Recent News
11/14/08 High blood pressure a looming problem for EuropeMore than half of people diagnosed with high blood pressure do not have it under control and many more go undiagnosed, according to research carried out at the University of Warwick.
11/14/08 Light triggers a new chemical code for brain cellsBrain cells can adopt a new chemical code in response to cues from the outside world, scientists working with tadpoles at the University of California, San Diego report in the journal Nature this week.
11/14/08 State mandates for HPV vaccination unwarranted and unwiseThe HPV vaccine, sold as Gardasil in the U.S., is intended to prevent four strains of the human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.
Drug name: Lucetam
Therapeutic actions: The mechanism of action of Lucetam is not known. It has been found to increase blood flow and oxygen consumption in parts of the brain.
Lucetam may facilitate movement of information between the brain's two hemispheres via the corpus callosum, and improves the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine via muscarinic cholinergic (ACh) receptors which are implicated in memory processes. Furthermore, Lucetam may have an effect on NMDA glutamate receptors which are involved with learning and memory processes. Lucetam is thought to increase cell membrane permeability. Finally, Lucetam may exert its global effect on brain neurotransmission via modulation of ion channels (i.e., Ca2+, K+). It has been found to increase oxygen consumption in the brain.
Indications: Lucetam is a cerebral function regulating drug which is able to enhance cognition and memory, slow down brain aging, increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, aid stroke recovery, and improve Alzheimer's, Down's Syndrome, dementia, and dyslexia, among others.
Contraindications and cautions:
Lucetam is contra-indicated in patients with severe renal impairment (renal creatinine clearance of less than 20 ml per minute), hepatic (liver) impairment and to those under 16 years of age. It is also contraindicated in patients with cerebral haemorrhage and in those with hypersensitivity to Lucetam, other pyrrolidone derivatives or any of the excipients.
Not to be used in:
- Breastfeeding
- Children under 16 years of age
- Moderate to severely decreased liver function
- Pregnancy
- Severely decreased kidney function
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Adverse effects: Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Lucetam has been found to have very few side effects, and those it has are typically "few, mild, and transient."
A large-scale, 12-week trial of high-dose Lucetam found no adverse effects occurred in the group taking Lucetam as compared to the placebo group.
Many other studies have likewise found Lucetam to be well-tolerated
Headache from use of Lucetam may be aleviated by coadministration of an acetylcholine biosynthetic precursor, such as choline bitarate, choline citrate, or lecithin.[citation needed]
Many users report decreased levels of tolerance for alcohol. Some users not only notice decreased levels of tolerance for alcohol, but also a dis-interest in consuming alcoholic drinks at all.
- Diarrhoea
- Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
- Depression
- Skin rashes
- Weight gain
- Sleepiness (somnolence)
- Nervousness
- Hyperkinesia
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
A single case has been reported in which the concomitant use of Lucetam and thyroid hormone extracts (T3 + T4) has produced confusion, irritability and sleeping disorders. Its interaction with other drugs has not been described.
Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.
