How is the drug effective for VSD?

The main sufferer of VSD is our brain. Poor vascular function, osteochondrosis, adrenaline surges - all this contributes to impaired blood flow. Moreover, the problem is of a regular nature. By not receiving its “dose” of blood, the brain is unable to provide the body with high-quality work. The patient notices the consequences of this:

• Frequent headaches, including migraines;
• Reduced resistance to stress (unbalanced emotions, tearfulness, depression);
• Dizziness;
• Unstable blood pressure;
• Cold extremities;
• Extrasystole;
• Lethargy and sleep disturbances (from insomnia to excessive drowsiness);

Piracetam for VSD helps the brain restore its normal functions:

1. Metabolism in nerve cells improves.
2. Impulses in the brain increase speed (the patient’s reactions, memory and thought processes improve).
3. Blood microcirculation improves.
4. The brain begins to be fully supplied with blood, normal communication between the hemispheres and the conductivity of synapses are activated.
5. The patient gets up more easily in the morning and does not feel like a “sleepy fly” during the day.

With all this, Piracetam does not stimulate the patient’s mental processes (although it is often used in psychiatric practice), does not turn tears into laughter and does not have a calming effect. Therefore, drinking it to treat phobias or sleep disorders is absolutely pointless.

The drug is also useful for adolescents with VSD in the off-season period, when the academic load requires concentration and memory, and the body begins to “slip.”

Side effects and overdose

During treatment with the drug, the patient may experience the following side effects:

• metabolic disorders, weight gain;
• severe irritability, aggressiveness, depression, sleep disturbances;
• trembling in the body and limbs, manifestations of asthenia, lethargy;
• headaches, dizziness;
• nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain;
• allergic reactions.

In case of drug overdose, all of the listed manifestations may intensify. The occurrence of undesirable symptoms in patients with an unstable nervous system can provoke an attack of uncontrollable fear, so such individuals should be especially careful. Before starting treatment with this drug, you must consult a doctor. Any changes in your health should also be reported to a specialist.

It is also worth noting that taking Piracetam during a panic attack immediately at the time of the attack is useless. The remedy does not have a calming effect, and therefore using it only once and waiting for the immediate relief of fear is absolutely inappropriate. For the condition to improve, the drug must be taken for about eight weeks. And to eliminate situational anxiety, “alarmists” are recommended to take mild medications (Motherwort, Valerian) and perform special breathing exercises.

The main thing for an “alarmist” is to agree on the use of any drug with a doctor and stop self-medicating. It is known that as a result of prolonged uncontrolled use of the nootropic Piracetam, anxiety can intensify, as a result of which the situation can only worsen. To prevent the condition from worsening, it is necessary to purchase products only with a prescription received from a qualified specialist.

Treatment rules

Piracetam for VSD does not require lifelong use. It is enough to undergo a course of treatment with this drug twice a year during the period of “exacerbations” (spring and autumn). Of course, in consultation with your doctor.

How much of the drug to take per day can only be decided by your doctor. Piracetam is usually prescribed for 3 doses per day. Each dose is 800 mg (2 tablets/capsules). The patient takes them before meals, drinking plenty of water. If improvements are noted within 2-3 weeks, then the drug is taken 1 tablet three times a day. The general course of treatment is 2 months. The dosage of the drug directly depends not only on the severity of VSD, but also on the patient’s weight. Asthenics, for example, require a smaller dose than obese patients.

If a teenager is being treated, it is better to start taking the drug not during the most “acute educational period”, but a month earlier in order to achieve a therapeutic effect.

Piracetam can be used with other medications for VSD: blood pressure medications, antipsychotics, cardiovascular medications. You should know that when treated with the drug, thyroid hormones begin to work more effectively, and the effect of antipsychotics is enhanced in a positive sense.

Piracetam VS analogues: which is better to choose?

Dispensed with a doctor's prescription.

Prices

How much does Piracetam cost in pharmacies? The average price is 40 rubles.

Release form and composition

Pharmaceutical factories in the post-Soviet space produce this medicinal product in three dosage forms: in an injection solution in ampoules of 5 milliliters No. 5, No. 10 or No. 20; in capsules No. 10-No. 120; in tablets No. 10-No. 600.

Piracetam includes as an active ingredient a nootropic substance with a similar name to piracetam (INN - Piracetam) in different mass fractions depending on the dosage form of the drug: 1 milliliter of solution for injection - 200 mg, 1 capsule - 200 mg or 400 mg, 1 tablet – 200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg or 1200 mg.

