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Source: https://cerebrolysin.us/

What is Cerebrolysin?

Cerebrolysin is a preparation of porcine protein, which has proven to be very useful in neuronal restoration, having recently been introduced as a neuronal regeneration therapy in cases of mild cognitive impairment. It has been used for a longer period of time in cerebral vascular accidents, but also in dementia.

This substance is part of the class of neural trophic drugs, because it has the ability to support, strengthen and stimulate the role of the brain throughout the body.

The drug is used to treat a long series of conditions, some of which are even life-threatening. The preparation has proven its effectiveness in organic or metabolic brain diseases, in neurodegenerative diseases, in Alzheimer's disease (the drug has the ability to act on dementia that occurs in this pathology). It can also be used with confidence in craniocerebral trauma, cerebral contusions or concussions.

Medical studies also support the idea that there is a beneficial effect of Cerebrolysin treatment for combating complications arising from ischemic strokes.

What Cerebrolysin contains

Cerebrolysin contains: Protein hydrolysate from pig brain. This protein hydrolysate is presented in a concentrated form. The National Medicines Agency specifies in the Cerebrolysin leaflet that 1 ml of injectable solution, i.e. 1 ml concentrate for the infusion solution, contains 215.2 mg of porcine protein hydrolysate.

Along with the protein hydrolysate from pig brain, this medicine also contains sodium hydroxide and water (in the case of injectable preparations).

Cerebrolysin's mode of action

The protein hydrolysate from pig brain, at the level of the central nervous system, has an excitatory role on nerve cells, as it stimulates the function of neurons; moreover, this substance has the ability to induce defense and recovery mechanisms at the local level.

Cerebrolysin contributes to improving neuronal metabolism, being a natural factor for the growth of neurons; it plays a role in repairing neurodegenerative dysfunctions, especially in dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease;

It also improves motor functions when administered from the acute phase of ischemic strokes; it has also proven its effectiveness in traumatic conditions with cerebral localization, but it can only be administered upon the recommendation of a neurosurgeon.

Studies have shown that this drug begins to exert its role on the central nervous system in the first hours after injection; Specifically, the neurotrophic activity of Cerebrolysin was determined in the patient's blood within 24 hours of administering the first dose of the drug.

Effects of Cerebrolysin

Cerebrolysin has multiple effects on the central nervous system. Specialized studies have shown that this drug, in the case of ischemic stroke, has the ability to reduce the volume of the infarct, thus preventing the formation of post-infarction cerebral edema; also in the case of ischemic stroke, Cerebrolysin stabilized local microcirculation and contributed to the healing of neurological lesions, thus doubling the chances of survival.

Regarding Alzheimer's disease, it has been proven that this drug significantly increases the number of molecules that transport glucose from the circulation to the brain through the blood-brain membrane, thus eliminating the critical energy deficit encountered in this disease.

Pharmacodynamic studies have shown that, regardless of whether it is the neurodegenerative dementia encountered in Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, treatment with Cerebrolysin significantly improves cognitive abilities and increases the quality of life. Studies conducted on patients suffering from dementia who were included in clinical trials of treatment with Cerebrolysin showed that 2 weeks after the start of treatment, the patient's overall clinical condition improved significantly, and his need for permanent care and assistance was considerably reduced. It can be said that treatment with Cerebrolysin contributes to increasing the quality of life of patients suffering from dementia.

Quantitative studies were also conducted in which the electroencephalograms of both healthy volunteers and patients suffering from vascular dementia who were undergoing treatment with Cerebrolysin were analyzed, and the results were spectacular: just 4 weeks after the start of treatment, neuronal activity was considerably intensified, and the frequency of alpha and beta waves was increasing, but this effect was dose-dependent; the higher the dose of the drug administered, the stronger the recorded effects were.

Benefits of using Cerebrolysin

Its role has been demonstrated both in the acute and post-acute stages of stroke and in early and even advanced neurocognitive disorders.

It is part of the antiaging clinics among the neuronal regenerative therapies through its action of improving neuronal metabolism.

There have been opinions for and against about the benefits of Cerebrolysin, including in our country, but large-scale studies have proven its effectiveness in restoring neurons and implicitly their functions. In addition, Cerebrolysin is a very well-tolerated drug, with extremely rare adverse reactions. However, we recommend performing at least the first course in specialized clinics under the close supervision of medical personnel.

