Cavinton

The drug Cavinton was created in the 60s of the last century by pharmacologists of the Hungarian pharmaceutical giant Gedeon Richter. Vinpocetine, the active ingredient in Cavinton, is a semi-synthetic version of the alkaloid vincamine, which was found to have a vasodilating effect. Later, its particular usefulness in cerebrovascular disorders was established, which motivated scientists to create a new drug. Today, Cavinton is widely used in 50 countries around the world, including, naturally, Russia. The main indication for the use of Cavinton is chronic cerebrovascular accidents, but in recent years the drug has found its niche in clinical practice in acute forms of this cerebral pathology. Cavinton's ability to affect blood vessels is determined by its effect on the cellular metabolism of cyclic nucleotides in the smooth muscle vascular wall through inhibition of the enzyme Ca2/calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase. As a result, the “cAMP/cGMP” ratio changes in favor of the first substance, which leads to relaxation of the walls of blood vessels in the brain, prevents the adhesion of white blood cells and improves the rheological properties of blood. The obvious advantage of Cavinton is the selectivity of its action: it has virtually no effect on systemic circulation. That is, stimulation of cerebral blood flow and a decrease in cerebral vascular resistance occurs against the background of constant blood pressure, stable heart rate and other functional indicators of cardiovascular activity.

Cavinton does not cause the so-called “steal” phenomenon (worsening ischemia in the area of the affected vessel due to the outflow of blood to neighboring areas), but, on the contrary, stimulates blood flow in the affected area without changing it in areas not affected by ischemia. Cavinton intensifies metabolism and increases the energy reserves of the brain by optimizing the utilization of oxygen, glucose and increasing the rate of ATP formation. The drug has neuroprotective (reducing the toxic effect of oxygen starvation in nerve cells) and antioxidant properties. By the way, in terms of antioxidant activity, Cavinton is superior to drugs such as piracetam and pentoxifylline. In summary, it should be noted that the effectiveness of Cavinton was confirmed in 7 double-blind placebo-controlled studies, which undoubtedly gives every reason to classify the drug as a pharmacological arsenal of evidence-based medicine.

Cavinton is available in two dosage forms: tablets, which are disproportionately more popular among the population, and a concentrate used mostly in hospitals for preparing a solution for infusion. Tablets are taken after meals three times a day, 5-10 mg, with a daily maximum of 30 mg. A noticeable effect is observed approximately on the 7th day from the start of administration. The duration of the pharmacological course is 1-3 months.

The drug Cavinton - reviews

Nuria

I started drinking Cavinton and developed severe heartburn on the 2nd day and stopped.

Lena

For speech disorders, memory loss, headaches, my mother was prescribed Cavinton. Unfortunately, the medicine caused tachycardia. I had to change it, despite its effectiveness. As an alternative, Mexidol was prescribed intramuscularly. It does not affect the gastrointestinal tract or the heart. It is easily tolerated by the body. At the same time, it works no less effectively. Speech has become clearer, mom recognizes her loved ones, and she no longer confuses names.

Olga

Cavinton was prescribed to reduce the manifestations of VSD. Unfortunately, individual intolerance to the drug was discovered. The neurologist replaced it with Mexidol injections, since I’m afraid to take pills (I had a negative experience, the ulcer worsened). I noticed an improvement in my condition only after the second course of treatment. I sleep normally, cope with a large flow of information at work, fainting and dizziness have stopped.

Raisa

Mom was prescribed Cavinton to relieve weakness headaches associated with poor blood circulation to the brain. Mom took the medicine with discipline for a month, but did not see any noticeable results. There was no deterioration either, but I stopped taking it. The neurologist recommended the domestic drug Mexidol. The result became noticeable after 10 days. The dizziness at first became less intense, and then stopped altogether, and my mood somehow became better, because it’s great when nothing bothers you anywhere.

Anna

I started taking Kaviton on the advice of a neurologist friend. My problems are frequent headaches, nervousness, and strong constant noises in my head. I’ve been drinking for the third day. After taking it, I want to sleep within half an hour. I’ve never had a headache, which is a huge plus. And lo and behold, for the first time in many years, the noise in my head has decreased and I can hear better. So far there are no side effects other than drowsiness, but positive ones I felt the effects already on the third day! I’ll write later whether it helped completely cure my problems. I drink Cavinton Hungarian regular not forte 5 mg.

