A full human life is impossible without the correct functioning of the brain, the main organ of the central nervous system. It is necessary to take care of maintaining his health throughout his life.
Brain function is negatively affected by stress, lack of sleep, bad habits, head injuries, and organic diseases.
To help brain structures cope with various kinds of metabolic disorders, a special group of pharmaceuticals called nootropics .
Nootropic drugs are presented on the Russian pharmaceutical market in a huge range.
Among them, there are two drugs most often prescribed by neurologists. These are Picamilon and Piracetam.
Both products have a similar direction of action, but also have a number of differences. To clarify the similarities and differences between the drugs, it is necessary to consider them in more detail.
Comparison of the effectiveness of Picamilon and Piracetam
The effectiveness of Picamilon is quite similar to Piracetam - this means that the ability of the drug to provide the maximum possible effect is similar.
For example, if the therapeutic effect of Picamilon is more pronounced, then using Piracetam even in large doses will not achieve this effect.
Also, the speed of therapy - an indicator of the speed of therapeutic action - is approximately the same for Picamilon and Piracetam. And bioavailability, that is, the amount of a drug reaching its site of action in the body, is similar. The higher the bioavailability, the less it will be lost during absorption and use by the body.
What is the difference between Noopept and Nootropil?
These drugs have their own special characteristics. Medicines in this group of nootropics do not have one mechanism of action. It is assumed that positive effects are achieved through:
- direct stimulation of transcallosal potentials;
- influence on neurons;
- improving blood flow in the brain;
- antihypoxic, antiedematous and antiplatelet effects.
Nowadays, the main mechanism of action of such drugs is considered to be the effect on bioenergetic and metabolic processes in the nerve cell. A similar effect is achieved through interaction with the neurotransmitter systems of the brain.
Manufacturers of this class of stimulants claim that their medications are characterized by rapid penetration through the BBB, increasing the rate and utilization of sugars in the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, subcortical ganglia and cerebellum, improving the metabolic processes of nucleic acids, activating the synthesis of protein, ATP and RNA.
These medications differ in composition. The active component of Noopept is cycloprolylglycine. This substance is an analogue of an endogenous neuropeptide, which is capable of binding to neuronal receptors, after which it enhances the effect of the specific mediator acetylcholine.
This anabolic for the brain provides a reduction in the toxic and stimulating effects of glutamate for the following diagnoses:
- stress;
- stroke;
- alcohol poisoning;
- ischemia.
Noopept is also used for the following conditions:
- after simple traumatic brain injuries (post-concussion syndrome) with subjective symptoms;
- psychogenic pathologies (fatigue, apathy, headache);
- encephalopathy;
- vascular insufficiency of the brain;
- decrease in intellectual abilities.
The drug Noopept has a smaller list of side effects, with the exception of individual intolerance to the substance and, in rare cases, hypertension. A distinctive feature of this medication is the number of effective doses.
This figure is an order of magnitude lower than that of nootropil. This partly creates the relative safety of Noopept, which makes it possible to use it as a psychological tool for influencing a certain group of people with hypochondria.
Nootropil contains the active ingredient piracetam. It is a cyclic derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid, a certain inhibitory mediator of the central nervous system. The advantages of the drug are:
- direct effect on the central nervous system;
- improvement of cognitive processes;
- the main component improves communication between both hemispheres of the brain;
- it activates mental activity, protects brain cells from hypoxia (oxygen starvation).
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Nootropil has a positive effect on the central nervous system in the following way: it inhibits excitation, improves metabolism and microcirculation, systematically affecting the specific characteristics of the blood, and does not provoke a vasodilator effect.
Comparison of the safety of Picamilon and Piracetam
The safety of a drug includes many factors.
At the same time, in Picamilon it is quite similar to Piracetam. It is important where the drug is metabolized: drugs are excreted from the body either unchanged or in the form of products of their biochemical transformations. Metabolism occurs spontaneously, but most often involves major organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, brain and others. When assessing the metabolism of Picamilon, as well as Piracetam, we look at which organ is the metabolizing organ and how critical the effect on it is.