Administered in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, Cerebrolysin has the ability to reduce mortality by 50% because it prevents the formation of cerebral edema and reduces the size of the infarct; at the same time, this drug stabilizes microcirculation and prevents the occurrence of subsequent complications.

Another extremely important benefit of this drug is its effect on dementia; regardless of the type of dementia, neurovegetative Alzheimer's type or vascular dementia, this drug has the ability to reduce the degree of disability of patients, by significantly improving self-care skills and cognitive abilities. In addition, Cerebrolysin increases the amount of glucose that reaches the brain through the blood-brain barrier, and this has the effect of increasing the patient's physical energy.

Cerebrolysin Administration Method

1. Recommended Daily Dose

The dosage of this therapy varies from 5 ml to 50 ml; the recommended daily dose differs depending on the condition to be treated, as follows:

For the treatment of neurodegenerative dementia, the recommended daily dose is 5 ml with an increase of up to 30 ml;

For organic and metabolic brain diseases, as well as in the case of neurodegenerative dementia, the recommended daily dose is 5-30 ml.

If Cerebrolysin treatment is used for complications arising from a stroke, the recommended daily dose is 10 ml with increases of up to 50 ml.

If the treatment addresses craniocerebral trauma, then the recommended daily dose is 10 ml with the possibility of further increase up to a maximum of 50 ml.

Cerebrolysin treatment can be administered to children, in doses of 1-2 ml, without the possibility of further dose increases.

2. Therapeutic efficacy

In most cases, the effectiveness of this treatment depends on the dose administered. The higher the dose administered, the greater and longer the effectiveness of the treatment. Thus, to increase the therapeutic efficacy, it is recommended to repeat the treatment courses as long as there is an improvement in the patient's health. The initial course consists of administering the treatment daily for 10 consecutive days. Doctors recommend a maximum of 6 therapeutic courses performed within a year. Also, after each course of treatment, there must be a break period.

For intramuscular administration of Cerebrolysin, the doses used are 5 ml of injectable solution, while for intravenous infusions, higher doses of 10 ml are preferred. In situations where the pathology requires doses greater than 10 ml of injectable solution, then this can be increased to 50 ml, but the administration will be in the form of slow intravenous infusion. In this case, before being administered, Cerebrolysin will be diluted with recommended standard infusion solutions; the total volume of solution administered in slow intravenous infusion will be 250 ml; the administration will be carried out in a time interval between 15 minutes and 60 minutes.

Solutions compatible with Celebrolysin, used for diluting the drug in situations where the pathology requires doses greater than 10 ml of the drug, are: 0.9% sodium chloride solution, Ringer's solution and 5% glucose; no other solution has been accepted by the National Medicines Agency to be mixed with Cerebrolysin.

Regarding the concomitant administration of intravenous Cerebrolysin with other medications, specialized studies have shown that medications intended to treat cardiovascular diseases, as well as vitamins, can be administered simultaneously with Cerebrolysin, but they cannot be mixed in the same syringe.

3. Intramuscular or intravenous Cerebrolysin

Sometimes intramuscular administration of Cerebrolysin is preferred when the treatment is carried out at home. The effectiveness is similar to that of intravenous administration of the drug, but it should be borne in mind that in order to administer the minimum required amount of 10 ml, two injections of 5 ml each will have to be performed (the injection will be performed in both buttocks) in order not to cause a phlegmon by injecting the entire amount through a single puncture, in a single place.

4. Treatment with Cerebrolysin intravenous injection

When we talk about Cerebrolysin treatment, we are actually referring to the Cerebrolysin cure, this preparation being effective only when administered by daily infusions or Cerebrolysin intramuscular injection when intravenous administration is not possible. It should be noted that intramuscular treatment is contraindicated in patients who have received fibrinolytic treatment (for dissolving blood clots in the case of an ischemic stroke) or in patients who have recently undergone, or are undergoing anticoagulant treatment for various pathologies such as atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolic disease; studies have shown that intravenous Cerebrolysin administration is much more effective compared to intramuscular Cerebrolysin administration.

The injectable treatment is performed intravenously, in saline (NaCl) or glucose, daily, with 10 ml ampoules, 10 consecutive days, only on the recommendation of a specialist, maximum 6 months/year. You can also use 5 ml Cerebrolysin ampoules, but for an adequate effect we recommend using 10 ml ampoules.