The additional composition of the ingredients may vary somewhat depending on the manufacturer producing the drug, which should also be taken into account by the attending physician prescribing this or that drug.

Pharmacological effect

It is a nootropic agent. It has a beneficial effect on the metabolic processes of the brain: it enhances the utilization of glucose, stimulates glycolytic processes, enhances the synthesis of phospholipids and RNA, and increases the concentration of ATP in brain tissue.

Helps improve integrative brain activity, memory consolidation, and facilitate the learning process. Improves cerebral blood flow and connections between the hemispheres of the brain, increases mental performance.

Has a protective effect against brain damage caused by electric shock, intoxication, hypoxia; enhances beta and alpha activity, reduces the severity of vestibular nystagmus, and reduces delta activity on the EEG.

The effect of the drug develops gradually. The active component of the drug has practically no psychostimulating and sedative effects.

Why is Piracetam needed and when is the drug prescribed?

Piracetam has a wide range of applications; this medication is prescribed for the treatment of disorders in neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry and addiction. Let's take a closer look at why Piracetam is prescribed for various pathologies.

In pediatrics it is used for the following conditions:

1. Difficulties in the learning process;
2. Dyslexia (impaired ability to read and write) in combination with other methods;
3. Perinatal brain damage;
4. Mental retardation;
5. Cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy);
6. Oligophrenia;
7. As part of the combined treatment of sickle cell anemia.

In psychiatry they are used for various pathological mental states:

1. Epilepsy;
2. Depression of various origins with a predominance of hypochondriacal and asthenic disorders, accompanied by phenomena of lethargy;
3. Apathetic states in schizophrenia;
4. Prevention of mental, autonomic and neurological complications associated with poor tolerance of psychotropic drugs and neuroleptics;
5. Complex therapy of mental disorders and depressive conditions.

In narcology it is used when there are such indications:

1. Chronic alcoholism with persistent mental disorders (intellectual-mnestic disorders, asthenia);
2. Relief of pre- and delirious, withdrawal states in alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as in the case of acute poisoning with morphine, phenamine, barbiturates and alcohol.

In neurological practice it is used for the following conditions:

1. Acute and chronic circulatory disorders in the brain;
2. Treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease;
3. Comatose states resulting from intoxication or brain injury;
4. Disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, accompanied by emotional disturbances and decreased intellectual abilities;
5. Diseases of the brain of a vascular nature (hypertension, atherosclerotic changes), which are complicated by the phenomena of chronic vascular insufficiency (memory impairment, distracted attention, speech difficulties, dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, migraines).

Piracetam is used as part of complex treatment for Parkinson's disease, severe depression, schizophrenia, neuroses and other mental disorders. The medicine has confirmed its effectiveness in the treatment of alcohol and drug poisoning; it is used to relieve attacks of delirium tremens and to restore brain activity in people suffering from chronic alcoholism.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Adequate and strictly controlled studies of the safety of piracetam during pregnancy have not been conducted. Use is possible only in cases where the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus.

Piracetam appears to pass into breast milk. If it is necessary to use it during lactation, the issue of stopping breastfeeding should be decided.

Experimental studies on animals did not reveal any negative effects of piracetam on the fetus.

Dosage and method of administration

The instructions for use indicate that Piracetam tablets and capsules are prescribed orally.

At the beginning of treatment, 800 mg is prescribed in 3 divided doses before meals; as the condition improves, the single dose is gradually reduced to 400 mg. Daily dose - 30-160 mg/kg body weight, frequency of administration - 2 times a day, if necessary - 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment lasts from 2-3 weeks to 2-6 months. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

1. For long-term therapy of psychoorganic syndrome in the elderly, the drug is prescribed at 1.2-2.4 g per day; loading dose during the first weeks of therapy is up to 4.8 g per day. Treatment with piracetam, if necessary, can be combined with the use of psychotropic, cardiovascular and other drugs.
2. When treating the consequences of comatose states, in the post-traumatic period, the initial dose is 9-12 g per day, maintenance dose is 2.4 g, the course of treatment is 3 weeks.
3. This dosage form is recommended for children over 5 years old - 1 capsule. 3 times a day. The maximum daily dose is 1.8 g. The course of treatment is from 2 weeks to 2-6 months.
4. For alcoholism - 12 g per day during the period of manifestation of alcohol withdrawal syndrome; maintenance dose - 2.4 g.
5. For sickle cell anemia, the daily dose is 160 mg/kg body weight, divided into 4 equal portions.

