Piracetam

Piracetam – the synthetic nootropic drug which is widely applied in psychiatric and neurologic practice.

Pharmacological action

Active agent of Piracetam, influencing directly a brain, improves such cognitive processes as memory, ability to training, attention and intellectual working capacity. Besides, drug has the recovering and protective effect at the dysfunctions of a brain caused by intoxication and a hypoxia.

Piracetam according to the instruction exerts various impact on the central nervous system:

• Influences viscosity of blood, without having at the same time vazodilatiruyushchy effect;
• Improves metabolic processes of nervous cells;
• Improves microcirculation;
• Changes the speed of distribution of impulses in a brain.

At use of Piracetam communication between cerebral hemispheres, a brain blood stream and synaptic conduction in neocortical structures improves.

Release form

Piracetam is produced in a dosage form:

• Capsules, on 400 mg everyone. On 60 pieces in packaging;
• Coated tablets, on 200 mg everyone. On 60 pieces in packaging;
• 20% of solution for injections, in ampoules on 5 ml.

Piracetam analogs on the mechanism of action are drugs Lutsetam, Memotropil, Nootropil, Piratsetam-AKOS, Eskotropil.

Indications to Piracetam use

Piracetam according to the instruction is appointed the adult:

• For treatment of dizziness (вертиго), and also the related disorders of balance, except cases of dizzinesses of a psychogenic and vasculomotor origin;
• For a symptomatic treatment of a psychoorganic syndrome with the decrease of the activity accompanying it, memories and concentration of attention, and also change of behavior, mood and gait;
• For prevention and stopping of drepanocytic vazookklyuzionny crisis;
• For treatment of a cortical myoclonia both in monotherapy, and as a part of complex therapy.

According to indications Piracetam is appointed to children in cases:

• Dyslexias, usually in a complex with other methods, including logopedic treatment;
• Drepanocytic vazookklyuzionny crisis, for prevention and stopping.

Contraindications

According to the instruction it is contraindicated to apply Piracetam at:

• Hypersensitivity to one of drug components;
• Hemorrhagic stroke;
• Pregnancies and in the period of a lactation;
• Psychomotor excitement;
• Chronic renal failure (KK less than 20 ml/min.);
• To chorea of Gentington.

Besides, Piracetam according to indications should be applied with care in cases:

• Chronic renal failure (KK of 20-80 ml/min.);
• Disturbances of a hemostasis;
• Heavy bleeding;
• Extensive surgical interventions.

Piracetam route of administration

According to indications Piracetam in the form of capsules is recommended to be accepted on an empty stomach or during meal. The daily dose is divided most often into 2-4 receptions, at the same time the last dose should be accepted no later than 17 hours not to cause a sleep disorder. Piracetam in the form of solution can be applied to injections intravenously and intramusculary in cases of unconsciousness or the complicated swallowing.

At use of Piracetam for treatment of a cortical myoclonia each three days increase an initial dose of 7,2 g a day by 4,8 g. Throughout the entire period of a disease treatment is carried out, accepting 24 g of drug a day. Later half a year of therapy it is recommended to try to cancel drug or to reduce a daily dose, lowering it gradually by 1,2 g a day. If use of Piracetam gives insignificant therapeutic effect, treatment should be stopped. It is not recommended to cancel sharply drug to avoid resuming of attacks.

At a symptomatic treatment of a psychoorganic syndrome within the first week of therapy accept 4,8 g a day then the dose is reduced to supporting – 1,2-2,4 g.

At treatment of dizziness, and also the related disturbances of balance usually appoint 2,4-4,8 g of Piracetam a day.

For prevention at children and adults of drepanocytic vazookklyuzionny crisis the daily dose of 160 mg on 1 kg of body weight is divided into 4 equal parts. During therapy it is necessary to consider that irregular reception of Piracetam can cause an exacerbation of a disease. For treatment of a disease the drug should be administered intravenously on 300 mg on 1 kg a day.

At children 8 years treatment of a dyslexia Piracetam according to reviews effectively in combination with other methods are more senior. In this case it is necessary to accept 4 capsules (400 mg) twice a day.

At a chronic renal failure it is necessary to adjust the accepted dose depending on disease degree of manifestation:

• At easy degree (KK of 50-79 ml/min.) it is necessary to accept 2/3 recommended a daily dose in 2-3 receptions;
• At average degree (KK of 30-49 ml/min.) – 1/3 daily doses, divided into 2 receptions;
• At heavy degree (KK of 20-30 ml/min.) – once 1/6 daily doses.

Side effects of Piracetam

Most often at use of Piracetam disturbances of the central nervous system, such as are according to reviews observed:

• Motive disinhibition;
• Drowsiness;
• Adynamy;
• Sleeplessness;
• Balance disturbance;
• Hallucinations;
• Irritability;
• Depression;
• Headache;
• Aggravation of a course of epilepsy;
• Hyperphrenia;
• Ataxy;
• Alarm;
• Confusion of consciousness.

Besides, in therapeutic doses Piracetam according to reviews can cause:

• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain;
• Vertigo;
• Anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity, Quincke's disease;
• Lowering of arterial pressure, fever;
• Increase in body weight;
• Itch, dermatitis, urticaria;
• Thrombophlebitis, pain in an injection site.

At use of Piracetam the risk of development of diarrhea with impurity of blood and abdominal pain increases in doses which exceed therapeutic. As there is no specific antidote, at overdose it is necessary to carry out by Piracetam:

• Symptomatic therapy;
• Induction of vomiting;
• Gastric lavage;
• Hemodialysis (efficiency of 50-60%).

At simultaneous use of Piracetam with iodinated hormones of a thyroid gland there can be an irritability, confusion of consciousness and a sleep disorder.

Storage conditions

According to indications Piracetam can be bought according to the medical recipe. A period of storage of ampoules with solution and capsules – 3 years, tablets – 24 months.