Many of us are not at a loss to find out why Pantogam is prescribed, how this drug works and what effects should be expected when it is used for medicinal purposes. Let's consider the basic data on the given medicine: components, the scheme of application, indications and contra-indications.
Pantogam - composition of the preparation
Pantogam is considered to be a group of psychostimulating and nootropic drugs widely used in psychoneurology. The drug was developed in the seventies of the last century in one of the Russian scientific research institutes, and since the eighties it is constantly available in the domestic pharmaceutical market. Pantogam, whose composition is based on one active substance and auxiliary ingredients, is available in three forms: tablets, capsules and syrup.
The active ingredient is calcium gopentenate (calcium salt of gopanthenic acid), whose chemical structure is regarded as a modified molecule of pantothenic acid, including the residue of gamma-aminobutyric acid, the most important neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. In order to understand why Pantogam is prescribed, we list the main therapeutic effects provided by calcium gopantenate:
- the increase in brain resistance to hypoxia and the effects of toxic substances;
- stimulation of energy metabolic processes in neurons;
- improvement of blood supply to the brain;
- enhancing protein synthesis;
- acceleration of impulse transmission in the central nervous system;
- improvement of glucose uptake by nerve cells;
- strengthening of cell membranes;
- decreased motor excitability;
- anticonvulsant action;
- moderate sedation;
- increase mental and physical performance;
- weakening pain syndrome of a neurological nature.
The listed actions are characterized by moderation, and the medicine itself to this day refers to drugs with unproven efficacy, as well as other nootropics . This is due to the fact that the mechanism of the effect of the drug on the organism has not yet been clarified, and its clinical studies involving patients are in the fourth phase (postmarketing studies). A number of scientists consider Pantogam to be a placebo-based remedy, others consider it not as a medicine, but as a biologically active supplement that can improve the quality of life.
Syrup Pantogam
The drug in the form of syrup is intended for patients of childhood, beginning with the period of newborn. It is a slightly viscous liquid without color or with a yellowish tinge, which has a cherry flavor. Syrup for children Pantogam contains 10 g of calcium gopantenata in 100 ml of solution, as well as the following auxiliary substances:
- glycerol;
- sorbitol;
- sodium benzoate;
- monohydrate of citric acid;
- aspartame;
- food flavor;
- purified water.
Tablets Pantogam
The tablet medication is prescribed for adults and children who have reached the age of three. These are round tablets of white color with a dash, slightly bitter in taste. The active substance can be contained in an amount of 0.25 g (Pantogam 250) or 0.5 g (Pantogam 500) in each tablet. Other components of the composition of tablets:
- methyl cellulose;
- calcium stearate;
- magnesium hydroxycarbonate;
- talc.
Capsules Pantogam
A new development of the manufacturer is Pantogam, an active in the form of gelatin capsules. The drug has an improved formula in which the active substance D, L-hopantenic acid is the racemate of gopanthenic acid, which has a more pronounced nootropic and anticonvulsant activity and an additional anti-anxiety action. Capsules are solid, yellow, with white or yellowish powder inside. This form of the drug is prescribed for patients who have reached the age of eighteen (due to the lack of research on the use at an earlier age).
The active ingredient can be contained in the amount of 200 or 300 mg in each capsule, and as auxiliary substances are used:
- titanium dioxide;
- gelatin;
- glycerol;
- sodium lauryl sulfate;
- purified water;
- nipagin;
- nipazel;
- microcrystalline cellulose;
- magnesium stearate.
Pantogam - indications for use
Often, the medication is prescribed as part of complex therapy for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with the central nervous system, along with tranquilizers, antidepressants, neuroleptic, anticonvulsant, other nootropic drugs and so on. In some cases, it is used as a monotherapy. Pantogam testimony is numerous, being used to treat children and adults, including people of advanced age.
Pantogam for children
Syrup and tablets for children Pantogam are recommended by pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and psychiatrists after a number of diagnostic studies confirming the presence of a particular health problem. Let's enumerate why children are assigned to Pantogam, for the treatment of which pathologies:
- perinatal encephalopathy ;
- cerebral palsy;
- hyperactivity with attention deficit disorder;
- delay in mental development of varying degrees of severity;
- psychomotor and speech disorders;
- delay in the formation of school skills (reading, counting, writing);
- a nervous tic;
- stammering ;
- sleep disorders;
- enuresis, encopresis;
- children's phobias.
