What comes to mind when it comes to treating serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system? Most likely, you imagine the treatment of such diseases in the form of intravenous or intramuscular injections, not to mention the large number of tablets. But did you know that some pathologies of the cardiovascular system can be treated with drugs for nasal use?
Recently, quite often, doctors prescribe “Semax” nasal drops for the treatment of adults and children. Reviews about this seemingly unusual method of therapy are mostly positive.
However, before discussing what doctors and patients say about the drug, let's find out what this drug is. Instructions for the use of "Semax" drops, reviews and analogues of this drug - all this information will be presented in this article.
In what cases is the use of the drug justified? Does he have contraindications and side effects? Reviews of doctors about “Semax” show that this tool has a strong effect on the human body, so it should be taken carefully and only on the recommendation of a specialist. You can learn more about the regimen of the drug and its pharmacological properties from the relevant sections below. But for starters, the most important thing is the composition of the medication!
Product Release Form
As mentioned above, the drug is a solution for nasal use, which is available in two containers: a bottle with a built-in dropper cap or a bottle with an additional dropper cap. This information is described in the instructions for “Semax”. Patient reviews indicate that the lid in the form of a dispenser is a rather convenient device, especially when it is necessary to carefully calculate the dosage.
Where is this product available? It is noteworthy that the drug is an invention of our compatriots - Russian scientists. According to reviews and instructions for use, the manufacturer of “Semax” is ZAO Innovation Research and Production Center called “Peptogen”.
The active substance of the drug
The main component of the medication is the chemical compound Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, completely devoid of hormonal activity. This synthetic substance belongs to the peptide family.
Interestingly, in the late 1970s, the honored medical scientists and military personnel of the Soviet Union were tasked with developing a nootropic drug that would accelerate the adaptation of a person in extreme situations. Within the walls of Moscow State University and the Institute of Molecular Genetics, the drug of interest to us was invented.
As you can see, its use is due to fairly serious indications for use. The instructions for “Semax” and reviews of specialists and patients about it indicate that the medication should be taken only after the appointment of the attending physician and in accordance with his recommendations.
Depending on the form of release, the dosage of the drug may be 1 or 0.1 percent of the active substance. Other components of the drug, acting as auxiliary components, are methyl parahydroxybenzoate and purified water.
How does the medication get inside the body?
Pharmacological features
According to the reviews of neurologists, “Semax” has a neurospecific effect on the central nervous system, as a result of which it is considered a remedy with an original spectrum of action. The active substance stimulates the growth of secreted proteins (neurotrophins), which are responsible for the growth and differentiation of nervous tissue. According to doctors' reviews of Semax, the drug does not have hormonal activity, while it has a positive effect on the processes in the brain called cognitive (or cognitive). Thanks to this, mental performance improves, attention and concentration, the ability to learn and remember is enhanced. Also, taking the medication improves the adaptation of cells to various damaging effects, such as anesthesia, hypoxia, stroke and others.
According to numerous studies, the drug does not have a toxic effect, does not differ mutagenic, embryotoxic, allergic properties. This is confirmed by the instruction for drops “Semax” and reviews about the means of patients and specialists.
Pharmacokinetic capabilities of the drug
The active substance enters the bloodstream through the mucous membranes of the nasal membranes, while its bioavailability is seventy percent. For all organs and tissues, this component is distributed quite quickly. Moreover, it is able to penetrate the so-called BBB (blood-brain barrier) and break down into individual amino acids. The drug is excreted mainly by the kidneys through urine.
At what ailments are prescribed drops "Semax"?
Diseases and their conditions
Indications for use of the solution for nasal use are of interest to many. In what cases do doctors recommend taking a medication?
In some cases, specialists may prescribe Semax to healthy people. Most often, they are recommended a 0.1% solution in case of hard work that requires great mental effort, either to improve the abilities associated with learning and perception, or as a preventive measure for serious psychoemotional overloads. If quick adaptation of the body in stresses or difficult extreme situations is necessary, then the use of drops can also be justified.
In what cases is the use of “Semax” for children provided? Reviews of the use of the drug in pediatrics show that the medication can have a positive effect with minimal brain dysfunctions, for example, hyperactivity. He can also be assigned to adapt the child in a difficult psychological or mental period, for example, when passing exams or entering first grade. If the child has a decrease in concentration of attention, poor learning ability, then pediatricians can also prescribe a 0.1% drop of “Semax”.
Moreover, as many parents say, this medication helped put their newborn babies on their feet when they were diagnosed with retinopathy of premature babies.
The medication is a very serious tool that is actively used in many areas of medicine. For example, in neurology and even neurosurgery, the drug is often prescribed in the recovery period after traumatic brain injury and for the prevention of its complications, with chronic circulatory disorders of the brain, cognitive pathologies of various origins, with severe neurotic disorders caused by severe sudden stress or ionizing radiation.
