The human body can greatly weaken and lose resistance to infections as a result of the development of diseases. This interferes with the normal functioning of all systems and leads to malfunctions in providing the body with useful substances. To restore all functions and restore vitality to the body, a special group of medicines was developed, which was called analeptics. However, in addition to the therapeutic effect, such drugs have many rather serious contraindications, which greatly limits their use in therapeutic practice.
Analeptics are medications whose main purpose is to stimulate and restore brain functions.
How do they work?
Most of these drugs affect the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for respiratory function and blood circulation. There are also analeptic drugs that can stimulate other areas of the brain. Active elements force receptors to react animatedly to substances that enter the body or are produced by it.
If you take more than the prescribed dose, you need to consider that the substances contained in analeptics are able to affect the motor functions of a person, which, in turn, can lead to a convulsive syndrome.
What are these funds?
Analeptics are a group of drugs whose sequence of effects on the brain and central nervous system is not well understood and studied. Until recently, they were used quite widely, but now they are fading into the background, as more modern and safer analogues have entered the pharmaceutical market. Experts often criticize analeptics for the high probability of side effects in the form of hypoxia and seizures.
Classification of Analeptics
Most often, one can find a classification of analeptics by the effect that their administration has on the respiratory center of the brain:
- Direct stimulants or respiratory analeptics. They act directly on the neurons of the brain, namely the respiratory center. These include Caffeine, Strychnine, Bemegrid, Securinin, etc.
- H-cholinomimetics. They have a reflex effect, exciting the corresponding receptors in the central nervous system. These include Citizine, Lobelin, and others.
- Analeptic drugs of complex effect, combining the two previous types. The most common among them are Cordiaminum and Camphor.
The most popular drugs
A wide selection of drugs of this pharmacological group is presented on the pharmaceutical market, however, the following are most popular and spread:
- “Etymizole” is a respiratory analeptic drug. It stimulates the respiratory center of the brain and at the same time has a calming effect on the cerebral cortex. The main difference between this drug and its analogues is the mild action and the absence of the effect of exhaustion in the work of the respiratory center.
- "Camphor". It creates several versatile effects, exciting and anesthetizing parts of the brain, including the respiratory center. This drug is effective in the treatment of pneumococci.
- "Cordiamine." The drug increases the sensitivity of brain neurons, stimulates the nervous system and receptors.
- "Caffeine". In limited quantities, it activates the activity of the heart and affects the psyche. However, in some patients it can cause a slowdown in psychomotor functions and lethargy.
How do they work?
Analeptics are a special group of drugs. It has already been said above that medicine has not fully studied the processes of their impact on the brain and central nervous system of a person. The only obvious fact is their opposite effect: in some patients, they stimulate the work of some areas of the brain, while in others, on the contrary, they inhibit. However, the main task of these medicines is to facilitate neural connections and enhance the transmission of nerve impulses between them.
The action of analeptics actually extends to all areas of the brain and central nervous system. Depending on the type of drug taken, the effect occurs in relation to the medulla oblongata, cerebral cortex, etc. The effect is approximately as follows: after taking the analeptic excites the area of the nervous system for which it is responsible, which makes the neurons in it more sensitive. Thus, the susceptibility of the selected part of the brain to substances that irritate it also increases. As a result, breathing normalizes and blood pressure rises. Despite the fact that each analeptic stimulates its part of the brain, the process of exposure is approximately the same.
Hidden influence
In addition to the obvious effects, analeptic drugs can also otherwise affect the body:
- Increased vascular resistance.
- Inhibition of the effect of taking drugs that can suppress the psyche.
- Suppression of the effect of taking sleeping pills.
Analeptics: indications for use
These drugs are recommended for use in the following cases:
- Therapy for asphyxia of newborn babies. This type of treatment has already faded into the background, as other methods have appeared without the use of synthetic drugs.
- Intoxication with narcotic, sleeping pills, as well as ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
- Depressive state after application of anesthesia in a patient.
- Cardiovascular failure.
- In exceptional cases, these drugs are used to treat impotence, paralysis and paresis, as they stimulate muscle activity.
- Antipsychotics are sometimes prescribed to patients with pathologies of hearing and vision.
Popular Analeptics
Although many experts criticize the drugs, some of them remain quite popular. Some of them should be considered.
"Etymizole." The main active ingredient of the drug is a caffeine molecule, in which the pyrimidine ring is broken. It mainly affects the area of the respiratory center of the brain without affecting the vasomotor area, which eliminates the appearance of seizures while taking the drug. In addition, “Etymizole” is able to raise the mood, stimulate the memory function. Thanks to its intake, hypothalamic secretion increases, which allows the body to produce a greater amount of corticotropin, which is a releasing hormone.
This drug is also capable of performing a regenerative function, acting on damaged sections of the gastric mucosa, and increasing protein production. The drug rarely causes side effects.
What other analeptics in pharmacology exist?
"Camphor". Belongs to ketones of the terpene group and is a hexagonal crystals of a translucent white hue. In addition to a positive effect on respiratory functions, the drug creates an antiarrhythmic effect and normalizes the heartbeat. In addition, while taking Camphor, due to vasodilation, the heart's need for oxygen saturation increases. Opposite to the expanding coronary arteries in the abdominal cavity, the blood vessels of the heart are narrowed when taking the drug. Due to this, a number of substances necessary for the body are produced, such as glycogen, creatine phosphate, etc. The use of analeptics should be justified.
Most often used to stimulate the central nervous system in order to increase the physical and mental health of a person is “Caffeine-Sodium Benzoate” . This drug acts anti-sedatively, reducing fatigue and drowsiness. For the most part, the active substance acts on the vasomotor and respiratory centers of the human brain. Caffeine has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart, namely, it speeds up the heartbeat and increases the shock force. It contributes to the expansion of blood vessels not only of the brain, but also of the kidneys, heart and other organs. This is the best choice for the treatment of drug intoxication, spasms of blood vessels and cardiovascular failure.
The action of " Cordiamine " is similar to the previous ones. It affects the vasomotor and respiratory center of the brain. It is closest in its effect to Caffeine. It differs in that it can be prescribed to relieve symptoms of asphyxiation, vascular collapse, as well as in the complex treatment of diseases of an infectious origin.
"Bemegrid" is a drug that has a directed action. It is chosen if the effect should be exerted only on the respiratory function, but not on the vascular system. Used in the following cases:
- Slight intoxication.
- An overdose of drugs that can suppress the central nervous system.
- Withdrawal from anesthesia.
Output
Analeptics are means that are quite widely used to solve various problems aimed at improving the patient's condition. They are still often prescribed by doctors to restore respiratory function and start recovery processes throughout the body. Some of them are gradually being replaced by more modern and safer counterparts. However, analeptics still play a significant role in the treatment of patients with different diagnoses, and in the near future the situation is unlikely to change dramatically.