"Mexidol" for children: instructions for use

If, for some reason, very little oxygen is supplied to the child’s brain, it threatens to cause serious disturbances, which may even leave a mark on the baby’s entire life. To eliminate this problem, they often use drugs called antioxidants and antihypoxants. One of them is "Mexidol".

This tool is often prescribed by neurologists for adult patients with acute disorders of blood circulation in the brain tissues and various problems with speech, memory and other functions, which led to atherosclerosis.

With regard to the use of children, among the contraindications for the use of "Mexidol" you can see the children's age, but in some cases, this medication is still assigned to the child.

"Mexidol" is produced in two dosage forms.

• One of them are pills, which have a convex round shape and a dense white-cream shell. One pack contains 10-50 of these tablets, packaged in blisters of ten pieces.
• The second form of the drug - injection. These are glass ampoules, inside of which there is 2 or 5 ml of a clear sterile solution, which has no color or has a yellowish tint. In one box is from 10 to 100 vials.

In the form of syrup, capsules, drops and other forms, "Mexidol" is not available.

The active component of both forms of Mexidol is called ethyl methyl hydroxypyridine succinate. Its amount in one tablet in the shell is 125 mg, and the content in the solution for injections is 50 mg per milliliter.

In the manufacture of a solid form, povidone, milk sugar and magnesium stearate are added to such a substance, and the drug shell is made from macrogol, titanium dioxide, lactose, hypromellose and triacetin. In an injection form, auxiliary ingredients are water for injection and sodium metabisulfite.

The main component of Mexidol is noted for its ability to influence cell membranes and protect them from harmful effects, which is especially important for tissues of the nervous system. This drug has several properties.

• It increases the activity of the enzyme, which is called superoxide dismutase, and also prevents the oxidation of lipids. This helps to inhibit free radical processes, that is, to protect cells from reactive oxygen species. This action is called antioxidant.
• The drug is referred to as membrane protectors, because under its influence the cell membranes become more fluid and viscous, their structure is stabilized. This has a positive effect on the functioning of cells, contributes to the transmission of nerve impulses and improves blood flow.
• Under the action of Mexidol, brain cells and other organs become more resistant to various damaging factors, including not only hypoxia and circulatory disorders, but also intoxication with drugs or alcohol.
• The active substance of the drug has a positive effect on mental functions (this action is called nootropic), associated with effects on metabolic processes and blood circulation in the brain. The use of "Mexidol" improves memory, mental activity, learning and so on.
• The drug can also reduce anxiety (this effect is called anxiolytic) and help cope with stress.After taking Mexidol, behavior and sleep are normalized, and the effects of exposure to stress factors are smoothed out.

The reason to appoint "Mexidol" may be:

• traumatic brain injury or its consequences;
• dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system;
• encephalopathy, which led to the appearance of various factors;
• anxiety and fears in neurosis-like states and neuroses;
• overdose of drugs affecting the work of the central nervous system;
• severe stress;
• asthenic condition;
• open-angle glaucoma;
• acute purulent inflammation in the abdominal cavity (the drug is included in the complex therapy).

It has already been mentioned above that the children's age is included in the contraindications for the administration of both forms of Mexidol. This is due to the insufficient study of the effect of the active substance of the tablets and solution on the growing organism. However, in practice, neurologists often take responsibility for themselves and prescribe such medicine to young patients.

According to their reviews, the use of Mexidol injections, and then orally accelerates the recovery of brain damage during head injuries or neuroinfections. At the same time, the risk of long-term negative consequences, such as reduced attention, hyperactivity, or increased aggressiveness, is reduced during treatment with Mexidol.

The antihypoxic effect of the drug is the reason for its use even in newborns who have suffered a lack of oxygen in utero or during childbirth. According to the doctors, thanks to Mexidol, the appearance of cerebral syndrome, developmental problems (RUR) and other consequences of the negative impact of hypoxia on the central nervous system can be avoided.

In this case, the use of "Mexidol" in children is permissible only as directed by a doctor. The well-known pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky focuses on this.

Both types of "Mexidol" are not used if a patient has revealed hypersensitivity to such a medicine, acute renal failure, or severe impairment of the liver.

An allergic reaction can occur both on the solution for injection and on the tablet form. In addition, sometimes "Mexidol" has a bad effect on the patient's digestive tract, for example, causes diarrhea, stomach discomfort, heartburn, and other symptoms of dyspepsia.

According to the instructions, the scheme of use of "Mexidol" for children is selected for each small patient separately. When using tablets, the dose of the drug is usually gradually increased, and at the end of the prescribed course it is gradually lowered (in 2-3 days).

Injection "Mexidol", depending on the evidence and age, can be injected into a vein slowly in a jet or via an IV drip, as well as intramuscularly. Most often, treatment begins with intravenous injections, and then the patient is transferred to intramuscular injections or oral medication.

Both forms of medication are sold only by prescription from a doctor. The average price of 30 tablets is 250-290 rubles, and for 20 ampoules of 5 ml you need to pay about 1600 rubles.

Store the drug is recommended at temperatures up to +25 degrees, putting the packaging in a dry place. The shelf life of Mexidol is 3 years.

On the use of the drug there are many good reviews from doctors and parents, in which "Mexidol" is called an effective tool that positively affects the brain. Among the benefits of medications there is a minimum of contraindications and rare side effects. Its disadvantages include little knowledge of the effect on the child's body, a relatively high price and the risk of allergies.

If it is necessary to replace "Mexidol" with another medicine, the doctor may prescribe an analogue for the active substance, for example, "Mexicor", "Neurox", "Mexiprim", "Cerecard" or "Medomeksi". Among them are solutions for injections, as well as tablets and capsules. All these drugs act in the same way as "Mexidol", and in contraindications to them the age is under 18 years old, therefore it is permissible to use them in children only under the supervision of a specialist.

Instead of these drugs can also be used drugs with a similar effect on brain tissue.

• Cortexin. This solution for injection contains low molecular weight proteins that can stimulate the brain and protect nerve cells from damage. The tool is often prescribed to children for the treatment of encephalopathy, ZRR, epilepsy, encephalitis and other diseases. It can even be used in newborns.
• "Gliatilin". The effect of such a solution and capsules on brain cells is provided by choline alfoscerate, which improves metabolic processes and conduct nerve impulses. The drug is used in nervous tic, birth trauma of the central nervous system, developmental delay, and so on. This nootropic agent is prescribed to patients of any age.
• Actovegin. This preparation, made from calf blood, is produced in injections, tablets and means for external processing. Under its action, brain cells absorb oxygen and glucose better. The drug is used in children of any age, but only if there are serious indications.
• Cerebrolysin. This nootropic agent is represented only by the injection solution containing low molecular weight peptides. They affect energy metabolism and protein synthesis in neurons, as well as protect them from harmful factors. The drug is prescribed even for infants, for example, with brain injuries during childbirth, cerebral palsy or mental retardation.
• "Elkar". The basis of this solution, approved from birth, is left carnitine. The drug is used in neurology, if the child suffered a brain injury and poorly adds weight, as well as with delayed development, reduced muscle tone and significant stress.
• Kudesang. Such a solution, prescribed for children older than 1 year, contains ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), so it affects cell respiration and other metabolic processes in cells. The additive is in demand in the IRR, asthenia, encephalopathy, high loads and other indications. For adolescents 14-16 years of age and adults, Kudesan Forte is separately produced in the form of a solution and tablets, which also contains vitamin E.

You will learn more about the effect of the drug "Mexidol" in the following video.