A huge part of the population suffers from some kind of circulatory disorders. Some of the pathologies, if properly treated, are not life-threatening, while others, on the contrary, can lead to the development of serious complications. Particularly dangerous, of course, is poor circulation in the brain. The pharmaceutical market now offers a large number of different drugs that improve hemodynamics, but they are quite expensive, so not all patients can afford them. At the same time, doctors prescribe the affordable drug Vinpotropil. We will consider the release form, instructions for use, and available analogues of this medication in this article. We will also pay attention to reviews from specialists and patients.
Release form and composition of the drug
There are only two forms of this drug on the market. It is sold as light brown tablets or size zero yellow capsules with a red cap. Inside them there is a white powder that has no distinct odor. However, sometimes it may have individual crystalline inclusions and lumps. This is not considered a deviation, so if they are present, you can take this remedy without fear.
The annotation for “Vinpotropil” indicates that the powder consists of two active components: vinpocetine, which contains 5 mg in one capsule, and piracetam (400 mg). It also contains lactose and talc, but they are considered excipients. The tablets differ only in the dosage of active ingredients. They contain 10 mg of Vinpocetine and 800 mg of Piracetam. The tablets are additionally film-coated and have a separation line.
The drug is produced in cardboard packages or glass bottles. Tablets and capsules are additionally packaged in contour cells. The product is sold only upon presentation of a doctor's prescription at the pharmacy, so the patient will not be able to start taking it without permission. It should be stored in a dry and dark place, and its shelf life is two years. The cost of the drug can be called low, because the smallest package can be bought for 200-250 rubles. The exact price, of course, will depend on the region and the number of tablets or capsules.
Pharmacological forms and composition
According to the instructions for use, Vinpotropil is available in several pharmacological forms: a concentrate intended for the preparation of a solution, which is then administered intravenously, tablets and capsules.
The capsules of the drug have a zero size, a yellow body and a red cap. Inside the capsule there is an almost white or pure white powder. Clumping of the powder is allowed.
Vinpotropil tablets have a white cut and are covered with a light brown shell with a gray tint on top.
The concentrate looks like a colorless or slightly colored liquid.
The therapeutic effect from the use of the drug develops thanks to the active substances present in it - piracetam and vinpocetine.
The auxiliary components in the preparation of the powder in the capsule are talc and milk sugar. The capsule body is made of E110, E104, gelatin and titanium white. The components of the lid are azorubine, titanium white, gelatin.
Excipients in tablets are croscarmellose sodium, talc, povidone, E572, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, MCC. The tablet shell is made from E171, E172, milk sugar, propylene glycol, hypromellose.
Additional components in the concentrate are injection water, sodium disulfate, butanedic acid, vitamin C.
What indications for use does the drug have?
As mentioned above, a drug is prescribed, as a rule, to improve blood circulation in the brain. However, such a symptom can cause a lot of pathologies, and for some of them, taking the drug is still not recommended. Of course, only the attending physician can prescribe the drug; independent use without the supervision of a specialist can lead to complications and a general deterioration in the patient’s condition. The instructions indicate the following indications for the use of Vinpotropil in tablets and capsules:
- cerebral circulatory insufficiency - this remedy is often used during the recovery period after a stroke;
- migraines, severe headaches and kinetoses - the drug is prescribed to prevent their occurrence;
- dizziness of various nature - the drug is used as part of complex therapy aimed not at curing the disease, but at getting rid of unpleasant symptoms;
- various intoxications, as well as parkinsonism of vascular origin;
- psychoorganic syndrome - the drug is taken if signs of asthenia or adynamia predominate in this pathology.
It is worth noting that the indications for the use of Vinpotropil in tablets and capsules have some differences. For example, doctors can prescribe pills for chronic circulatory failure in the brain if it is of post-traumatic or hypertensive origin. Capsules are taken for Meniere's syndrome and various encephalopathies. They can also be prescribed for any diseases of the central nervous system that cause disruption or reduction in the mental functions of patients. Capsules are also taken for recovery from certain brain injuries.