Drops can also be prescribed in the recovery period after surgical intervention in the brain, stroke, post-narcotic disorders, as well as the prevention of ischemic attacks.
Widely used 0.1% drops in ophthalmology. It is recommended to use the drug for atrophy of the optic nerve (and also as a prophylaxis for its progression), for optic neuropathy of various origins (and for prophylaxis), for glaucoma or swelling of the optic nerve.
If a person suffers from severe distraction and forgetfulness, emotional lability, then doctors can also prescribe him a 0.1% solution of “Semax”. The drug is justified in case of memory impairment, as well as for the prevention of senile dementia and in the complication of chronic diseases associated with the nervous system.
The drug is also actively used in narcology with a severe overdose of ethanol or for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms.
We have analyzed the indications for the use of 0.1% drops of “Semax”. In what cases can the use of a one percent solution be justified?
Often, doctors prescribe a drug to treat stroke, ischemic attack, severe migraines, trigeminal neuralgia.
How should I take this drug so that it brings the maximum benefit?
General information about the use of the drug
How to use a bottle with drops? If it comes with a screw cap, then it must be removed and replaced with a pipette cap. Then draw the solution into the pipette and, tilting the head slightly to the right or left, insert the device into the nasal passage and squeeze out the number of drops prescribed by the attending physician onto the mucous membrane.
If the bottle comes with a dropper cap, then the tip of the pipette must be carefully cut and the bottle itself turned. When the liquid fills the pipette, it is necessary to squeeze the number of drops recommended by the doctor into the nasal passage.
After use, the drug should be tightly closed with a lid.
Dosage and dosage regimen
The regimen for the use of the medication is strictly regulated by the doctor, therefore it is necessary to strictly adhere to the instructions for the use of "Semax". In the annotation to the drug, general information on its use is indicated. In relation to the treatment of moderate stroke, the instruction recommends introducing two or three drops of a one percent solution into each nostril. A similar procedure should be carried out three or four times a day, adhering to the three-hour (or four-hour) interval between each instillation.
A more severe form of the disease involves increasing the dosage to three to four drops at a time. The procedure should be repeated four or five times a day, observing the interval between each instillation of 2.5-3 hours.
The course of treatment usually does not exceed ten days.
How to use drops "Semax" with a dosage of 0.1% of the active substance? Above we have already mentioned ailments in which the appointment of a remedy is justified. So, in the case of the diseases mentioned above, the drug is administered two to three drops in each nasal passage. The number of procedures per day should not exceed three to five times, the average duration of therapy reaches eight to ten days.
In the case of an increase in dosage, two to three drops should be administered into each nostril with an interval of twelve or fifteen minutes. The duration of the course can be extended to fourteen days.
Little patients
How to take the drug for children? In this case, the pediatrician or pediatric neuropathologist must himself paint a regimen that is suitable specifically for your baby. Instructions for use "Semax" with a dosage of 0.1% recommends taking the drug to small patients, one or two drops twice a day. The optimal treatment time is morning and afternoon. The course of treatment can be a month.
Contraindications
Can everyone prescribe this medicine? Of course not. For example, the medication is contraindicated for use by patients suffering from acute psychoses, severe anxiety, convulsive syndrome. Also, one should not forget about the individual intolerance of certain components, which can cause unpredictable allergic reactions of the patient's body to taking the drug.
Future and lactating mothers
Can I take a remedy for this category of patients? According to the instructions, the drug is forbidden to be taken by pregnant and lactating mothers, since it has not been clinically proven that “Semax” does not affect the embryo or does not penetrate into breast milk.
On the other hand, experimental studies have shown that the active substance of the drug does not have a negative effect on the embryo. Be that as it may, the decision to prescribe drops during pregnancy is made only by a specialist based on the clinical data of the mother and the possible risk to her health. If a woman is breastfeeding and the attending physician recommends taking the drug, then it is necessary to transfer the child to artificial feeding.
About the most unpleasant
And what about the side effects? According to reviews, “Semax” practically does not cause any discomfort. Taking the drug can be accompanied by only minor irritations on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages.
Practically many patients say that they or their children easily tolerated therapy, however, some drops caused mild aggression or overexcitation.
Interaction with other drugs
Basically, “Semax” is perfectly combined with other pharmacological preparations, since the active substance practically does not enter the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and is rapidly destroyed. Nevertheless, it is better not to use the medication in conjunction with vasoconstrictor drugs of local action.
Storage Recommendations
As mentioned above, the opened bottle must be carefully closed with a lid. Keep the container at a temperature of up to ten degrees, that is, in the refrigerator. However, the product must not be frozen.
The shelf life of the drug is two years from the date of manufacture.
And how much is the medicine?
