Cavinton is a popular drug for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders. The medicine has a wide therapeutic effect, so it contains a large list of indications for use. The drug is widely used in neurological practice, but has a number of features that must be familiar with before starting therapy.
Material Content:
Release forms and composition
The active substance in the composition of the drug is the nootropic agent vinpocetine. Cavinton is presented in two forms - ampoules with injection and tablets. The latter contain 5 and 10 mg of the active substance. They are packaged in blisters, each pack contains 5 blisters (50 tablets). Additionally, the composition contains starch, talc, lactose.
Tablets in a dosage of 10 mg of the active substance are known as Cavinton Forte. 90 tablets are available in one package.
The drug in ampoules is presented in three dosages - 10, 25 and 50 mg of the active substance in one ampoule. In 1 ml of solution contains 5 mg of the active agent, so the ampoules in different dosages differ in volume. Auxiliary components are water for injection, ascorbic acid, benzyl alcohol and sorbitol.
The drug is prescription. For home treatment, they use a tablet form, injections are used only in a hospital setting.
In pharmacies, another remedy is presented - Cavinton Comfort. These are 10 mg tablets of the active substance, which are taken sublingually.In other words, they dissolve under the tongue and do not require swallowing. They have a pleasant taste.
Pharmacological action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
The drug is a complex action medicine. It has beneficial effects on cerebral circulation, improves blood supply to the brain and stimulates metabolic processes.
Properties of the drug:
- neuroprotective effect;
- stimulation of cerebral metabolism;
- improvement of cerebral blood microcirculation;
- increased cerebral blood flow.
The neuroprotective effect is manifested by the protection of brain cells from hypoxia, intoxication. Cavinton supplementation increases the resistance of brain cells to oxygen deficiency (hypoxia). The drug stimulates the exchange of serotonin and norepinephrine, has an antioxidant effect, protecting brain cells. In addition, the drug reduces the resistance of cerebral vessels, thereby increasing local blood flow, while not having a significant effect on total blood flow and blood pressure.
The medicine is fast acting. When taking tablets, the maximum concentration of the active substance is reached after an hour, with intravenous infusions, the drug begins to appear after 10-15 minutes.
The medication is excreted by the kidneys and intestines. The half-life is approximately 4 hours. To achieve an equilibrium concentration of the drug, a regular intake of the substance is necessary for 7 days.
What helps Cavinton
The drug is used in neurology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology. The main indication is the elimination of the consequences of acute cerebrovascular accident.
In neurology, a medicine is prescribed for the treatment of:
- post-stroke condition;
- dementia of vascular origin;
- cerebral arteriosclerosis;
- encephalopathy.
The drug is used to treat encephalopathy on the background of a severe form of hypertension or post-traumatic cerebrovascular accident. The tool effectively reduces such symptoms of encephalopathy as cephalalgia, dizziness, deterioration in cognitive functions of the brain.
Cavinton effectively eliminates the manifestations of vegetovascular dysfunction during menopause.
In ophthalmology, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of malnutrition of the retina against the background of vascular diseases of the eyes. And it is also advisable to appoint elderly patients with hearing impairment against the background of cerebral circulation disorders.
Instructions for use and dosage
The dosage regimen is determined individually for each patient. As a rule, 3 tablets are prescribed per day. The recommended dosage is 15 or 30 mg of the drug, the entire amount is divided into three doses. The tablet should be taken after a meal with plenty of water, but not chewed.
If Cavinton Comfort tablets are used, the medicine should be put under the tongue and left until completely resorbed.
The dose for infusion is selected by the attending physician. A medicine in this form is used only in a hospital.
The medication does not have a significant effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys, and therefore it is allowed to receive patients with impaired functions of these organs. With renal and hepatic insufficiency, there is no need to reduce the dosage, therapy is carried out with standard doses of the drug.
During pregnancy and lactation
The drug should not be taken by pregnant and lactating women. The active substance overcomes the placental barrier and affects the fetus. The drug passes into breast milk, so it is necessary to interrupt breast feeding at the time of administration.
However, studies have not revealed reproductive toxicity of the substance, therefore it is allowed to take it during pregnancy planning. If it occurred during Cavinton therapy, the use of the drug should be discontinued.
Alcohol compatibility
The drug to improve cerebral circulation is not recommended for use with alcohol. Alcohol increases the risk of adverse reactions and reduces the therapeutic effect of the drug. In addition, the use of alcohol is contraindicated in a number of diseases that were the reason for the appointment of Cavinton tablets.
It must be understood that cerebral circulation worsens under the influence of alcohol, so the use of strong drinks can provoke a deterioration in the course of the underlying disease.
Drug interaction
Unlike many drugs in this group, Cavinton can be used with beta-blockers and other high-pressure drugs, since it does not affect their effectiveness and does not provoke a jump in blood pressure.
The drug should not be taken with heparin because of the risk of developing internal bleeding.
You should consult with your doctor about the safety of using the drug with drugs that affect the functioning of the central nervous system, since data on such drug interactions are insufficient, therefore, in other cases, a dose adjustment is necessary.
The drug slightly reduces the anticoagulant activity of warfarin, but a dosage change may be required if the patient needs to take both medications for a long time.
Instructions for use contain comprehensive information about drug interactions, but patients are advised to inform the doctor about all drugs prescribed on an ongoing basis. This will help to predict possible risks and adjust the dosage of drugs.
Contraindications, side effects and overdose
Cavinton is prohibited for use in the following cases:
- acute cerebral stroke;
- severe coronary heart disease;
- severe tachyarrhythmias;
- intolerance to the components of the composition of the drug;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- childhood.
The medicine is intended only for adult patients. There is not enough data on the safety of its use among people under the age of 18, therefore it is not used for children and adolescents.
It is necessary to pay attention to the presence of lactose in the composition. With intolerance to this substance, medication is contraindicated.
In general, the drug is considered safe, which confirms the low risk of side effects. The drug is usually well tolerated by the body, but in rare cases, the following negative reactions are possible:
- increased concentration of cholesterol in the blood;
- headache;
- vertigo;
- lowering blood pressure;
- a decrease in the rate of salivation;
- spasmodic abdominal pain;
- erythema;
- tachycardia;
- feeling of own heartbeat;
- sleep disorders (insomnia or drowsiness);
- asthenia;
- allergic skin reactions.
Hypersensitivity to the drug is manifested by erythema, rash and itching of the skin (urticaria). If symptoms occur, you should consult your doctor about replacing the drug with an analogue of another composition.
There have been no cases of overdose in tablet form. Even with a single dose of a very high dose of the drug (300 mg or more), negative effects are not observed, but the risk of developing adverse reactions increases.
Cavinton analogs
A complete analogue of the drug is this drug Vinopocetin. It is available in tablets and ampoules; also in pharmacies are presented dragees for resorption (sublingual). These agents are interchangeable, as they contain the same active substance in the same doses.
Medicines with a similar effect, but with a different composition:
- Ceraxon;
- Neuroxon;
- Aminalon;
- Nootropil;
- Glycine.
All of these drugs are available in tablet form, except for Ceraxon, which is presented as an injection.
It is important to remember that the choice of analogue depends on the testimony. Not all representatives of this group are safe, therefore it is recommended not to self-medicate, but to trust the doctor in matters of choosing a medicine to improve brain functions.