What does Vinpotropil help with?
In accordance with the instructions, Vinpotropil and analogues are recommended for use:
- As a prophylactic agent to prevent migraines and kinetosis;
- Patients with severe cerebral circulatory insufficiency;
- With labyrinthopathy;
- With decreased concentration;
- People with psychoorganic syndrome accompanied by signs of asthenia and adynamia;
- After suffering brain injuries and diseases affecting the central nervous system and accompanied by a decrease in intellectual and mental functions;
- Patients with severe manifestations of asthenic syndrome;
- In case of severe intoxication of the body;
- When learning indicators deteriorate;
- With Meniere's syndrome;
- People who experience a decrease in brain activity, which is expressed in a decrease in the ability to understand, cognize, study, realize and process external information.
Important! Only the doctor should decide on the need for a course of pharmacotherapy. Self-medication is absolutely unacceptable
Does the drug "Vinpotropil" have any contraindications?
Despite the wide list of indications and the relative availability of the drug, it cannot be used by all patients. That is why it is available only with a prescription from your doctor. Both tablets and capsules seriously affect the functioning of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, so they can only be taken after consultation with a specialist. In some cases, he may not allow therapy due to the patient having one of the contraindications. In this case, another remedy is usually selected.
The instructions for Vinpotropil indicate that the drug has the following contraindications:
- renal or liver failure of any form, since it is with the help of these organs that the medicine is eliminated from the body;
- acute form of hemorrhagic stroke;
- any serious heart rhythm disturbances;
- severe course of coronary heart disease.
It is worth mentioning separately about hypersensitivity. The drug is poorly tolerated by patients suffering from lactose intolerance, so it is not recommended for them to take it. Also, if there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition after starting to take the drug, you should consult a doctor for advice.
Contraindications to the use of Vinpotropil
Contraindications to the use of Vinpotropil according to the instructions are:
- Pregnancy and lactation;
- Severe heart rhythm disturbances;
- Severe coronary heart disease;
- Liver or kidney failure;
- Hemorrhagic stroke in the acute stage;
- Children's age up to 14 years;
- Individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug.
Reviews of Vinpotropil indicate that it should be taken with caution:
- Viral hepatitis;
- Alcoholism and alcoholic liver damage;
- In old age;
- Heavy bleeding;
- If hemostasis is impaired;
- If there is a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the body;
- Priepilepsy;
- Benign hyperbilirubinemia (including Gilbert's syndrome).
What side effects may appear after starting to take the drug?
And although the drug is considered a safe medicine among doctors, sometimes side effects may occur after taking it. "Vinpotropil" is not recommended to be taken if the patient's condition worsens. If the patient becomes worse, it is best to stop taking the drug and consult a doctor. Most likely, he will select another medicine for the patient with a similar principle of action.
The instructions for Vinpotropil describe the following side effects that sometimes appear when taking it:
- tachycardia, feeling of a rush of blood to the face and limbs, changes in blood pressure - such symptoms are most often observed from the cardiovascular system;
- nausea, turning into vomiting, severe dry mouth and heartburn, as well as nagging pain in the stomach, diarrhea;
- severe headaches, sometimes dizziness;
- sleep disturbance, such as insomnia or extreme drowsiness;
- severe irritability and nervousness;
- increased anxiety, gradually turning into depression;
- hand tremors, and in rare cases, severe convulsions;
- any disturbances in concentration and motor disinhibition;
- general weakness, as well as increased sweating and a significant increase in body weight with long-term use;
- increased potency and libido;
- various allergic reactions, for example, severe itching, developing into dermatitis and urticaria.