Elena Zueva (Balalicheva)
https://flap.rf/Medicine/Cavinton/Reviews/7132341

Cavinton. Application. My experience.

I have a bunch of ailments, including a cerebrovascular accident.

In this regard, I have to take a course of Cavinton drips once a year.

The active ingredient of the drug Cavinton is Vinpocetine.

He really helps me. After the IVs, my head feels much better. Dizziness and stiffness are reduced. The head becomes clear and overall health improves.

This all happens thanks to the action of Cavinton, which improves cerebral circulation.

Lately it’s been difficult to get to the hospital for IV drips, so I’ve been taking Cavinton tablets for 2 months each. The effect occurs more slowly compared to intravenous administration, but gradually an improvement occurs when taking tablets.

Cavinton can be bought at any pharmacy. It's not cheap. Therefore, from time to time I replace it with a cheaper analogue, the drug Vinpocetine.

belaya000
https://otzovik.com/review_5464825.html

Advantages:

It suited me and that's a plus.
not very expensive 300r

Flaws:

I didn’t discover it for myself.

This drug was prescribed to me by a therapist; I complained of numbness in the neck and anxiety, and unpleasant sensations of movement and goosebumps in my head. But what bothered me more was anxiety and worry. I started drinking and I felt better already on the third day, the unpleasant symptoms disappeared. I was prescribed to drink for a month, I’m still drinking and I hope that these symptoms won’t bother me anymore.

LIKUSHA13
https://irecommend.ru/content/kavinton-effektivno-uluchshaet-rabotu-mozga

Advantages:

reliable and proven
improves well-being

I have a long-standing problem with the blood vessels of the brain. Dizziness, stiffness and heaviness of the head often occur, and blood pressure is often elevated.

The neurologist prescribed me to take the drug Cavinton to improve cerebral circulation.

I took it 5 mg 3 times a day after meals for two months.

I didn't notice any immediate effect. My condition began to improve only 2 weeks after starting the course of treatment.

My head began to feel less dizzy and lighter. Even my vitality has improved.

When I was in the hospital for hypertension, I was given IVs with Cavinton.

I felt a noticeable positive effect from them after the second dropper.

I didn’t experience any particular side effects. At the beginning of the treatment there were a few headaches.

In general, I believe that the drug Cavinton effectively improves cerebral circulation and improves the standard of living.

Now twice a year, on the recommendation of a neurologist, I take this drug to maintain my blood vessels in good condition.

olgasparrow
https://irecommend.ru/content/eto-prosto-moe-spasenie-1

Advantages:

reliable and proven
improves well-being

Flaws:

there are contraindications
price

I started drinking Cavinton for the first time when I was 18 years old. Then I had frequent dizziness and headaches. I turned to a neurologist, and after all the examinations, I was prescribed a course of this drug. I’ll say right away that literally after a couple of days of treatment, I felt an improvement, the headaches became less, and the dizziness was no longer so severe. Well, by the end of the course of treatment, all my alarming symptoms disappeared, and I began to live a full life again.

Now, I drink Cavinton regularly when I have certain symptoms associated with the blood vessels of the brain. Naturally, I do this not without a doctor’s recommendation. I have VSD, which periodically changes its course and symptoms, sometimes it’s a mixed type, sometimes it’s hypothetical. But in both cases, I can’t do without Cavinton. Unfortunately, recently, the price for it has increased significantly and not everyone can buy it.

This drug has a very beneficial effect on the blood vessels of the brain; it is also irreplaceable for various injuries, including concussions. For example, my mother, after a concussion, was also treated with Cavinton and her recovery process went quite quickly.

I certainly recommend this drug, but in any case, you need to consult your doctor, since, in addition to its indications, it also has various contraindications.

(oksy36) Oksana
https://www.imho24.ru/recommendation/6941/#review79974

Good support for the brain after a stroke

Advantages:

Improves blood circulation
Lowers blood pressure
Improves memory and attention
Treats vestibular disorders

Flaws:

Price
Contraindications

My mother-in-law has had her second stroke in the last 2 months. Moreover, the stroke is not extensive, but left-sided ischemic. This means that on the left side of the brain there are vessels that suffer from circulatory problems. Due to this, minor hemorrhage occurs there (micro-stroke).

