Mexidol injections can help in various situations related to problems of the nervous system, and not only. The list of indications for use is quite wide, but the doctor decides on the use.
Material Content:
- 1 Composition, release form and packaging
- 2 Pharmacological action and pharmacodynamics
- 3 Why is the drug prescribed?
- 4 Instructions for the use of injections "Mexidol"
- 5 Treatment duration
- 6 Can I use it during pregnancy and lactation?
- 7 Drug interaction
- 8 Drug compatibility with alcohol
- 9 Contraindications, side effects, overdose
- 10 Analogs of injections "Mexidol"
Composition, release form and packaging
Mexidol is available in tablets and in the form of a solution for injections. The latter looks like a transparent liquid sealed in ampoules of 2 or 5 ml. The package usually contains five containers.
In every milliliter of medicine is:
- ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (treatment component) - 50 mg;
- sodium metabisulfite;
- water for injections.
This is a very popular drug. Especially for those who had to deal with abnormalities in the work of the brain, including those who survived a stroke. However, the medicine has proven itself not only in neurology, but also in other areas of medicine, from psychiatry to surgery.
Pharmacological action and pharmacodynamics
Mexidol has a phenomenal biological activity.
Is he:
- activates the metabolism;
- improves the functioning of cell membranes;
- normalizes cholesterol;
- reduces symptoms of poisoning;
- removes cramps;
- restores the electrical activity of the heart;
- successfully struggles with bouts of anxiety and panic;
- Helps withstand stress
- improves memory and ability to concentrate;
- normalizes blood supply to the brain;
- stops the processes of negative effects on the body of oxygen deficiency.
The medicine quickly enters the body at the cellular level, gives strength to withstand situations provoked by a lack of oxygen in the blood, including with ischemia, hypoxia, and oxygen deficiency in the brain.
In addition, Mexidol is able to remove alcoholic toxins and improve the well-being of a person suffering from withdrawal symptoms (the so-called complex of pathologies that have occurred in a chronic alcoholic due to a sharp decrease in the usual dose of alcohol or refusal from it). It also helps with operations for purulent processes in the peritoneum and helps with neurotic and neurosis-like conditions.
The introduction of Mexidol inhibits the formation of free radicals and strengthens the erythrocyte membranes, prevents platelets from sticking to blood clots, and reduces the poisoning caused by acute pancreatitis, when toxins begin to accumulate in the body due to inflammation of the pancreas.
With hypoxia, it reduces the activity of oxidative processes. Increasing coronary blood flow, improves metabolism in the myocardium, suffering from oxygen deficiency, and directly in the ischemia site. It also affects the retina and optic nerve, so that vision becomes sharper.
The main active component of the drug increases the content of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that allows you to feel pleasure, not feel pain and is responsible for the motor function of the muscles) in the brain.
Why is the drug prescribed?
Injection "Mexidol" is prescribed when an illness is diagnosed that combines the psychological and physiological causes of the occurrence. It can act as the only therapeutic agent, and as part of complex therapy.
It is prescribed at:
- traumatic brain injuries and their consequences;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- severe poisoning with antipsychotic drugs;
- withdrawal syndrome;
- withdrawal caused by drug addiction;
- impaired blood circulation of the brain;
- necrotic pancreatitis;
- peritonitis;
- neurocirculatory dystonia (a combination of disorders of the cardiovascular system);
- discirculatory encephalopathy (damage to the small arteries of the brain tissue);
- primary open-angle glaucoma in different stages;
- persistent anxiety in a state of neurosis.
In addition, Mexidol is also used for elderly patients who are suffering from senile atherosclerosis.
Instructions for the use of injections "Mexidol"
The scale of application of Mexidol in injections is quite wide. The dosage, mode and duration of use in each case is determined by the doctor. It takes into account not only the ailment and its severity, but also the age of the patient (for those under 12 years old, the drug is not allowed), especially the course of the disease. Therefore, it may deviate from the standard recommendations indicated in the manual.
Usually, at the initial stage (first five days) of treatment, they resort to the most effective method - inject Mexidol intravenously. Why dilute with water for injection and put a dropper set up to 40-60 drops per minute. Or injected into a vein with a syringe, slowly, from 5 to 7 minutes. The daily dose is calculated based on the patient’s body weight. For every kilogram of weight should be 7 - 9 ml of succinate.
