Generic
Piracetam
Indications
Cerebral vascular accidents and cerebral insufficiencies: Ischaemic or even haemorrhagic acute accidents, chronic manifestations of the above accidents or of cerebral atherosclerosis. Mental retardation in children: Ease of resuming individual contact, sociability and learning, improved intellectual performances and school results. Behaviour and psychotic problems in old age: Memory deficits, particularly with regard to fixation and evocation asthenia adaption disorders, disturbed psychomotor reactions. Patients suffering from myoclonus of cortical origin.
Contraindications
The side effects reported include nervousness, agitation, irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances. The incidence of these during clinical trials was (? 5%) and they were more often noted in the older patients taking > 2.4 gm daily. In the majority of cases, a dose reduction sufficed to make these symptoms disappear. Some patients may complain of fatigue or drowsiness, gastrointestinal problems, e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomachache have also been reported but their incidence during clinical trials was ? 2%. Other symptoms e.g. vertigo, headache, trembling and sexual stimulation have occasionally been reported.
Side Effects
Piracetam should not be prescribed during pregnancy or when breast feeding, except under exceptional circumstances. Piracetam is able to cross the placenta.
Pregnancy And Lactation
Children: No formal pharmacokinetic study has been conducted in children. Elderly: In the elderly, the half-life of piracetam is increased and the increase is related to the decrease in renal function in this population (see Section Dosage and Administration). Renal impairment: Piracetam clearance is correlated to creatinine clearance. It is therefore recommended to adjust the daily dose of piracetam based on creatinine clearance in patients with renal impairment Hepatic impairment: The influence of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of piracetam has not been evaluated. Because 80 to 100% of the dose is excreted in the urine as unchanged drug, hepatic impairment solely would not be expected to have a significant effect on piracetam elimination.
Therapeutic
Store in a cool and dry place at a temperature below 30?C , Keep away from sunlight. Keep out of the reach of children.
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