For neurological diseases, doctors prescribe the nootropic drug "Cortexin." Instructions for use and reviews of the drug indicate that this tool improves cerebral circulation and brain function. The medicine protects the central nervous system from the effects of adverse factors. The drug is also used to treat children with mental retardation and psychomotor development. This tool consists of components of natural origin, is well tolerated and has few contraindications.
The composition and effect of the drug
The composition of Cortexin includes proteins obtained from the cerebral cortex of animals (pigs and cattle). These peptide compounds are the active substance of the drug. The medication is made only in the form of a powder (lyophilisate) for injection. In addition to the active component, the composition of Cortexin includes the amino acid glycine. This auxiliary substance improves metabolic processes in the central nervous system and complements the action of proteins.
The lyophilisate looks like a white powder or porous mass. It is packaged in 5 ml vials. The drug for adults contains 10 mg of active substance. Cortexin is also available for children with a reduced dosage of the drug component - 5 mg.
Consider the pharmacological effect of this medication. First of all, it affects the brain as a nootropic. This means that under the influence of the active component of the drug, the patient improves mental activity. It becomes easier for a person to remember information, concentrate attention, and also deal with stress.
In addition, the drug protects the cells of the nervous system from adverse factors. In the human body, harmful substances accumulate that adversely affect the state of neurons. The drug eliminates their negative effects. Instructions for Cortexin and reviews of the drug report that this drug is able to stop the toxic effects on the brain of psychotropic medications and ethanol.
The medicine can also be used as an anticonvulsant. It effectively suppresses foci of pathological activity in the brain. Also, the drug acts as an antioxidant. This means that it inhibits the oxidation of fats and prevents the negative effects of free radicals on nerve cells.
Patients are often interested in: is Cortexin produced in tablets? Currently, there is only an injectable release form. However, you can pick up similar drugs in tablet form. Medications with similar effects will be discussed later.
Indications
This medicine is used in the complex treatment of diseases of the central nervous system in adults. Child psychiatrists with mental retardation in young patients also use Cortexin. Indications for the prescription of the drug are as follows:
- cerebrovascular disorders;
- all types of encephalopathies;
- injuries to the skull and brain, as well as their consequences;
- memory disorders;
- decreased attention span;
- impaired thinking;
- encephalitis;
- epileptic seizures;
- asthenic conditions;
- autism spectrum disorders in children;
- delayed development of speech and psychomotor functions;
- cardiopsychoneurosis;
- cerebral palsy.
The drug is also used to treat children with serious learning difficulties. It was noted that in young patients, memory and the ability to absorb new information after a course of Cortexin therapy is significantly improved. Indications for the prescription of the drug are congenital diseases of the central nervous system in infants. In this case, the drug is used as part of a comprehensive treatment.
Contraindications
This natural remedy has few contraindications. It is not recommended for use with individual intolerance to the active component and allergies to the drug. This medication is also contraindicated in pregnant women and nursing mothers. Currently, the effect of the drug on the fetus has not been studied. Therefore, it is better for expectant mothers to abandon the use of such a medicine. The active substance can pass into milk. If there is a need for a course of treatment with the drug during lactation, then breastfeeding should be interrupted.
Unwanted effects
Instructions for Cortexin and reviews of the drug indicate that injections are usually well tolerated. In rare cases, patients showed manifestations of allergies: itching and skin rash, such as urticaria. To prevent such undesirable effects, it is recommended to use injection water or saline as a solvent for the lyophilisate. Allergies were most often noted when novocaine was used to dilute the powder.
How to inject the drug
Before using Cortexin in ampoules, the powder must be diluted. The following solvents can be used for this:
- Novocaine.
- Saline.
- Water for injection.
Each solvent has its pros and cons. Novocaine has an anesthetic effect and reduces the pain of the injection. However, it increases the likelihood of allergies. When using saline or water for injection, side effects are less common, but an injection can cause discomfort. These solutions are not contained in the medicine package; they must be purchased separately.
To prepare the composition for Cortexin injections, you need 1-2 ml of solvent. The following algorithm of actions must be observed:
- Prepare a sterile syringe and place a needle on it.
- Open the ampoule with solvent.
- Place the needle in the solvent and draw up fluid.
- Remove the foil layer and puncture the cork of the powder vial.
- Release the solvent into the vial.
- To achieve complete dissolution of the powder. To do this, you can slightly shake the bottle from side to side.
- Pour the solution into the syringe.
The prepared composition should be immediately used for injection. Instructions for use "Cortexin" prohibits storing the solution. After 20 minutes, it becomes unusable. Also, it can not be mixed with other drugs in the same syringe.
Cortexin injections are given intramuscularly in the following parts of the body:
- upper third of the thigh;
- upper third of the shoulder;
- into the front wall of the abdomen (if the patient is not too full).
It is important to remember that this drug is not injected into the gluteal muscles. This area of the body contains too much fat, and the medicine will be poorly absorbed.
