example, atherosclerosis, hypertension or vascular parkinsonism), accompanied by headaches, dizziness, impaired memory, speech and attention;
- dementia (including Alzheimer's disease);
- aphasia;
- viral neuroinfection (acute);
- diseases of the nervous system, accompanied by a decrease in intellectual and mnemonic functions, the degree of wakefulness, as well as a violation of the emotional and volitional sphere, behavior;
- intoxication (including during the recovery period, subcomatous and coma) ;
- dizziness;
- psycho-organic disorders;
- lethargic and lethargic state;
- cortical myoclonia;
- head injuries;
- epilepsy (as an adjuvant);
- vestibular nystagmus;
- atrophic and senile processes.
What deviations still prescribe the drug "Piracetam"? Why drink this remedy and give injections? In addition to the above, this medication has such indications as:
- neurological, somatovegetative, mental complications that arose after treatment with psychotropic drugs and antipsychotics;
- acute intoxication with amphetamine, ethanol, barbiturates or morphine;
- depressive states resistant to antidepressant treatment;
- neurotic depression with asthenic and senesto-hypochondria disorders, as well as with adynamia and phenomena of ideomotor inhibition;
- withdrawal symptoms, pre - and delirious conditions in alcoholism and drug addiction;
- psycho-organic syndrome in alcoholism (chronic);
- sickle cell anemia (in complex treatment).
Why do Piracetam tablets, as well as capsules and powder, doctors quite often recommend for admission to their young patients? Such a drug is prescribed for cerebral palsy, mental retardation, the consequences of perinatal damage to the central nervous system, poor learning (with psycho-organic syndrome), oligophrenia, speech disorders, memory impairment and intellectual deficiency.
Lactation and the period of pregnancy
Can I take the drug "Piracetam" during pregnancy? What is it for? Some experts prescribe the drug in question to women in the position indicated. However, it should be recalled that this medication easily penetrates the placental barrier, as well as into breast milk. In this regard, it is contraindicated during lactation and during gestation. Otherwise, this may adversely affect the health of the child.
Contraindications
In what cases can not use the drug "Piracetam" (injection, oral form)? This drug is not prescribed for hypersensitivity (including pyrrolidone derivatives), as well as Huntington's disease, severe renal failure, pregnancy, agitated depression, hemorrhagic stroke and breastfeeding. Also, this medication should not be given to children under one year of age.
Application methods
Now you know why Piracetam tablets can be prescribed to patients. Now you should tell you how to take this tool.
At the beginning of therapy, a solution of piracetam is administered intravenously at a dose of 10 g. Then, the amount of medication is reduced and transferred to oral administration. Inside, the drug is taken before meals in a dosage of 800 mg (in 3 divided doses). After improvement, the amount of the drug is reduced to 400 mg. The duration of such treatment is 6-8 weeks.
It should be especially noted that the daily dosage of the drug "Piracetam" may be different and depend on the type and severity of the disease. As for the duration of treatment, it is determined only by the doctor according to the medical examination.
For children, such a drug is prescribed no more than 30-50 mg per day. In this case, therapy should be long. The oral solution is given to the child 2 times a day (morning and evening). It is allowed to add to fruit juice or other drinks.
Adverse reactions
Can the use of the Piracetam medication cause undesirable consequences? Injections, as well as oral forms of the drug, are really capable of causing adverse reactions. The most common manifestations include the following:
- Metabolism: weight gain.
- Sensory organs and nervous system: drowsiness, hyperkinesia, depression, increased irritability, asthenia, agitation, aggression, sleep disorder, increased sexuality, dizziness, tremor and headache.
- Digestive tract: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
- Skin: hypersensitivity.
- Blood circulation: arterial hypotension, hypertension, coronary insufficiency (in the acute stage).
Overdose
With an overdose of the drug "Piracetam" all side effects are amplified. As a treatment, gastric lavage is used, as well as the use of absorbent agents.