Pantogam for adults
For what the Pantogs are assigned to adults, the following list of indications will prompt:
- brain damage and neurotic disorders, accompanied by memory impairment, concentration of attention, speech, thinking and other cognitive functions;
- craniocerebral trauma;
- neuroinfections;
- cerebrovascular insufficiency associated with atherosclerotic vascular lesions;
- Parkinson's disease ;
- myoclonic epilepsy;
- Huntington's chorea;
- hepatolenticular degeneration;
- extrapyramidal syndrome associated with the administration of neuroleptics;
- schizophrenia;
- senile dementia ;
- neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve;
- Urge incontinence;
- frequent urination of a neurogenic nature;
- the consequences of psycho-emotional overload.
Pantogam - contraindications
Many patients are worried whether Pantogs can be taken during pregnancy. It is worth knowing that in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the laying of the main organs and tissues of the future baby is underway, this drug can not be used. For this reason, if Pantogam treatment is administered, before the end of the therapeutic course, a woman should be concerned about not having a conception. The ban also applies to the period of breastfeeding, during which the medicine can be harmful. In the second and third periods of pregnancy the drug is allowed to take on strict indications.
In addition, the list of contraindications to the drug includes such states:
- individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
- severe kidney disease in acute phase;
- phenylketonuria (for syrup).
How correctly to take Pantogam?
Depending on the purpose of Pantogam, the age of the patient, the severity of the pathology, the medication regimens are different. It should be borne in mind that Pantogam, the application of which can last from one to four months, and sometimes up to six months, with long-term treatment should not be taken in parallel with other nootropic and stimulant drugs. Due to the specificity of the drug, it is desirable to take it in the morning and daytime, because when you eat in the evening you can face a violation of the process of falling asleep and sleeping.
Pantogam - dosage for children
Pantogam, the dosage of which for children of different ages is not the same, is often prescribed in such daily quantities:
- children of the first year - 0.5-1 g;
- children under three years of age - 0.5-1.25 g;
- children from three to seven years - 0.75-1.5 g;
- children from seven to twelve years - 1-2 g;
- children over the age of twelve - 1,5-3 g.
According to the standard treatment tactics, during the first week of admission, the dose is increased, the maximum dose is taken over the next 15-40 days or more, and then the dose is gradually reduced to cancellation for 7-8 days. A single dose is often 0.25-0.5 g, syrup or tablets are taken 15-30 minutes after a meal.
Consider how to take Pantogam to children in certain specific pathologies:
- disorders of urination - taking in a daily dose of 25-50 mg per kilogram of weight, a course of treatment within 1-3 months;
- consequences of craniocerebral injuries and neuroinfections - 0.25 g 3-4 times a day;
- epilepsy - for children from three years - every day for 0.25-0.5 g 3-4 times a day, children from 12 years - 0.5-1 g 3-4 times a day.
Pantogam - adult dosage
The scheme and recommendations on how to take adult Pantogs are identical to those for children, but the dosage is higher in this case. So, often the drug in the form of tablets is taken at 1.5-3 g per day, divided into several receptions of 0.25-1 grams. In the form of capsules, the medication is taken in an amount not exceeding 2.4 g per day-0.3- 0.9 grams at a time. It is mandatory to take the medicine a few minutes after eating, which ensures good absorption and maximum therapeutic effectiveness.
Depending on what Pantogam is prescribed for adult patients, the set doses are adjusted, for example:
- psycho-emotional overloads - 0.25 g three times a day;
- Hyperkinesis - 1,5-3 g daily;
- cerebrovascular insufficiency - 0.25 g 3-4 times a day.
How long to take Pantogam?
How to take Pantogam, with what duration of the course treatment, is determined by the rate of achievement of the therapeutic effect, after which the probability of undesirable hyperstimulating effect increases. On average, the therapy takes 1.5-2 months. In some cases, a repeated course is required, which is appointed no earlier than 3 months later.
Pantogam - side effects
Tablets, syrup and capsules Pantogam side effects can cause the following:
- drowsiness;
- sleep disorders;
- noise in the head;
- Allergic manifestations (skin rash, runny nose, conjunctivitis).
Often, the drug is tolerated well, due to low toxicity, and unwanted neurologic symptoms can be observed only at the beginning of the course of treatment. Therefore, in the first days of taking the remedy, it is recommended to give up driving and work related to the management of other mechanisms. Unwanted effects, consisting in increasing the symptoms of the existing disease, for which Pantogam is prescribed, can be observed with improper administration of the drug. If allergic reactions develop, the medicine should be canceled.
Pantogam - analogues of the preparation
If, for some reason, Pantogam is not suitable for treatment, analogs that are identical in therapeutic effect can replace it. Similar agents containing as active substance gopantenic acid are:
- Calcium gopentate;
- Gopantam;
- Pantokaltsin;
- Coghum.
Substitutes that include other active ingredients:
- Piracetam ;
- Pikamilon;
- Hoenopt;
- Cerutil;
- Nootropil;
- Bifren.