"Piracetam" is a modern, artificially synthesized nootropic, well established in the neurological field and psychiatry. Based on the active component, it is a pyrrolidone derivative. Indications "Piracetam", from which the drug is prescribed to patients, precautions and other useful information - in our article.
Material Content:
Forms of release and their composition
"Piracetam" is a nootropic medication, the use of which is possible in several formats.
So, in pharmacies you can purchase:
- tablet form of the drug in dosages of 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 g;
- injection solution;
- the drug is in capsules containing 200 or 400 mg of active substances.
The basis of "Piracetam" is the active substance of the same name. The drug also contains auxiliary components.
In tablets, these are:
- potato flour;
- Placedon K-25;
- magnesium salt of carbonic acid;
- a salt of calcium and stearic acid;
- Opadry II white.
Piracetam capsules contain fewer additional substances than tablets:
- a salt of calcium and stearic acid;
- magnesium salt of carbonic acid.
The solution of "Piracetam" is significantly different in the composition of additional components from oral forms of the drug:
- injection water;
- acetic acid sodium salt;
- diluted ethanoic acid.
The presence of a basic active component - piracetam - unites all formats of the drug, due to which it becomes possible to normalize metabolic processes in the cerebral cortex.
The use of the medication is aimed at improving blood flow and proprioceptive connections. Positive effect on mental activity, memory, attention, facilitates the processing of information.
What is Piracetam prescribed for?
Oral formats and injections "Piracetam" have a wide range of uses. Often used in pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, narcology. Prescribing the drug to children is indicated if there are problems in learning, with cerebral palsy, malignancy, mental retardation, birth injuries that caused brain damage, dyslexia. It is often used as a comprehensive tool in therapy aimed at curing sickle cell anemia.
Indications for the use of "Piracetam" in neurology (including pediatric):
- coma caused by traumatic brain injury or poisoning;
- vascular dementia;
- psychiatric intellectual-mnestic syndrome, congenital and acquired pathologies in brain activity;
- violation of the blood supply to the central nervous system;
- Parkinson's syndrome;
- epileptic convulsions and neurosis;
- dysfunction of the head vessels.
In combination with other medicines, Piracetam is prescribed in psychiatry.
As a rule, it is prescribed to patients suffering from:
- depression and deviant behavior;
- complications caused by intolerance to psychotropics and antipsychotics;
- apathy provoked by a mental disorder.
The practice of using "Piracetam" has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of drug addiction and chronic alcoholism.
Instructions for use, dosage for children and adults
The method of application depends on the form of the medication. The capsule format and Piracetam tablets are used internally. The solution is intended for injections.
The standard regimen for taking tablets and capsules is to take the medicine three times before meals.
- The initial dose is 800 mg and gradually brought to 400 mg of the drug.
- The frequency of use of Piracetam per day varies from 2 to 4 times and depends on the task that the drug should solve.
- The duration of the course is determined by the result of therapy and can range from 2 weeks to six months. Repeating the course is allowed.
A non-standard dosage of a nootropic agent is possible.
It can occur in the following conditions:
- Consequences of coma and head injuries. The drug is prescribed in an amount of 9 - 12 g per day. Subsequently, the dosage is reduced to 2.4 g. The total intake time is 3 weeks.
- Elderly age. 4.8 g of medication is prescribed per day. In the future, the dosage is adjusted to 2.4 g. Parallel intake of cardiovascular drugs and psychotropic substances is allowed.
- Children's age (from five years). No more than 1.8 g per day. The duration of administration is from 2 weeks to 6 months.
- Chronic alcoholism The initial dosage is 12 g. As a maintenance therapy, 2.4 g of the drug is prescribed per day.
- Sickle cell anemia. The daily need for "Piracepam" is calculated based on the scheme: 160 mg of the drug per kilogram of patient weight. The total amount is divided into four times the reception.
"Piracetam" enhances brain activity, therefore, to avoid sleep problems, it is not recommended to take it later than 5 pm.
