Mexidol is an indispensable tool in the treatment of many diseases - from stress and circulatory disorders in the brain to get rid of alcohol poisoning. Nevertheless, Mexidol has side effects, so uncontrolled use of the drug is strongly discouraged.

The composition and form of release of the drug

Mexidol is a drug artificially created on the basis of the chemical compound ethylmethylhydroxypyridine, which is the main active ingredient.

Mexidol is produced by the pharmaceutical industry in three forms, which differ from each other in the method of application, the concentration of the active substance, as well as the content of additional ingredients:

  1. Mexidol tablets 125 mg.
  2. 50 ml ampoules intended for both intravenous and intramuscular administration. The substance contains, in addition to the main component, metabisulfide and water for injection.
  3. Mexidol Dent Toothpaste.

The choice in which form the drug will be used depends entirely on the type of disease and the severity of its course.

Side effects and contraindications Mexidol

The studies of the drug and the practice of its use have shown that Mexidol is fairly well tolerated by various categories of patients. And yet, although rare, negative consequences are possible.

For adults

The risk for adult patients with the use of this medicine is minimal.

Only such side effects were noticed:

  • dry mouth
  • nausea;
  • slight drowsiness.

Mexidol is considered a fairly safe drug, therefore, it is contraindicated only in certain conditions:

  • acute form of renal failure;
  • liver failure in the acute stage;
  • an allergic reaction to any of the additional components of the product.

In addition, there are categories of people who can take Mexidol only under the strict supervision of a physician.

These include:

  • patients suffering from hypertension, accompanied by crises;
  • patients with low blood pressure.

Unpleasant manifestations in well-being can occur due to excess dosage.

If during treatment with Mexidol you notice difficulty concentrating while driving or performing high-precision actions, you must immediately inform your doctor so that he adjusts the daily dose of the drug.

In some cases, even a complete withdrawal of the drug is possible.

During pregnancy and lactation

Studies on the effect of Mexidol on the body of a pregnant woman, fetus and newborn baby, as well as during breastfeeding, have not been conducted because of the high potential risks. Therefore, doctors do not recommend the use of Mexidol during these periods. If, however, due to health reasons, treatment with this medication is required, then in each individual case, the ratio of the expected positive result with the possible danger to the mother and child is determined. Only a specialist can do this, because self-medication is strictly prohibited.

For children

Due to the lack of research data on the effect of ethyl methyl hydroxypyridine on a growing body, pediatricians prefer to prescribe Mexidol only to adolescents over 12 years of age. If health problems arise in young children, then the doctor can prescribe this medicine, but only in exceptional cases, when the positive effect far exceeds all possible negative consequences.

Possible effects of alcohol intake

The unique properties of Mexidol make it an indispensable tool in the treatment of various pathological manifestations associated with intoxication, including alcohol.

Narcologists use the medication to quickly save the patient from the consequences of excessive consumption of hard liquors.

This drug has an extremely beneficial effect on the body:

  • promotes restoration of liver cells;
  • normalizes brain activity;
  • improves blood vessels in the brain;
  • calms the nervous system;
  • increases the saturation of cells with nutrients;
  • Helps relieve fear
  • solves sleep problems;
  • protects body tissues from oxidation.

However, it is precisely because of these properties of the drug It is strongly not recommended to combine Mexidol intake with the use of any alcohol-containing drinks. Otherwise, not only will there be no positive effect, but also unpleasant consequences are possible. After all, this medicine is an artificially created chemical substance. And what reactions will occur during its interaction with ethanol, it is impossible to predict in advance.

It is important to remember that the use of Mexidol is aimed only at cleansing and restoring already damaged tissues and cells, as well as relieving pain. The drug cannot provide the withdrawal of new portions of toxin from the body.

Instructions for the use of tablets and injections

Despite the same active substance, tablets and solution have different effects. In each individual case, the doctor decides in what form the medicine will enter the body, how long the effect should be, before or after eating, you need to drink pills. These nuances depend on the characteristics of the disease, its severity and stage of the treatment process.And it is also important to remember that adults and children require a different dose of the drug, which only a specialist can correctly determine.

When prescribing Mexidol in the form of injections, there are several general rules:

  • The rate of drug entry into the vein should be a maximum of 40-60 drops per minute.
  • Intramuscular administration of mexidol is also necessary slowly (within 5-7 minutes).
  • The standard single dose is 200 mg, but in case of exacerbation, 400 to 1200 mg are prescribed by injection.
  • You can cancel the drug only after restoration of all functions of the damaged organ.

There is no single recommendation on the dosage or duration of administration of this antioxidant drug for all pathological complications in which its use may be required.

For each of the diseases, the instructions for using the medicine are different from all other cases:

  • In the treatment of brain disorders, the first 4 days are given intravenous injections of Mexidol at a dosage of 200-300 mg. Then another 8 days are given intramuscular injections - 100 mg three times a day.
  • In the case of treatment for traumatic brain injury, tablets are usually prescribed. You need to drink them 2 pieces 3 times a day. The duration of the course varies from 5 days to 2 months, depending on the degree of damage and concomitant treatment.
  • With attacks of vegetative-vascular dystonia, 200 mg per day is initially prescribed intravenously for 10 days. Then follows a course of taking tablets of 2-4 pieces twice or thrice a day. The duration of therapy is from 2 weeks to one and a half months. 3 days before the end of this period, you must begin to reduce the dose.
  • With epilepsy, Mexidol in ampoules is used as an anticonvulsant. The first 2 weeks of injection are given intravenously. The maximum dose per day should not exceed 100 mg. Then, for another 2 weeks, injections are given intramuscularly in the same dosage.
  • With local osteochondrosis, treatment begins with a 10-day course of intramuscular injections of 200-400 mg. After continue therapy for another 2-6 weeks, taking 1 tablet three times a day. Relief occurs almost immediately, but if the cause is not eliminated, the pain will resume after the end of treatment.
  • In case of poisoning with antipsychotics, Mexidol is prescribed in ampoules. It can be pricked both intramuscularly and intravenously. The daily volume of the drug can vary from 300 to 500 mg, the course should be continued from 7 to 14 days.
  • In case of a stroke, 400 mg of Mexidol solution must be administered in the first 4 hours. The treatment also continues in the form of injections (800–1200 mg per day), but already in the hospital and exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. After improvement, to consolidate the healing process, take 1–1.5 tablets 2-3 times a day for the entire period that the doctor determines.
  • In atherosclerosis, intramuscular injections have the most effective effect. The daily dosage can range from 100 to 300 mg.
  • The drug is also used in case of purulent processes in the abdominal cavity. A solution of Mexidol is administered three times a day at 200 mg. With an easy course of the disease, injections are placed in the buttock. In case of complications, intravenous injections are prescribed.

Despite the fact that Mexidol has an extremely small list of side effects, self-treatment is not worth it. It is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

Antioxidant analogues

The high price of Mexidol makes it not the most popular medicine among Russian buyers.

However, there are cheaper analogues:

  • Mexiprim;
  • Neurox;
  • Mexidant;
  • Cerecard;
  • Mexicor
  • Mexifine;
  • Ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate.

All these drugs are created on the basis of the same active substance, but they contain additional components. Therefore, before replacing Mexidol with another medicine, you should familiarize yourself with all the side effects of the analog drug and make sure that you have no contraindications that make its use dangerous.

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