CORTEXIN INSTRUCTIONS
Cortexin® Instruction
International Non-Proprietary Name (INN): none
Dosage form: lyophilisate for preparation of solution for intramuscular injections
Structure:
In 1 vial:
Active substance: Cortexin® (complex of water-soluble polypeptide fractions): 5 mg in a 3 ml vial, and 10 mg in a 5 ml vial;
Excipients: glycine (stabilizer) – 6 mg in a 3 ml vial and 12 mg in a 5 ml vial.
Pharmacodynamics
Cortexin contains a complex of low molecular weight water-soluble polypeptide fractions, with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da, which penetrate through the blood-brain barrier directly to the nerve cells. The drug has nootropic, neuroprotective, antioxidant and tissue-specific action.
Nootropic – improves higher brain functions, learning and memory processes, concentration, stability under various stress influences.
Neuroprotective – protects neurons from damage by various endogenous neurotoxic factors (glutamate, calcium ions, free radicals), reduces toxic effects of psychotropic substances.
Antioxidant – inhibits lipid peroxidation in neurons, increases neuronal survival under conditions of oxidative stress and hypoxia.
Tissue-specific – activates neuronal metabolism of the central and peripheral nervous system, reparative processes, contributes to the improvement of functions of the brain cortex and the general tone of the nervous system.
The mechanism of action of Cortexin is determined by the activation of peptides of neurons and neurotrophic factors of the brain; optimization of the balance of metabolism of excitatory and inhibitory amino acids, dopamine, and serotonin; GABAergic effects; reduction of paroxysmal seizure brain activity, the ability to improve its bioelectrical activity; prevention of free radical formation (products of lipid peroxidation).
Pharmacokinetics
Cortexin active substance consists of a complex of polypeptide fractions. The complexity of the drug’s composition does not allow to conduct the usual pharmacokinetic analysis of its individual components.
Intended uses
- cerebral circulation disorders;
- encephalopathy of various genesis;
- acute and chronic encephalitis and encephalomyelitis;
- epilepsy;
- traumatic brain injury and its consequences;
- asthenia (suprasegmental autonomic disturbances);
- infantile cerebral palsy;
- psychomotor and speech retardation in children;
- cognitive disorders (dysfunction of memory and ideation);
- reduced learning ability.
Contraindications
- Individual intolerance, pregnancy and lactation (lack of data).
- Dosage and administration
The drug goes in packs containing 10 vials. There are two forms of release:
Vials containing 5 mg of the active ingredient (neuropeptides) – for children.
Vials containing 10 mg of the active ingredient (neuropeptides) – for adults.
Before injection dissolve the content of the vial in 1-2 ml of water for injection, 0.5% procaine (novocaine) solution or 0.9% sodium chloride solution.
The route of administration of the drug is intramuscular (IM).
The medicine is used in the following dosages:
Adults – 10 mg once a day for 10 days. The course can be repeated in 3-6 months.
Adults in the acute and early recovery periods of stroke – 10 mg twice a day (in the morning and afternoon) for 10 days, the course is repeated after 10 days.
Children whose weight is less than 20 kg – 0.5 mg / kg once a day for 10 days. The course can be repeated in 3-6 months.
Children whose weight is more than 20 kg – 10 mg once a day for 10 days. The course can be repeated in 3-6 months.
How to prepare the mixture correctly?
With a sterile syringe, draw up 2-4 ml of water for injection, saline, or local anesthetic. By injecting the mixture diluted with local anesthetic, the injection will be less painful. But in this case, the risk of developing undesired allergic reactions is higher.
Remove the foil from the Cortexin bottle and insert the needle through the stopper. It is recommended to lower it to the middle of the bottle and lean against the wall to reduce foaming. Then slowly push the plunger until the contents of the syringe are inside.
Without removing the needle, shake the bottle with the mixture until all the powder is dissolved.
Pull the plunger towards you until the contents of the vial are inside the syringe.
It is also recommended to prepare the solution right before an injection.
How to inject Cortexin correctly?
All manipulations are carried out in gloves.
First, you need to choose the site where the injection will be made:
- Hip,
- Deltoid,
- Femoral, front thigh.