For impaired memory, perception, and other brain functions, adults may be prescribed a drug called Akatinol Memantine. But is it allowed to use this medicine in the treatment of children?
Release form
Akatinol Memantine is available in tablet form. Such tablets have a film shell, are distinguished by an oblong shape and white color. There is a risk on each side of the tablet, so it can be split if necessary. This German drug is not produced in drops, but a liquid form is found in analogues with the same main ingredient.
Tablets with 10 mg of active ingredient are packed in blister 10 each, and one pack contains 30 or 90 pieces. Tablets, each of which contains 20 mg of the active ingredient, are placed in cell packs of 14 pieces, and the pack may contain 2, 4 or 7 blisters.
The manufacturer also offers a package of Akatinol Memantine with 28 tablets with different contents of the active substance - 7 pieces of tablets each with 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg of the active compound. The use of this form of medication is convenient at the beginning of treatment, when you need to gradually increase the dosage of the medication.
Composition
The active ingredient of the drug is memantine hydrochloride, which tablets contain from 5 to 20 mg. The auxiliary components are magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide, as well as talc, microcrystalline cellulose and milk sugar. The tablet shell is made from an emulsion of simethicone, Na lauryl sulfate, a copolymer of methacrylic acid, triacetin, talc and polysorbate 80.
Operating principle
Akatinol Memantine is called a nootropic drug due to its effect on the central nervous system. Such a drug affects certain receptors in the brain, as a result of which the transport of ions and the potential of the membranes of brain cells are altered, as well as the conduction of nerve impulses is improved. Taking medications with memantine has a positive effect on the cognitive processes and daily mental activity of the patient.
The taken pill immediately begins to be absorbed and 2-6 hours after taking the drug, it reaches its maximum concentration in the bloodstream. If the kidneys are not impaired, the drug will not accumulate, but gradually (in 2-3 days) will leave the body with urine.
At what age are children given?
Instructions for the use of the drug Akatinol Memantine contains contraindications for children under 18 years of age. The reason for this ban is the lack of studies on the safety of the effect of such a medication on the child's body.
However, many neurologists in their practice prescribe Akatinol Memantine to children and note a positive effect.
Therefore, if a child has indications for taking such a therapeutic agent, the drug can be used before the age of 18, even at 3 years, but only after a doctor's examination and a thorough examination, as well as in an individually selected dosage and under the constant supervision of a specialist.
Indications
The reasons for prescribing Akatinol Memantine for adults are Alzheimer's disease and dementia caused by other pathologies. In childhood, such a medicine is often prescribed for the development of speech, if the child is diagnosed with delayed speech development. Akatinol Memantine is also used in toddlers with autism.
You can learn more about this serious pathology by watching the release of the program of Dr. Komarovsky:
Contraindications
It is impossible to prescribe Akatinol Memantine when:
- Drug intolerance.
- Severe renal dysfunction.
- Severe liver failure.
- Carrying a baby.
- Breastfeeding children.
The medicine is given with caution if the patient:
- Epilepsy.
- Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.
- There were seizures in the past.
- Heart failure.
- The urinary tract is infected.
Side effects
Frequent negative symptoms when taking Akatinol Memantine are:
- Headaches.
- Sleepy state.
- Constipation.
- Dizziness.
More rare adverse reactions to the drug are called:
- Nausea.
- Increased fatigue.
- Confused consciousness.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Fungal infection.
- Vein thrombosis.
- Vomiting.
- Disturbed gait.
It is extremely rare for a drug to provoke the appearance of hallucinations, inflammation of the pancreas and seizures.
Instructions for use and dosage
A tablet of Akatinol Memantine in the required dose is given to drink during meals. The dosage of the medicine is determined by the doctor for each child individually. As a rule, for children it is much lower than for elderly patients, for example, 1/4 of a tablet.
Start treatment with a lower dose than the doctor prescribed to check the tolerance of the drug. Further, within one week, the dose of Akatinol Memantine is increased to the required one. Completion of the medication should also be done gradually, decreasing the dosage every day. The duration of therapy is also set individually.
Overdose
If you drink Akatinol Memantine in too high a dose, it will cause an increase in the side effects of the drug, for example, fatigue, nausea, drowsiness, gait disturbance and others. In such a situation, it is recommended to flush the stomach, take an adsorbent or other medications to eliminate negative symptoms.
Interaction with other drugs
Treatment with Akatinol Memantine enhances the effect of anticholinergic drugs and levodopa, and, on the contrary, decreases the effect of the use of antipsychotics or barbirutates. The drug should not be administered together with ketamine, hydrochlorothiazide, cimetidine and some other drugs.
Terms of sale
To purchase Akatinol Memantine in a pharmacy, you must have a prescription from your doctor. The price of a set of Akatinol Memantine tablets with different contents of active substance is about 1,700 rubles. About the same cost for a pack of 30 tablets containing 10 mg of memantine. For 28 pieces of Akatinol Memantine with 20 mg of active ingredient, you need to pay about 2700 rubles.
Storage conditions and shelf life
The packaging of Akatinol Memantine tablets is stored out of the reach of small children, where the temperature will not exceed + 25 ° C. If the shelf life has expired (it is 4 years from the date of production), the drug cannot be used.
Reviews
Parents' comments on the use of Akatinol Memantine in their children are very different. Someone praises this medicine, noting that it helped a lot with CRRD, while others did not see the effect of such treatment. In many children, Akatinol Memantine has improved attention and mental performance. During treatment, children with RRD began to talk more, memorize words better and were less distracted from classes.
The doctors' comments on this medicine are mostly good. However, there is often a lack of result or even a negative effect of Akatinol Memantine on a child. Among the side effects of the drug, many mothers note the appearance of hyperexcitability, but in some children, this drug causes drowsiness.
Analogs
Replacing Akatinol Memantine can be drugs in which the same active substance, for example:
- Noodzheron tablets, which are produced in Poland.
- The Spanish drug Memantal, also presented in coated tablets.
- Domestic tablets of Maruks.
- Pills from Turkey Memorel.
- Memantine coated tablets from a domestic manufacturer.
- Russian tablets Memantinol.
- Coated tablets Memantine Canon, which are also produced in Russia.
- Domestic medicine in drops Memaneirin.
In contraindications, all these drugs can be read in children's age, but the drug can be prescribed by a doctor if there is an urgent need for it.
Also, instead of drugs with memantine, you can take other drugs that have a positive effect on brain function, for example, Glycine, Cogitum, Piracetam, Pantogam, Cortexin, Phezam and others. Only a doctor should prescribe any of these drugs, because each drug has its own indications and warnings.
For the doctor's opinion on whether children should be given nootropic drugs, see the next video.