Side effects of Vinpotropil
Reviews of Vinpotropil and its analogues from patients revealed the following side effects from taking the drug::
- On the part of the cardiovascular system, angina pectoris and a decrease in blood pressure may worsen. Rarely, tachycardia occurs, intraventricular conduction slows down, and extrasystole;
- On the part of the central nervous system, taking Vinpotropil according to the instructions can cause irritability, anxiety, imbalance, psychomotor agitation, sleep disturbance, headaches, dizziness, tremors of the limbs, convulsions, extrapyramidal disorders, decreased concentration;
- On the part of the digestive system, reviews of Vinpotropil indicate the occurrence of vomiting , nausea, gastralgia, diarrhea or constipation, and loss of appetite;
- From the genital area, an increase in sexual activity is possible.
In cases of overdose with Vinpotropil, treatment is carried out according to the instructions: gastric lavage, taking activated charcoal, treating symptoms of overdose.
The drug "Vinpotropil": instructions for use
The best result of therapy, of course, is achieved only if you strictly follow the instructions of the attending physician. Before starting treatment, he must explain to the patient how to take the drug correctly, how many tablets or capsules should be taken per day. The instructions also clearly describe the procedure for taking the drug.
The medicine "Vinpotropil" is taken orally, without chewing and with plenty of drinking water without gases. In this case, it is recommended to take capsules only before meals, and tablets can be taken regardless of meals.
In this case, the dosage of the drug is selected individually by the attending physician. As a rule, he prescribes 1-2 capsules 2 or 3 times a day. In this case, you need to calculate that the last dose of the drug should be at least 4 hours before bedtime. The tablets have a large dosage of the active substance, so they can be taken one pill 2-3 times a day. The duration of treatment is also determined by the doctor, but most often the period of taking the drug varies from two to three weeks to six months. However, abruptly stopping therapy is not recommended. On the contrary, you need to gradually reduce the dose, eventually reducing it to zero.
Dosage and method of administration
Tablet form
Vinpotropil in tablet form is prescribed to be taken orally with plenty of plain water. Does not depend on food intake. Take 1 tablet two to three times a day. The last dose should be taken 4 hours before going to bed. Depending on the clinical picture, therapy can last from 14 days to six months, this is determined by the doctor. Before discontinuing treatment, the dose of Vinpotropil should be reduced gradually.
Capsules. In the form of capsules, Vinpotropil is prescribed internally, 1-2 capsules 2-3 times a day. Last dose approximately 4 hours before bedtime. During the period of maintenance treatment, it is prescribed to take 1 capsule three times a day. Depending on the clinical picture, therapy can last from 14 days to 6 months. Before discontinuation, the dosage is reduced gradually.
Concentrate. Intended for intravenous administration, speed – 80 drops per minute, 1 time per day. 2-3 ampoules are a single dose; ampoules should be pre-diluted with a 500 ml 09% sodium chloride solution. It is also possible to use other solutions that contain dextrose. The duration of treatment is approximately 10-14 days. If such a need arises, the course can be repeated after 6-7 weeks.
After the patient's condition improves, he is prescribed to take oral forms of Vinpotropil.
Can pregnant or breastfeeding patients or small children take the drug?
Vinpotropil capsules and tablets are a very strong drug that affects not only the brain, but also other important organs. Therefore, age under 18 years is considered a contraindication for use. Children should not be treated with this remedy, because scientists have not yet figured out how the active ingredients affect the growing body.
It is also prohibited to take the drug during pregnancy, as its components can harm the fetus developing in the womb. In this case, doctors, as a rule, prescribe a milder analogue of the drug. The study also showed that a certain amount of active ingredients is present in the breast milk of a nursing woman taking this medicine. Therefore, its use is also prohibited during lactation. If the mother must take the medicine, the child should be switched to artificial nutrition.