Attention: take the last single dose no later than 17.00 to prevent sleep disturbances.

Injections

Performed intravenously by stream or drip, intramuscularly. The daily dose is divided into 2-4 doses. Symptomatic treatment of psychoorganic syndrome: 4.8 g per day during the first week, then switch to a maintenance dose of 1.2-2.4 g per day.

Treatment of cortical myoclonus: start with a dose of 7.2 g per day, every 3-4 days the dose is increased by 4.8 g per day until a maximum dose of 24 g per day is reached.

Treatment is continued throughout the entire period of the disease. Every 6 months you should try to reduce the dose or discontinue the drug, gradually reducing the dose by 1.2 g per day every 2 days.

If there is little or no therapeutic effect, treatment is stopped.

Treatment of dizziness and related balance disorders: 2.4-4.8 g per day.

For sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis (in adults and children): intravenously, 300 mg/kg per day, divided into 4 equal doses.

Treatment of dyslexia in children over 8 years of age (in combination with other treatment methods) - 3.2 g, divided into 2 equal doses.

Side effects

1. Sense organs: vertigo;
2. Local reactions: thrombophlebitis, pain at the injection site;
3. Digestive system: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea;
4. Metabolism: increased body weight;
5. Skin: itching, rashes, dermatitis;
6. Allergic reactions: angioedema, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic reactions;
7. Central nervous system: insomnia, imbalance, anxiety, irritability, depression, motor disinhibition, headache, drowsiness, ataxia, asthenia, hallucinations, mental agitation, exacerbation of epilepsy, confusion;
8. Other reactions: decreased blood pressure, fever, increased sexual activity.

In children, especially with mental retardation, the following side effects are possible when taking Piracetam: restlessness, fussiness, imbalance, increased conflict, anxiety, decreased ability to concentrate, motor disinhibition, irritability.

Overdose

Cases of overdose have been observed rarely, since a sufficiently large amount of the drug can be taken per day. If the permitted dose is significantly exceeded, the following reactions are possible:

1. Insomnia.
2. Tremor.
3. Increased severity of side effects.
4. Exacerbation of heart failure.

There is no specific antidote to Piracetam. Patients are advised to drink more fluids to quickly eliminate excess medication in the urine. In severe cases, hemodialysis is performed, but its effectiveness is only 50%, since the drug is able to penetrate filter membranes.

special instructions

Continuous monitoring of renal function indicators is recommended.

Use with caution in patients with severe hemostatic impairment, during major surgical operations and severe bleeding; with renal failure.

If sleep disturbances occur, it is recommended to stop taking piracetam in the evening and add this dose to the daytime dose.

Drug interactions

Before you start using the drug, read the special instructions:

1. With the simultaneous use of central nervous system stimulants, the psychostimulating effect may be enhanced.
2. When used simultaneously with antipsychotics, an increase in extrapyramidal disorders is observed.
3. A case of interaction of piracetam with simultaneous use with a thyroid extract containing triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine is described, when the patient experienced anxiety, irritability and sleep disorders. When used simultaneously with thyroid hormones, the development of central effects is possible - tremor, anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, confusion.

Composition and release form

Piracetam is available in the form of tablets, capsules and injections. One tablet contains 0.2 g of the active ingredient piracetam, one capsule contains 0.4 g, and one injection ampoule contains 0.2 g/ml.

Who is the drug indicated for?

Piracetam is prescribed for the treatment of cortical myoclonus, as well as to eliminate the symptoms of various conditions that are accompanied by cognitive disorders and memory impairment. The only exception is diagnosed dementia.

Contraindications

Treatment with the drug is prohibited in case of a known allergy to pyrrolidone derivatives or piracetam, as well as in the last stages of kidney failure. Contraindicated in acute cerebral circulatory disorders and Huntington's chorea.

Adverse reactions

The central nervous system may react to taking the drug with headaches, insomnia at night and drowsiness during the day, and an increase in the frequency of epileptic seizures. Mental reactions such as anxiety, depression, confusion, hallucinations, and nervousness were observed.

Possible undesirable reactions from the digestive tract: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, pain in the stomach and intestines. In case of allergic reactions, the skin reacts with dermatitis, urticaria, and angioedema.

Other side effects include weight gain, increased blood pressure, asthenia, and sexual arousal. When using the injectable form, blood pressure may decrease accompanied by increased body temperature.