The treatment regimen "Mexidol" is due to the disease. For example:
- problems with cerebral circulation: 200-300 ml per day (the first two to four days) intravenously, then 100 ml of Mexidol intramuscularly - three times a day;
- injuries to the skull and brain: two weeks two to four times a day put droppers of 200 - 500 ml;
- decompensation of discirculatory encephalopathy, when the body's defenses are not able to stop the pathology: intravenously (injection or dropper), 100 ml twice or thrice a day;
- myocardial infarction: in the first five days, drip into the veins with a 5% glucose solution or 0.9% sodium chloride solution (every eight hours), from the ninth day you can prick and intramuscularly. The upper threshold for a single dose - 250, daily - 800 ml;
- glaucoma: one to three intramuscular injections per day, 100 to 300 ml.
With peritonitis and necrotic pancreatitis, Mexidol is indicated both before and after surgery, based on the type of severity of the disease, the spread of the process, and signs of the disease.
Treatment duration
How long the therapy will last depends on which disease is being treated. So:
- to normalize the blood supply to the brain, Mexidol is used from 10 to 14 days;
- with atherosclerosis, injections will have to be done for 30, or even 40 days;
- for encephalopathy, the course of treatment is shorter - usually two weeks is enough;
- with necrotic pancreatitis, the task of Mexidol is to reduce the severity of manifestations. In each individual case, the timing varies;
- it may take 7-10 days to eliminate intoxication with antipsychotics.
In any case, you can not stop being treated abruptly. In order not to cause discomfort, the dose should be reduced gradually.
Can I use it during pregnancy and lactation?
Studies on how Mexidol can affect pregnancy, whether it crosses the placental barrier, is able to penetrate breast milk, have not been conducted. Therefore, experts do not take the risk of calling the drug safe for this category of patients and do not allow women who have a baby or breastfeed to use it. During pregnancy, it is not known how the medicine can affect the development of the fetus. When breastfeeding, mother should temporarily transfer the baby to artificial mixtures.
Drug interaction
Quite often, Mexidol is one of the components of the treatment process and is used in parallel with other medicines. The dose and duration of use of Mexidol often depend on how they interact.
In conjunction with it, the human body is more strongly affected by:
- anticonvulsants;
- antidepressants;
- nootropic drugs;
- antipsychotics;
- tranquilizers;
- benzodiazepine derivatives;
- pain medication.
In general, it can be noted that there were no negative results associated with the combination of Mexidol with any other medicine. But telling the doctor when any other drugs are taken along the way should be.
Drug compatibility with alcohol
"Mexidol", as mentioned above, reduces the effect on the body of the toxic components of alcohol. However, this does not mean that alcohol is not a hindrance to him. Indeed, even if the components of both are completely compatible, alcoholic beverages are contraindicated for diseases in which Mexidol is prescribed. Neglect of the ban can end very badly.
But alcoholics during the period of withdrawal symptoms are treated with them when they need to cleanse their body and reduce painful symptoms - swelling, digestive problems, hand tremors, headaches and a dangerously fast pulse. However, only after a person stops drinking alcohol. Otherwise, the condition will worsen even more.
Contraindications, side effects, overdose
There are situations when Mexidol cannot be used under any circumstances:
- age under 12 years old;
- exacerbation of chronic renal failure;
- liver failure;
- individual intolerance to the components.
Pregnancy and lactation have been discussed above.
In the use of this medication, caution is needed for those who suffer from high or low blood pressure. As well as people driving cars and working with other complex equipment: there may be adverse reactions that slow down the ability to quickly concentrate, scatter attention and become sleepy.
In general, Mexidol is a low-toxic drug, so the list of undesirable effects is small.
Occasionally likely:
- bouts of nausea;
- a state of constant slumber;
- dry mouth
- constipation or, conversely, diarrhea;
- flatulence;
- swelling and rash on the skin;
- jumps in blood pressure;
- sleep impairment.
With the wrong dose or an unauthorized extension of the treatment period, when an overdose occurs, the above phenomena can manifest themselves more actively. Heartburn, vomiting is also likely.
Analogs of injections "Mexidol"
In pharmacies, you can find a lot of analogues of Mexidol injections with a similar chemical composition.
Among them:
- Mexibel
- "Cerecard";
- Mexicor;
- Neurox
- Mexifin;
- Mexidant.
Your doctor may prescribe other substitutes that are similar in effect.