Regarding injections of the drug, there are slightly different requirements. The drug is administered intramuscularly or intravenously, possibly by spray injection or the installation of a dropper.
The amount of medication to be administered depends on the patient's disease:
- for convulsions, they begin with 7.2 g of the drug per day and gradually bring the daily intake to 24 g (every six months it is necessary to reduce the dose by 1.2 g);
- with childhood dyslexia, it is possible to use the drug from the age of 8 years to 3.2 g;
- with organic brain lesions, 4.8 g of medication is prescribed per day for a week, after which the daily dosage is reduced to 1.2 g;
- in case of violation of the vestibular system and dizziness, 2.4 to 4.8 g of Piracetam is prescribed per day;
- with pain crises accompanying sickle cell anemia, intravenous administration of the drug is shown in the amount of 300 mg per kilogram of patient weight.
Only a qualified physician can make the exact appointment of the drug, taking into account all the characteristics of the patient’s body and the nature of the pathological condition.
During pregnancy and lactation
No full-fledged studies of the degree of influence of the drug on the fetus have been conducted. Only the results of experiments conducted on animals are officially confirmed. They made it possible to establish the absence of the influence of Piracetam on embryos. However, there are no such confirmed statistics for people, therefore, taking a nootropic drug during pregnancy can only be shown with an adequate assessment of the benefits and possible risks to the baby.
The active components of the drug penetrate into breast milk, so before using Piracetam, you must first decide on the transfer of the newborn to artificial feeding.
Contraindications, side effects and overdose
The use of "Piracetam" is possible not all patients.
Contraindications include:
- individual intolerance to the substances that make up the medication;
- early childhood;
- the period of gestation and breastfeeding;
- Huntington's syndrome;
- hyperactivity
- hemorrhoidal stroke;
- chronic form of kidney dysfunction;
- coagulopathy.
The use of "Piracetam" is often accompanied by side effects. This is especially true for children. Taking the medication causes atypical behavioral reactions: increased irritability, aggressiveness, the appearance of feelings of phobia and anxiety, lack of attention, impaired coordination of movements.
Adult patients may experience the following negative effects of taking Piracetam:
- dizziness;
- thrombosis and pain at the injection site;
- interference with the endocrine system causing weight gain;
- allergy, manifested on the skin, swelling, anaphylaxis;
- violation of the normal process of bowel movements, nausea, accompanied by vomiting and pain in the lower abdomen;
- increased sexual libido;
- decrease in pressure, chills;
- interruptions in sleep, migraine, impaired coordination of movement, mental agitation, hallucinations;
- increased epileptic seizures.
When taking Piracetam, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the kidneys, especially in patients who have pathologies in their work.
In the event of a side effect such as insomnia, the evening dose of the drug is transferred to an earlier period.
Despite the fact that the daily intake of a sufficiently large amount of the drug is allowed, it is impossible to exceed the limits prescribed by a specialist, since an overdose several times increases the likelihood of side effects. Along with them, heart palpitations and heart failure may appear.
In case of an overdose, it is necessary to remove excess substances of the medication. The best way to do this is to actively drink warm water.
Analogues of the drug in tablets and injections
Many nootropic drugs have a mechanism of action on the body similar to Piracetam. However, the same active substance is also found in other popular medicines - Nootropil, Piracetam-Richter, Cerebryl, Stamina, Memotropil and Lutsetam. They are sold both in tablet form and as an injectable solution.
Incomplete analogues of the drug (drugs that contain another active substance) are:
- Pantogam
- Noopept;
- "Fezam Tanakan."
Before you start using any analogue, you need to consult a specialist.Even the presence of side effects does not give rise to an unauthorized replacement of the drug.
Piracetam has been successfully used for a long time in neurology, psychiatry and narcology. In favor of the drug is the fact that its appointment to children is regularly practiced. Side effects are rare, but if they occur, it will not be difficult to find another suitable medication with the same or different active substance