Symptoms and treatment of overdose
It is recommended to strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor to prevent an overdose of this drug. If the patient accidentally took a large dose, then you should immediately seek medical help without waiting for your health to worsen. The instructions for Vinpotropil indicate that the main symptom of an overdose is the appearance of side effects, for example, dizziness, severe nausea and vomiting, tachycardia and anxiety. However, this drug does not have a specific antidote, so doctors provide the patient with symptomatic care, which is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and maintaining the condition until the medicine itself is eliminated from the body. Urgent gastric lavage is indicated for patients, so immediately after taking a large number of capsules and tablets, vomiting should be induced. To reduce the absorption of the drug, you need to take several tablets of activated carbon. Hemodialysis is used to quickly remove the drug from the body. Its effectiveness in this case is 50-60%.
More information about interactions with other medications
Since the drug is a serious medication and has a serious effect on the human body, it must be combined with other medications with caution. Many are also interested in the compatibility of Vinpotropil and alcohol. They should not be used together under any circumstances. Therefore, patients need to avoid drinking alcohol during therapy to avoid a deterioration in their well-being. Moreover, doctors recommend starting to drink alcohol only a month after the end of therapy.
The drug should be taken with caution with medications that have an anticonvulsant effect, since Vinpotropil weakens the strength of their action. This medication should be used with caution along with antiarrhythmic drugs.
Pharmacodynamics
As a nootropic agent, the drug has a positive effect on the metabolic processes of the brain, enhances the synthesis of phospholipids and RNA, increases the concentration of ACE in brain tissue, enhances glucose utilization, and stimulates glycolytic processes. Vinpotropil and its analogues promote memory consolidation, improve the integrative function of the brain , enhance microcirculation, promote the learning process, change the rate of excitation in the brain, inhibit the aggregation of activated platelets without having a vasodilatory effect. The drug has a protective effect against brain damage caused by electric shock, intoxication, hypoxia, increases alpha and beta activity, reduces delta activity on the encephalogram, reduces the severity of vestibular nystagmus, helps improve communication between the hemispheres of the brain, and improves synaptic conduction in neocortical structures. Increases mental activity, enhances cerebral blood flow, without having a psychostimulating or sedative effect.
As a cerebrovasodilating agent, Vinpotropil and its analogs improve blood circulation in brain cells, dilate brain vessels, causing a slight decrease in blood pressure, improve the supply of brain cells with glucose and oxygen, make brain cells more resistant to hypoxia, facilitating the transport of energy supply substrates and oxygen to tissues, enhance the metabolism and absorption of glucose, directing metabolism in a more favorable aerobic direction. The drug inhibits adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase, promoting the accumulation of ATP and cAMP in tissues, and increases the content of catecholamines in brain tissues.
The vasodilating property of Vinpotropil and its analogues, by reducing platelet aggregation , increasing the deformability of red blood cells and reducing blood viscosity, improves microcirculation in brain tissue, has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the brain, and increases blood supply to the ischemic area of the brain. The drug acts on the body gradually.
Does the drug have analogues?
Sometimes, for some individual reasons, the drug may not be suitable. In this case, the attending physician can recommend one of the analogues to the patient. Vinpotropil has few similar medicines. Some of them are identical in composition, while others have a similar principle of action. At the same time, of course, it is categorically not recommended to independently replace one drug with a similar one, since each of them has its own contraindications and side effects. If the remedy does not suit you, then ask your doctor to choose another one, rather than self-medicate.
The following analogues of Vinpotropil can be found on the pharmaceutical market:
- "Vinpocetine."
- "Cavinton".
- "Idebenone."
- "Piracetam."
- "Pyracesin".
- "Fezam."
- "Olatropil" and others.
Composition and form of production
Available in the following dosage forms:
- Oval-shaped tablets, film-coated. They have a light brown color and a slightly grayish tint. On the cross section there is a line, almost white. It is produced in cellular contour packs of 10 pieces, and a pack can contain 3 or 6 packs.
- The concentrate intended for the preparation of infusion solutions is colorless, transparent or slightly colored. Volume 5 ml, in darkened glass ampoules - in a cardboard package of 5 ampoules.