The risk-benefit ratio is when the prescription of a drug is undesirable, but justified under certain conditions and circumstances, with the obligatory observance of caution in use. At the same time, Picamilon does not have any risks when used, just like Piracetam.
Also, when calculating safety, it is taken into account whether only allergic reactions occur or possible dysfunction of the main organs. In other matters, as well as the reversibility of the consequences of using Picamilon and Piracetam.
Picamilon: description of the drug
The main purpose of the drug is to influence the metabolic and higher mental processes of the brain. The nootropic also has an effect on the smooth muscles of the vascular walls by relaxing it due to its vasodilating properties.
Composition and release form
Picamilon contains only one active ingredient - nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid . This allows us to call it a single drug.
Available in the following formats:
- Tablets of 20 mg or 50 mg, white, cylindrical.
- Ampoules - concentration 5% or 10%. One ampoule contains 2 ml of medicine.
Excipients: hydrochloric acid, water, talc, potato starch, stearic acid, magnesium bicarbonate.
Indications and contraindications
The list of indications for the use of Picamilon is quite wide. It is used for:
- Insufficient cerebral circulation.
- Increased anxiety.
- Asthenic syndrome.
- Recovery stage after a stroke.
- Alcoholic encephalopathy.
- Depressive states.
- Neuroinfections.
- Migraines (to prevent attacks).
- Treatment of consequences of TBI.
- Acute alcohol poisoning.
- Panic attacks.
- Open angle glaucoma.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Physical, mental fatigue, etc.
In addition, the medicine helps solve some urological problems. It is prescribed to adults and children (after 3 years) suffering from urinary disorders to increase the oxygen content in the detrusor tissues of the bladder.
Picamilon should not be used for acute and chronic kidney pathologies, allergies to the active substance, pregnancy, breastfeeding, stroke.
Prescribing the medicine to children under 3 years of age is strictly prohibited.
Medicinal properties
Taking Picamilon ensures the stability of metabolic processes in tissue structures. At the same time, brain cells are protected from the negative effects of free radicals.
By preventing platelet aggregation and reducing vascular resistance, Picamilon helps increase blood flow in the brain and improve microcirculation.
The nootropic helps relieve headaches, increase intellectual function, physical endurance, strengthen memory, and improve sleep.
Having a tranquilizing effect, Picamilon relieves patients from the feeling of tension and unmotivated fear.
Reduces increased anxiety . Increases the body's resistance to stress factors.
It is worth noting the cardioprotective effect of the drug, which consists of protecting the walls of the heart vessels from thinning and preventing possible rupture.
Application
Injection forms of Picamilon are used by intramuscular injections or intravenous infusions.
Infusion into a vein is done drip or stream. The rate of administration should be low. Before administration, the medicine is diluted in 200 ml of an isotonic solution of 0.9%.
Intravenous infusions are usually given for 10 days . Then they move on to intramuscular administration.
Tablet forms are used orally, 30–150 mg/day . The maximum permissible dose is 300 mg per day.
The treatment regimen and course duration are selected by the attending physician. To do this, the specific pathology and general condition of the patient are taken into account. On average, a course of taking Picamilon lasts 1 – 3 months . You can repeat the course after six months on the recommendation of a doctor.
Comparison of addiction between Picamilon and Piracetam
Like safety, addiction also involves many factors that must be considered when evaluating a drug.
So, the totality of the values of such parameters as “o syndrome” in Picamilon is quite similar to the similar values in Piracetam. Withdrawal syndrome is a pathological condition that occurs after the cessation of intake of addictive or dependent substances into the body. And resistance is understood as initial immunity to a drug; in this it differs from addiction, when immunity to a drug develops over a certain period of time. The presence of resistance can only be stated if an attempt has been made to increase the dose of the drug to the maximum possible. At the same time, Picamilon has a fairly low “syndrome” value, just like Piracetam.
Patient reviews of the drugs
Reviews from patients are very contradictory. We will give only some of the most typical ones.