The instructions and reviews on "Cortexin" reported that injections of the drug can be quite painful. Therefore, with the new administration of the drug, it is necessary to deviate from the previous injection site by at least 1 cm. Otherwise, the formation of hematomas and subcutaneous hardening is possible.
Dosage for adult patients
"Cortexin" for adults is prescribed 1 bottle (10 mg) daily. The course of treatment is 10 days. If you want to repeat the therapy, then take a break for 3-6 months, and then resume the ten-day course.
If a stroke and a post-stroke condition are treated, then injections are made twice a day at 10 mg. The course of therapy also takes 10 days. Then follows a break of 10 days, after which the treatment is repeated. Usually, two courses of therapy are enough to improve the condition.
Injections of the drug are best done in the morning or afternoon. The use of the drug in the evening can lead to insomnia, as this tool stimulates the nervous system.
The use of the drug for the treatment of children
"Cortexin" for children weighing more than 20 kg is prescribed in the same dosage as adult patients. If the child’s body weight is less than 20 kg, then the doctor calculates the amount of the drug individually for each small patient. The recommended dosage is 0.5 mg of the drug per kilogram of weight.
This drug can be prescribed even to newborns. Instructions for use and reviews of "Cortexin" indicate that children tolerate this drug well. You only need to follow the correct injection technique. It is better to take thin syringe needles and inject the solution very slowly. Then the child will not feel pain from an injection.
special instructions
Instructions for use "Cortexin" does not report the interaction of this drug with other drugs. This nootropic agent is often used as part of complex treatment. It goes well with other drugs and does not weaken their effect.
Also, the instructions for "Cortexin" and reviews of the drug indicate that its use does not reduce the concentration of attention. Therefore, driving a car and performing complex work on the background of treatment is not contraindicated. On the contrary, this medicine increases alertness and improves a person's performance.
Storage, price and analogues
Lyophilisate is recommended to be stored at a temperature of no more than +20 degrees. It remains valid for 3 years.
The cost of the drug in pharmacy chains is from 700 to 1300 rubles. Patients are often interested in Cortexin analogues. It is impossible to select a drug with a completely identical composition. However, there are nootropic drugs with a similar therapeutic effect.
In some patients, the Cortexin injection form seems uncomfortable. The following analogues of the drug are produced in tablets:
- Mexidol. This is a synthetic antioxidant drug. It has similar indications for use. However, the medicine is contraindicated in children and may adversely affect concentration. The price of the drug is from 243 to 580 rubles.
- Armadin. The drug is a structural analogue of Mexidol. However, it can also be used in the treatment of children.
- "Cytoflavin". The composition of the medicine includes succinic acid, inosine and vitamins. The purpose of the drug is indicated for encephalopathies, post-stroke and post-traumatic conditions, as well as for acute disorders of cerebral circulation. This is a fairly safe remedy that can be taken even during pregnancy and lactation.
- "Actovegin". This is a natural preparation, its active component is a protein from the blood of calves. It is prescribed for VVD, encephalopathy and other lesions of the nervous system. However, it is less effective in treating delayed speech development in children. This drug, according to indications, can be used during pregnancy and lactation. The price of the drug is from 500 to 1700 rubles.
All of the above drugs are released not only in tablets, but also in the form of injectable solutions.
The drug “Cerebrolysin” is also released in injectable form. This drug has a similar composition, it is also made from proteins of the brain of pigs. This tool can be prescribed even to newborn children. Indications for use are the same as in "Cortexin", however, with epilepsy, the drug is contraindicated. Its price in pharmacy chains is from 650 to 1000 rubles.
Doctors reviews
You can find many good reviews of doctors about this drug. Specialists prescribe it as a neuroprotector for adults and as a nootropic drug for children. Patients usually tolerate this drug well. To improve the condition, one course of treatment is often enough.
There is a positive experience with Cortexin for autism. Experts note that after a course of treatment, such children gradually have the ability to pronounce words, interest in the outside world increases, and mental development improves. Autistic behavior becomes calmer. However, with such a complex pathology, the drug is used together with other nootropic drugs. To achieve a positive result, classes on the development of speech in the child are also necessary.
Doctors attribute the disadvantages of the drug to the fact that it is available only in injectable form. Intramuscular administration of the drug is often painful, and many children are afraid of injections.
Patient Reviews
You can find positive reviews about the drug from parents of children. The reports noted that the effect of the use of the drug occurs within a short time. Children with developmental delays began to speak, from the time their vocabulary increased. Schoolchildren lost their learning difficulties, they began to better remember and learn new material. Hyperactive children have a better sleep, increased attention concentration and excessive excitability disappeared.
In the reviews about the use of the drug for adult patients, the positive results of the treatment of the consequences of traumatic brain injury, headache and manifestations of VVD are reported. After a course of therapy, patients quickly recovered, dizziness, fainting, and nausea disappeared.
Negative reviews relate mainly to the occurrence of allergic reactions in children. Such phenomena were noted when using novocaine as a solvent. If the drug is used in childhood, then for breeding it is better to take saline or water for injection. This will help reduce the likelihood of allergies.