With such a serious pathology, a person must follow a diet, get more rest and take supportive medications for cerebral circulation. But my mother-in-law doesn’t follow this, so the stroke happened again.

In the hospital, she was prescribed many medications that help her recover from a stroke. Among them was the drug Cavinton. I went to the pharmacy, so I know exactly what medications I needed to buy.

This drug dilates blood vessels in the brain, increases blood circulation, and reduces platelet aggregation. This medicine lowers blood pressure, increases the exchange of norepinephrine and serotonin in brain tissue, and reduces blood viscosity.

Cavinton is effective after a stroke, for memory disorders, dizziness, intraocular pressure, and also for the treatment of the vestibular system.

My mother-in-law took 2 tablets 3 times a day for 10 days. A week later she felt better, she had an appetite, she could talk and even get out of bed. Although at the time of discharge, she still felt dizzy and had tinnitus. Memory and attention were in a deplorable state.

Cavinton Comforte, 90 pcs., 10 mg, dispersible tablets

Vinpocetine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and reaches its maximum blood concentration (Cmax) within 1 hour. Absorption occurs mainly in the proximal intestine. It is not metabolized when passing through the intestinal wall.

In preclinical studies of oral administration of radiolabeled vinpocetine, it was detected in the highest concentrations in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. The maximum concentration in tissues is observed 2–4 hours after oral administration.

The amount of radioactive isotope in the brain did not exceed that in the blood. Connection with proteins in the human body - 66%. The volume of distribution is 246.7 ± 88.5 l, indicating significant tissue binding. Bioavailability when taken orally - 7%. Clearance is 66.7%, which exceeds the total plasma volume of the liver (50 l/h) and indicates extrahepatic metabolism.

With repeated oral doses of 5 mg and 10 mg, the kinetics are linear; while the equilibrium concentrations in blood plasma were 1.2±0.27 ng/ml and 2.1±0.33 ng/ml, respectively. The half-life in humans is 4.83 ± 1.29 hours. In studies with a radioactively labeled drug, it was found that the main routes of elimination are excretion through the kidneys and through the intestines in a ratio of 3:2. In preclinical studies, the greatest radioactivity was detected in bile, but no evidence of significant enterohepatic circulation was found. Apovinamic acid is excreted by the kidneys by simple glomerular filtration; the half-life depends on the dose taken and the route of administration of vinpocetine.

The main metabolite of vinpocetine is apovincamic acid (AVA), the proportion of which in humans is 25–30%. After oral administration of vinpocetine, the area under the concentration-time curve of VKA is 2 times greater than that after intravenous administration. This indicates that VKA is formed during the first pass metabolism of vinpocetine. Other known metabolites are hydroxyvinpocetine, hydroxy-AVA, dihydroxy-AVA-glycinate, and their conjugates with glucuronides and/or sulfates. Vinpocetine is excreted unchanged in small quantities.

An important and useful characteristic of vinpocetine is the absence of the need for dose adjustment in diseases of the liver and kidneys due to the lack of cumulation due to the peculiarities of its metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics in special groups of patients (age, concomitant diseases):

It was revealed that the pharmacokinetics of vinpocetine in elderly patients does not differ significantly from that in young patients; there is no accumulation of the drug. Therefore, vinpocetine can be prescribed to patients with impaired liver and kidney function for a long time and in normal doses.

Nootropic drugs for the treatment of VSD

The main task of nootropic drugs is to activate the elements through which nerve cells – neurotransmitters – communicate with each other. Nootropic drugs contain substances that activate the process of biosynthesis of ribonucleic acid and protein compounds in the central nervous system. They accelerate energy processes in neurons, help reduce the number of free radicals, as a result of which they neutralize the negative effects of oxidants.

For VSD, piracetam and its derivatives (ethiracetam, isacetam, oxiracetam) have been used for many years. New generation nootropic drugs include:

fezam;
noopept;
mildronate;
phenotropil;
noben;
Ceraxon;
pantocalcin;
pantogam;
cortexin.