Igor, 28 years old: I suffered from insomnia, increased absent-mindedness, and apathy due to hard work. At first I took herbs, then I started taking Noopept. After 2 weeks, the long-awaited relief came. The effect of the therapy lasted for a long time.
Lydia, 32 years old: Noopept did not bring any benefit to me. Unpleasant sensations in my head constantly tormented me until I decided to take nootropil. The doctor helped me choose the drug. I don’t know how my self-medication would have ended if I had not visited the clinic.
Patient reviews of Noopept
Alla, 67 years old: With age, insomnia appeared. The children bought Noopept and took it themselves. After 10 days of taking it, my sleep improved and I became calmer.
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Semyon, 32 years old: Due to constant overload at work, irritability, insomnia, and a constant state of depression appeared. My wife bought Noopept and I started taking it. 2 weeks have passed - no effect. I think I'm ready to go to the doctor. Maybe he will prescribe a different drug.
Patient reviews of Nootropil
Alexey, 30 years old: The doctor recommended taking a course of nootropil in my situation. No positive changes are observed.
Maria, 24 years old: While studying at the university, psycho-emotional problems arose due to colossal workloads. My classmate took nootropil a little earlier, and she also advised me. After several days of taking it, dizziness and throbbing in the temples appeared. The drug did not give anything good.
Comparison of side effects of Picamilon and Piracetam
Side effects or adverse events are any adverse medical event that occurs in a subject after administration of a drug.
Picamilon has almost the same side effects as Piracetam. They both have few side effects. This implies that the frequency of their occurrence is low, that is, the indicator of how many cases of an undesirable effect of treatment are possible and registered is low. The undesirable effect on the body, the strength of influence and the toxic effect of Picamilon are similar to Piracetam: how quickly the body recovers after taking it and whether it recovers at all.
What it is
These are drugs that improve performance, memory and learning ability. Piracetam was created first - it appeared in the sixties of the last century. In the seventies, scientist Corneliu Giurgia discovered that this medicine stabilizes the membranes of cells in the central nervous system, improving the functioning of brain cells. They didn’t know the exact mechanism of how piracetam works—they were just guessing. Giurja proposed using it to restore mental abilities after injuries, oxygen starvation of the brain, with senile dementia and congenital dementia in children.
Most nootropics are of animal origin. They are extracted from the brains of pigs and cattle, rich in low molecular weight proteins. The drugs are inexpensive and rarely cause side effects, which is why doctors love them.
Comparison of ease of use of Picamilon and Piracetam
This includes dose selection taking into account various conditions and frequency of doses. At the same time, it is important not to forget about the release form of the drug; it is also important to take it into account when making an assessment.
The ease of use of Picamilon is approximately the same as Piracetam. However, they are not convenient enough to use.
The drug ratings were compiled by experienced pharmacists who studied international research. The report is generated automatically.
Last update date: 2020-12-04 13:47:59
Indications and contraindications
Indications for the use of nootropil are as follows:
- vestibular disorders and dizziness;
- symptomatic treatment of intellectual impairments and memory disorders, if there is no reason to suspect dementia;
- involuntary twitching of muscle mass (cortical myoclonus);
- speech problems in children;
- prevention of vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis: the development of thrombosis provoked by a genetic abnormality in the cellular structure of hemoglobin.
The negative aspects of the drug include:
- the presence of a higher dose of the active component than in its analogue;
- piracetam, taken in a dosage greater than 9.6 g per day, provokes an increase in the effectiveness of acenocoumarol in patients diagnosed with venous thrombosis (in this condition there is a strong decrease in platelet aggregation, plasma and blood viscosity, fibrinogen level);
- the impossibility of abruptly stopping the medication due to increased manifestations of the disease or its resumption.
This medication has an extended list of side effects:
- nervousness and itching;
- dizziness and drowsiness;
- depression and headaches;
- imbalance and insomnia;
- vomiting and agitation;
- asthenia and anxiety;
- hallucinations and swelling;
- increased sexuality;
- nausea and diarrhea;
- stomach ache;
- dermatitis and rashes.