- Capsules. Color – yellow with a red cap. The capsule contains a white powder; the presence of individual crystals and lumps is allowed.
1 tablet of Vinpotropil contains the following active ingredients:
- 800 mg piracetam;
- 10 mg vinpocetine.
1 tablet contains the following components:
- 400 mg piracetam;
- 5 mg vinpocetine.
1 ml of Vinpotropil in the form of a concentrate contains:
- 80 mg piracetam;
- 1 mg vinpocetine.
Additional components of the tablets are calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, croscarmellose sodium, talc, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, povidone.
Tablet shell and its composition – opadry 2 brown (dyes, black iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, titanium dioxide, hypromellose, macrogol, lactose monohydrate).
Additional components of the capsules are lactose and calcium stearate.
The concentrate and its additional components – water for injection, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, sodium metabisulfite (disulfate).
Positive reviews from doctors and patients about this product
Patients and doctors generally evaluate this medicine positively, noting in reviews of Vinpotropil a large number of its advantages. Of course, they consider its high efficiency to be its main advantage. Judging by the responses, a significant improvement in the patient’s condition does not appear immediately, but after several weeks of constant use. Patients note that they no longer suffer from chronic headaches and dizziness, their memory and concentration improve. At the same time, the constant use of the product does not affect their budget in any way, since this product is inexpensive, especially in comparison with analogues. Some patients indicate that they drink it in courses almost every year, especially in the fall or spring, when apathy appears and performance decreases.
According to patients, the remedy also helps after serious brain disorders. For example, it is often prescribed to people in a pre-stroke state. Doctors indicate that after some time such patients experience positive dynamics. In the reviews, experts also write that the drug is easily tolerated by older people and has a small number of contraindications, so it can be prescribed to almost any patient.
Negative reviews
It is worth noting that negative reviews about Vinpotropil are quite rare. However, there are still patients who for some reason did not like the drug. For example, some consider the lack of medication to have a large number of side effects. After starting treatment, such patients feel drowsiness and discomfort from the digestive system. Patients also believe that this is a rather strong drug that has a negative effect on many organs, especially the kidneys and liver. Another disadvantage they call is the short-term effect of the therapy. In their opinion, after taking the drug, the condition improves, but if you stop taking the pills, your health will soon deteriorate again. Therefore, you have to take the drug in courses several times a year. Among the minor disadvantages, patients also mention the large size of the capsules, which makes them very unpleasant and inconvenient to swallow.
Is therapy with this drug worth it?
And although this medicine has some disadvantages, they cannot be called critical. The body's reaction to drugs is always individual, so unpleasant side effects can appear after taking absolutely any medication. At the same time, this medicine shows good results in the treatment of cerebral circulatory disorders, and is also very inexpensive. We reviewed the composition of Vinpotropil, instructions for use, information about analogues and reviews, but the decision to start taking it should still be made by your attending physician. If you follow his recommendations, you can reduce the risk of side effects and complications to a minimum.
Existing contraindications for use
Vinpotropil in all dosage forms is indicated for use in the following conditions:
- Intoxication;
- Psychoorganic syndrome, in which the symptoms of asthenia and adynamia predominate;
- Circulatory failure in the brain (recovery period after ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke);
- Parkinsonism of vascular origin.
For tablets, additional indications for use are:
- Prevention of migraine and kinetosis;
- A chronic form of insufficiency of post-traumatic blood circulation in the brain, as well as blood circulation, which has a hypertensive origin;
- Symptomatic treatment of a disease such as vertigo.
For concentrate and capsules additional indications:
- Encephalopathies of various origins, including alcoholism;
- Meniere's syndrome;
- Brain injuries, as well as other diseases of the central nervous system, which are accompanied by a decrease in intellectual functions;
- Asthenic syndrome;
- Labyrinthopathies.
In addition, capsulated Vinpotropil is prescribed for the prevention of migraines and kinetosis.
