Introduction
Cavinton is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, stroke and memory loss in Parkinson's disease. It can also be used to treat age related memory loss and head injury. It helps in the improvement of brain function and provides enhancement of focus.
Cavinton may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time each day. Take it as advised by your doctor and if you miss any doses, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Do not stop taking it suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Some common side effects of using this medication are dryness in mouth, flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck, and trunk) headache, insomnia (difficulty sleeping). However, these are temporary and usually subside on their own after some time. Please consult your doctor if these do not subside or bother you.
Before taking Cavinton, inform your doctor if you are suffering from seizures (epilepsy or fits) or any liver problems. This medicine may cause changes in your blood pressure and sugar levels, so it is better to monitor them regularly.
Uses of Cavinton
- Alzheimer's disease
- Stroke
- Dementia in Parkinson's disease
- Age related memory loss
- Head injury
Side effects of Cavinton
Common
- Dizziness
- Dryness in mouth
- Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
- Headache
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Nervousness
How to use Cavinton
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Cavinton may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Cavinton works
Cavinton is semisynthetic alkaloid. It has a nootropic (protects nerves and the brain) effect. It inhibits the voltage-dependent neuronal sodium channels, which in turn enhances a chemical messenger (intracellular cGMP levels) in the brain. Thus, increases blood flow within the brain. This is how it prevents the destruction of never cells (neurons) and protects the brain. Thus, helps enhancement of the nervous system. It also has an antioxidant property. This works by oxidizing the free radicals (toxins) in the body.
Indication
Dementia, Cerebrovascular disorders, Stroke
Administration
Should be taken with food. Take after meals.
Adult Dose
Oral
Adult
Tablet: 1-2 tablets thrice daily, the maintenance dose is 1 tablet thrice daily.
Parenteral
IM Injection: Daily dose of 20-40 mg are to be given until improvement of symptoms is reached (for not longer than 10 days) then oral treatment should be applied. If this regimen fails, infusion treatment should be started.
IV Infusion: The daily starting dose is 20 mg in slow drip infusion (2 ampoules in 500-1000 ml infusion solution). This dose can be increased to 1 mg/kg body weight
during 3 to 4 days. Treatment should be continued for 10-14 days depending on the tolerance of the patients and the dose should be gradually reduced before
discontinuation of treatment.
Contraindication
Parenteral treatment- Severe ischaemic heart disease, severe rhythm disorders and pregnancy. Pregnancy, Lactation.
Mode of Action
Vinpocetine is derived from vincamine. It increases cerebral circulation and utilisation of oxygen and is used in a variety of cerebral disorders. Shown to inhibit cGMP phosphodiesterase that has may result in increased cerebral blood flow.
Reported to have calcium-channel blocker, voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, & acetylcholine release activities.
Precaution
Hypertension or cardiac dysfunction. In the acute stage until the improvement of symptoms parenteral treatment is recommended followed by oral treatment. In chronic cases oral therapy should be applied.
Side Effect
Transient hypotension, tachycardia.
Interaction
Possible decrease in anticoagulation effect with warfarin.