Nootropics are a special class of drugs in neurology and psychiatry. "Piracetam" - one of the very first nootropics, it began to be used in the Soviet Union. At that time, he made a real revolution in neurology. It was a miracle pill, which made it possible to improve memory, attention, quick wit, establish a dream and calm inappropriate mental reactions. At the same time, the new drug had a minimum of side effects (when compared with psychotropic drugs). Piracetam tablets are actively prescribed to patients in our time.
Composition and form of release
"Piracetam" includes in its composition as an active ingredient a nootropic substance with the same name as piracetam. Depending on the manufacturing plant, various substances can be used as auxiliary components for tablets: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, silicon dioxide.
There are three forms of drug release:
- solution in ampoules "Piracetam" (intramuscular injection);
- capsules that can be taken on an empty stomach;
- tablets (should be taken after meals to prevent heartburn and irritation of the walls of the stomach when taken on an empty stomach).
Indications for use
The instruction to "Piracetam" states that the drug has the following indications for use:
- neurotic conditions of various genesis;
- experienced stroke - as part of complex therapy;
- closed craniocerebral injuries - as part of complex therapy;
- insomnia - as an independent remedy;
- anxiety, hypochondria;
- sickle cell anemia;
- decreased attention, memory, reaction speed;
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults;
- dementia, both senile and early;
- retardation of mental and speech development in people;
- acute psychotic conditions - as adjunctive therapy;
- a condition of a hangover or withdrawal syndrome.
Depending on the degree of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient, as well as on the use of other psychotropic drugs, the optimal dosage will change. Piracetam tablets are usually prescribed for use at home. Injections are more often used in a hospital.
Feasible side effects
The instructions to "Piracetam" indicate that the drug can cause the development of the following side effects:
- from the organs of the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, indigestion, bloating;
- from the nervous system: drowsiness or excessive vigor, hyperactivity, state of apathy (depending on the individual characteristics of the psyche, the effect of the drug can provoke radically opposite side effects);
- allergies are possible - skin itching, rash, urticaria;
- in the presence of epiactivity during the passage of EEG, it is forbidden to prescribe the drug, since it can provoke a series of seizures.
Reception after the manifestation of side effects
Continue or not reception, depends on the testimony. "Piracetam" relatively rarely leads to side effects. It is necessary to reduce the dosage and monitor the condition of the body. If the patient feels well, then it is necessary to continue taking if there are sufficient indications. Piracetam has many substitutes. In case of intolerance of exactly the form of capsules or tablets, you can try another form of the drug or an analogue.
Side effects of "Piracetam" are more often observed in suspicious people prone to hypochondria. Studies with a placebo disguised as a drug have proven rare in the manifestation of real health problems that could be triggered by Piracetam.
Contraindications
The drug "Piracetam" has the following contraindications:
- chronic renal failure;
- toxic hepatitis and cirrhosis;
- acute psychotic conditions, including alcohol delirium;
- psychomotor agitation;
- children's age up to one year.
During pregnancy, the medication should be agreed with the attending physician. In some cases, an admission in the third trimester of pregnancy is permissible, but only at a dosage prescribed by an experienced neuropathologist who is aware of the woman’s situation and has become familiar with the history of her illness. In the presence of contraindications, analogues of Piracetam can be used, but not structural, but according to the type of effect on the nervous system. Their list is presented in the last paragraph of the article.
Compatibility with other drugs
While taking benzodiazepine series with tranquilizers, the sedative effect of the drug “Piracetam” is enhanced. It is not recommended to take similar drugs at home in parallel. Only in a hospital setting with the relief of acute psychotic conditions can we talk about a similar combination of psychotropic and nootropic drugs.
Parallel administration with antipsychotics can provoke extrapyramidal disorders. It is not recommended to combine Piracetam with antipsychotics of even the most moderate action. A similar situation with SSRI antidepressants and MAO inhibitors. Joint reception can cause aggravation of mental disorders, up to suicide attempts (if previously the patient expressed such thoughts, they can become intrusive).
The concomitant use of Piracetam with hormonal therapy preparations (in particular with Thyroxine) can provoke irritability, unmotivated aggression, and anxiety. This action is associated with metabolites of thyroid-stimulating hormone. They do not always react with piracetam.
Reviews about "Piracetam" during the hangover
Inappropriate behavior, increased temper, irritability, anxiety, and sleep disorder are characteristic of people with a hangover syndrome. For people who drink heavily, insomnia is especially dangerous. On the second day of lack of sleep, an acute psychotic state develops, popularly called a "squirrel." "Piracetam" in this case helps a person fall asleep at least for several hours, thereby can in some cases prevent the development of delirium.
Reviews about "Piracetam" with a hangover and withdrawal syndrome are positive: people were able to establish a dream, became calmer. When taking pills, tremor of the extremities passes on the first day. Reviews about the "Piracetam" of people with alcohol addiction indicate that this drug has more than once helped to break the binge. He is also able to mitigate the effects of the toxic effects of ethyl alcohol on the nervous system. A person became softer, calmer, more restrained, can maintain normal relations with close people and colleagues. This effect, as a rule, was achieved when taking fairly high doses of Piracetam. The drug can be purchased at almost any pharmacy. The prescription can be taken from a narcologist, psychiatrist, neuropathologist.
Reviews on "Piracetam" for insomnia
Sleep problems often overtake even almost completely healthy people. This is one of the indicators of problems with the nervous system and psyche. If you do not treat insomnia, over time, in most cases, it leads to anxiety-depressive disorder. If even then there is no adequate drug treatment, the patient may begin to pursue acute psychotic conditions that require hospitalization.
Reviews about "Piracetam" with insomnia are positive. This drug helped tens of thousands of people to fall asleep normally, and wake up fresh and healthy in the morning. This nootropic quite gently improves the emotional background, contributing to the normalization of sleep phases. Of course, there are more effective and modern sleeping pills. For example, Donormil. But it quickly causes tolerance, and you have to look for a new hypnotic.
There are no such problems with Piracetam analogues and they themselves: you can take pills for months, and addiction (tolerance) to the active substance will not work out. This "Piracetam" is different from most other psychotropic and nootropic drugs. It almost never causes either physical or psychological dependence.
Reviews on the use during severe stress
"Piracetam" is often prescribed to people who are in a state of chronic fatigue, severe stress, reduced working capacity. Reviews indicate that the drug gently affects the nervous system - a person, invisibly for himself, after a few weeks begins to wake up alert. Efficiency appears, the emotional background is leveled, irritability and discontent disappears.
This effect is due to the fact that the drug restores the blood circulation of the brain. As a result, after two or three weeks, the clinical picture of the patient’s condition changes, and the person begins to feel better, tolerates stress and solves problems that previously seemed impossible.
Analogs and substitutes of the drug
Structural analogues of Piracetam:
- "Piracezin";
- Fezam;
- Fescetam
- Omaron
Preparations with a similar effect, but with a different active substance:
- Pantogam, a nootropic used to treat children and adults, is very popular in neurology, psychiatry, and is used as part of complex therapy for the relief of acute psychotic conditions.
- "Glycine" is an amino acid that is used as part of complex therapy for impaired attention and cognitive abilities in children and adults.
- "Phenotropil" is a modern nootropic, effective in times of stress and physical overwork, helps to overcome even very serious psychological stresses (for example, death of a loved one, divorce, dismissal).
- Encephabol is a syrup with a nootropic effect, most often used to treat children with mental retardation.
- Cavinton normalizes the blood circulation of the brain, is used in the treatment of dementia and impaired attention of various etiologies.