This question is of interest to many patients, since the volume of solution bottles is very small. According to reviews, the price of the drug is quite high. For example, for drops of "Semax" with a dosage of the active substance in 0.1%, it will be necessary to lay out from 350 to 420 rubles. At the same time, a one percent solution is several times more expensive - from 1800 to 2300 rubles. Prices are per bottle in three milliliters.
What patients say about drops
According to reviews, the drug has very pronounced effects. As many parents say, it was thanks to this tool that their children spoke, became more focused and assiduous. Moreover, the use of this drug has helped many children overcome such an insidious ailment as inhibition in development.
Many patients note that the great advantage of “Semax” is that it does not penetrate the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, it can be used even by those who have pathologies of the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Also, the drug is easy to take for small children, since it does not need to be swallowed, but you just need to bury it in the nose.
Nevertheless, many patients note serious shortcomings of the drug. The first is the price. Of course, only three milliliters of solution are quite expensive. However, what does material means mean when it comes to the physical or mental health of a loved one?
Also, many patients note that dropper bottles are very inconvenient to use. However, this, of course, is a matter of experience and dexterity.
Of course, “Semax” drops are not a panacea or a miracle cure. They may not help some people at all, since everything is very individual in the treatment of serious ailments. On the other hand, complaints about the ineffectiveness of the medication are very rare, often taking it leads to significant improvements in the patients' well-being.
In some cases, instead of “Semax” can be assigned to its analogues. What drugs are we talking about? Let's find out.
Drug Substitutes
There are many drugs that are considered analogues of "Semax" on the effects exerted on the human body. Among them, several should be distinguished.
First of all, Vinpocetin tablets. They contain the substance of the same name, which acts relaxing on the smooth muscles of the vessels of the brain, stimulating metabolism. The drug belongs to the group of psychostimulants and nootropics, having a beneficial effect on attention deficit disorder and hyperreactivity. The drug is fairly quickly absorbed in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and is prescribed for discirculatory encephalopathy, accompanied by dizziness, memory impairment and headache. Also, tablets are indispensable for vascular diseases of the retina and the lining of the eye, for various hearing impairments, as well as for vegetovascular dystonia provoked by menopausal syndrome. Most often, five to ten milligrams (one or two tablets) are prescribed three times a day. The drug is available in the form of a solution for injection, which are used in acute conditions. You should start with twenty milligrams of the active substance, gradually increasing the dosage. The course of therapy is at least ten days. “Vinpocetine” practically does not cause side effects. Most often, its administration is accompanied by arterial hypertension or tachycardia.
Capsules “Vinpotropil” are a combined preparation, the active substances of which are vinpocetine (in the amount of five milligrams) and piracetam (dosage - four hundred milligrams). The medication helps to improve cerebral circulation, normalizes the transport of oxygen through the blood vessels, lowers blood viscosity, slightly lowers blood pressure. Vinpotropil is prescribed by specialists for the treatment of encephalopathy of various origins, parkinsonism (only vascular origin), psycho-organic syndrome, during the recovery period of ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes, as a prevention of migraines and kinetoses. - . . - . , , , , , , , , .
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“Cerebrolysin” is another effective and popular drug that is considered an analogue of “Semax.” This drug is a clear solution for injection of light brown color. The active substance is a cerebrolysin concentrate (that is, a complex of peptides that were obtained from the porcine brain). Auxiliary components are water for injection and sodium hydroxide.The active component stimulates intracellular protein synthesis, prevents the formation of free radicals and minimizes the death of yrons due to hypoxia improves memory.Most often, injections are prescribed for Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency, mental retardation in older children and children, injuries to the brain or spinal cord, etc. Depending on the disease and its severity, injections may be prescribed daily for ten to twenty days.If it is necessary to inject a five-milliliter solution, then injections are done intramuscularly, if a ten-milliliter solution is administered intravenously. If necessary, increase the therapeutic dose (up to fifty milliliters), the drug is administered drip for fifteen to sixty minutes. This tool has a large list of contraindications and side effects.
In the framework of this article, it is impossible to mention all drugs similar to Semax. The following is a short list of possible substitutes for the product we are interested in:
- Memoplant.
- "Glycine".
- Cortexin.
- “Glutamic acid.”
- Mexipridol.
- Pantogam.
- Aminalon.
- “Combitropil”.
Since the drugs listed above differ from each other in composition, and sometimes in spectrum of action, only a specialist should prescribe them. He also prescribes the necessary dosage and individual regimen for taking this or that medication. Remember that self-medication is unacceptable, even if you have well studied the instructions for use and have read reviews of other patients about the remedy you are interested in. Only the attending physician understands all the intricacies of pharmacological agents and their use in the treatment of a disease.
We have reviewed the instructions for the use of "Semax". Reviews and analogues of the drug were also indicated in the review.