Flupirtine maleate is a medicinal substance that has analgesic properties and is part of a number of drugs from the category of non-opioid pharmacological agents. It has an anesthetic systemic effect, which occurs due to the selective activation of neutral channels of potassium origin. In addition, flupirtine has an unexpressed muscle relaxant and neurotropic effect. The most common drugs are Katadolon, the eponymous Flupirtine and Nolodatak. Instructions for use of the latter will be presented below.
It is a non-opioid central analgesic . Flupirtine (the active substance of the drug) is a representative of the class of selective activators of neuronal potassium channels. It does not cause addiction and addiction, has a muscle relaxant effect.
The antispastic effect on muscles is associated with blocking the transmission of excitation to motor neurons and intercalary neurons, leading to the removal of muscle tension. This action of “Nolodataku” is manifested in many chronic diseases accompanied by painful muscle cramps (musculoskeletal pain in the neck and back, arthropathy, tensile headaches, fibromyalgia).
The instructions for use with Nolodatak confirm this.
Structure
The most popular form of flupirtine maleate is for oral tablets. One tablet contains 100 mg. Active component. Auxiliary components in preparations based on flupirtine are usually magnesium stearate, gelatin, purified water, copovidone, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, colloidal silicon dioxide, etc.
The properties
Flupirtine maleate has an analgesic effect and is included in the group of anesthetics of the non-opioid series. The substance has an effect centrally. Flupirtine is an activator of neutral potassium channels of selective action. When taking drugs based on this pharmacological substance, they do not interact with cholinergic receptors and adrenergic receptors.
According to the instructions for use with flupirtine maleate, such properties allow it to have a pronounced analgesic effect. Against the background of selective opening of neutral potassium channels with the simultaneous release of potassium ions, the rest of the neuron is normalized. The latter ceases to be excessively painful and excitable. Thus, it is possible to achieve rapid relief of pain, expressed in mild or moderate severity. Flupirtine also has muscle relaxant properties, that is, it has a sedative effect.
Indications
Flupirtine maleate and preparations based on it are prescribed to eliminate the pain syndrome provoked by various factors, including:
- Violation of the menstrual cycle, accompanied by soreness in the lower abdomen.
- Pain of a neuropathic type that appears after injury.
- Muscle spasm, as well as fibromyalgia.
- Pain in the head amid overstrain.
- Oncological diseases manifested by pain.
- The rehabilitation period after surgery.
Contraindications
The central-action analgesic flupirtine is contraindicated in patients with the following concomitant conditions and pathologies:
- Pathological processes in the liver.
- Children under the age of 18.
- Alcoholism in a chronic form of the course.
- Patients with a history of renal encephalopathy.
- Against the background of simultaneous administration with drugs that have a hepatotoxic effect.
- The performed treatment of tinnitus.
- Individual reaction to flupirtine or a component that is part of the preparations based on this active substance.
When prescribing drugs with flupirtine, elderly patients require increased precautions, as well as adjusting the dosages taken. Due to its sedative properties, against the background of flupirtine therapy, it is not recommended to drive vehicles, as well as to carry out work that requires an increased concentration of attention and accuracy of execution.
There was no teratogenic effect on flupirtine, however, it is not officially recommended for use by women during the period of gestation. This is also due to the lack of clinical data on the safety of flupirtine in various preparations for the fetus.
If a woman is prescribed flupirtine during the lactation period, she is advised to cancel breastfeeding during treatment. This is due to the fact that in the course of studies of a substance, its ability to penetrate into breast milk in small amounts was established.
Instruction manual
Flupirtine in tablet form is intended for oral administration. Capsules are not chewed and washed down with a small amount of water. Since painkillers based on flupirtine are often prescribed for patients in serious condition, opening the capsule and introducing the substance through a probe is allowed. In this case, the bitter taste of the drug should be taken into account, so it can be neutralized by eating sweet fruits, such as bananas. Almost all flupirtine-based drugs are taken according to one scheme, which is due to the same concentration of the substance in tablets equal to 100 mg. The following recommendations are followed:
- The standard dosage of flupirtine maleate involves taking 300-400 mg per day, divided by 3-4 times. If the pain syndrome is severe, the dosage of the drug can be doubled. The maximum daily dosage of flupirtine should not exceed 600 mg.
- The dosage regimen is selected individually taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and the severity of the pain syndrome. The duration of treatment with flupirtine should not be longer than two weeks. In this case, the minimum therapeutic dosage is selected, which has a pronounced effect.
- In old age, at the initial stage of treatment, a minimum dosage of 100 mg of flupirtine is prescribed in the morning and evening.
Against the background of kidney failure, it is necessary to regularly monitor the level of creatinine in the blood plasma. The maximum daily dosage for patients with this diagnosis will be 300 mg of flupirtine. If renal failure is mild or moderate, dosage adjustment will not be required. With hypoalbuminemia, the appointment occurs according to the same scheme as with renal failure.
Prescribing the drug in dosages in excess of standard treatment regimens will require careful medical supervision, and in some cases hospitalization of the patient.
Are there any side effects of flupirtine maleate?
Side effects
Against the background of taking flupirtine, the following undesirable reactions may develop:
- The skin is hyperhidrosis.
- Nervous system - sleep disturbance, depression, dizziness, headaches, anxiety and nervousness, confusion.
- Liver and biliary tract - liver failure, increased liver transaminases, hepatitis.
- Vision is a violation of visual function.
- Stomach and intestines - flatulence, pain in the stomach, dyspeptic disorders, constipation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth mucous membrane.
- The immune system - hypersensitivity to flupirtine, expressed in an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, itching, urticaria and fever.
- Others - impaired appetite up to its complete loss, fatigue and weakness, are especially pronounced at the beginning of flupirtine therapy.
Adverse reactions to flupirtine usually indicate an incorrectly selected dosage and require its adjustment. An exception is an allergy to the active substance, which involves the abolition of the drug and the selection of an analogue. All other symptoms disappear on their own after a course of treatment.
Overdose symptoms
Against the background of a strong excess of the dosage of flupirtine, the following symptoms of an overdose can be observed:
- Tachycardia.
- Confusion.
- Nausea.
- Dry mucous membranes.
An overdose is treated by gastric lavage and the subsequent intake of enterosorbents. The following is a symptomatic treatment.
Analogs
There are a number of drugs that contain substances that are similar in therapeutic effect. The most common are the following analogues of flupirtine maleate:
- Dexalgin.
- "Dimexide."
- Ketanov.
- Bupranal.
- "Promedol".
- "Lidocaine."
- "Metindol."
Before replacing one drug with another, you should consult a doctor, since when prescribing flupirtine, he relied on the patient's condition and his individual characteristics. The analogue may have another active component and, accordingly, assume a different reception scheme.
Reviews
Reviews about taking flupirtine maleate in various drugs are extremely positive. He helps many to cope even with pain syndrome of increased intensity. Flupirtine-based drugs are often prescribed for patients with cancer, when other drugs are ineffective.
Flupirtine maleate can be used as a single drug, as well as in combination with opioid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Simultaneous administration of flupirtine with antidepressants is also allowed.
In the reviews there are complaints of patients taking flupirtine about the appearance of nausea and weakness at the beginning of the therapeutic course. However, the same patients emphasize that after a few days, such unpleasant symptoms disappear on their own. Specialists often use flupirtine in patients with severe pain.