The nootropic drug "Phesam" for VSD, due to the combination of cinnarizine and piracetam, the drug has an antihypoxic, vasodilating effect, improves blood circulation in the brain, and the functions of the auditory and visual analyzers. The main component of phenibut is aminophenylbutyric acid. This compound, a derivative of phenylethylamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), plays an important role in the activity of brain neurons - it normalizes metabolism in nerve tissues and signal transmission between neurons. Phenibut plays an important role in strengthening cortico-subcortical connections. This increases the efficiency of interaction between different parts of the cerebral cortex, which is impaired in patients suffering from VSD. After taking the drug, memory improves, the speed and volume of memorized information increases, and emotional stability increases. In patients with VSD, under the influence of Phezam, the activity of mental processes is stimulated, depression, emotional excitability and irritability are reduced.

Noopept restores memory and enhances cognitive abilities, normalizes the activity of the autonomic nervous system. The drug improves mood, increases vitality, relieves stress and anxiety.

Mildronate for VSD (reviews about the drug are good) is used in the form of tablets for oral administration and injections. It has the following effect:

increases performance;
reduces symptoms of mental and physical stress;
activates humoral and tissue immunity;
has a cardioprotective effect.

Phenotropil acts on most neurotransmitter systems of the brain. When VSD has the following effect:

activates the integrative activity of the brain;
promotes memory consolidation;
improves mental activity and concentration;
facilitates learning processes;
accelerates the transfer of information between the hemispheres of the brain;
increases the resistance of brain tissue to toxic effects and hypoxia;
regulates the processes of activation and inhibition of the central nervous system;
improves mood;
has anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activity.

Noben improves metabolic processes in the brain. It has an antioxidant effect, a psychostimulating effect and neuroprotective properties. From the first days of taking the drug Noben for VSD, antiasthenic, psychostimulating and antidepressant effects are manifested.

Due to the presence of the main active ingredient citicoline in the composition of the drug, Ceraxon has many effects:

promotes restoration of damaged cell membranes;
inhibits the action of phospholipases, preventing the excessive formation of free radicals;
prevents the death of brain cells.

Pantocalcin is a nootropic and psychostimulant drug. In VSD, it has neurometabolic, neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects. Improves memory, reduces lack of initiative and difficulties that arise when performing everyday activities.

The effect of pantogam in VSD is associated with the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid in its structure. The drug has a nootropic and anticonvulsant effect. Has the following effects:

increases the brain’s resistance to the effects of toxic substances and hypoxia;
stimulates anabolic processes in neurons;
reduces motor excitability;
combines a moderate sedative effect with a mild stimulating effect;
activates physical and mental performance.

Neurologists prescribe Cortexin to patients for the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In case of VSD, the drug improves higher brain functions, memory and learning processes, concentration, and resistance to stress. Protects neurons from damage by various endogenous neurotoxic factors, reduces the toxic effects of psychotropic substances. Increases the survival of neurons under conditions of hypoxia and oxidative stress. Activates the metabolism of neurons, helps improve the functions of the cerebral cortex and the tone of the autonomic nervous system

Drugs that improve cerebral circulation in VSD

Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital use drugs that improve cerebral circulation in the complex treatment of VSD. The composition of the drug Vasobral includes alpha-dihydroergocriptine, a dehydrogenated derivative of ergot. This substance blocks α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors of vascular smooth muscle cells. The drug improves cerebral circulation in VSD.

Nicergoline improves metabolic and hemodynamic processes in the brain. The drug reduces platelet aggregation and improves the physicochemical properties of blood. When using the drug, the permeability of the vascular wall decreases, blood circulation and metabolism in the brain improve, and the resistance of brain tissue to hypoxia increases. Caffeine, which is part of the drug, stimulates the central nervous system. In patients suffering from VSD, mental and physical performance increases and the feeling of fatigue decreases.

Vinpocetine for VSD improves cerebral circulation and metabolism in brain neurons. The drug increases the resistance of neurons to hypoxia and helps increase oxygen delivery to red blood cells. Vinpocetine increases cerebral blood flow, reduces cerebral vascular resistance without significantly changing systemic circulatory parameters (blood pressure, minute volume, heart rate).

Picamilon has an effective nootropic effect for VSD. Reviews about the drug are good. In case of VSD, the drug dilates the blood vessels of the brain, has a tranquilizing, psychostimulating and antioxidant effect. Picamilon improves the functional state of the brain and affects cerebral circulation by normalizing tissue metabolism and improving microcirculation.

When taken as a course by patients suffering from VSD, the drug has the following effects:

increases physical and mental performance;
reduces headaches;
normalizes sleep;
improves memory;
helps reduce or eliminate tension, fear, and anxiety.