The central nervous system is a thin and fragile structure. In dysfunctional disorders, a small stroke in the form of impaired blood circulation, trophic changes, and inflammatory processes is sufficient.
All such phenomena are potentially dangerous, causing neurological deficits from the very first days.
Cognitive impairment is never accidental. Even with overload, long-term stress has an abnormal effect in making a complete diagnosis (chronic fatigue syndrome).
To correct this situation, it is necessary to treat the primary pathological process and use a group of symptomatic drugs.
Memory-enhancing tablets are the generic name for many drugs that restore cerebral blood flow, metabolic processes, or otherwise have a qualitative effect on brain function.
Impacts can vary widely, here is a short list of principles:
- Normalization of central nervous system circulation.
- Restoration of metabolic rate and quality, biochemical processes in brain structures.
- Stopping oxidative phenomena, restoring the integrity of brain cells.
- removal of cholesterol deposits, mechanical restoration of blood flow.
- Decrease or increase in blood pressure (depending on the nature of the pathological process).
- Maintaining the central nervous system in a normal state by activating natural regenerative phenomena.
Each effect corresponds to one or more groups of medicines at the same time. Let’s examine them in more detail.
Medicines and how they work
The following medicines should not be taken without your doctor's permission. In fact, some of them are safe, like the same vitamins. But with an excess of matter, it begins to destroy the body.
In addition, serious side effects, including allergic reactions, are possible.
Cerebrovascular drugs
Simply put, cerebral circulatory correctors. According to world statistics, trophic disorders in the central nervous system are one of the leading causes of death among the world’s population. Conditions such as stroke, encephalopathy are well known even to a person without special medical knowledge.
All cerebrovascular disorders unambiguously cause disorders of memory, thinking, concentration, and learning. Gradually, they only get worse.
Cerebrovascular drugs are a broad group of drugs, in the category of correctors you can count about a hundred items.
If you name the most popular and common medicines:
Cinarizine
The basis of the action is the dilation of blood vessels in the brain, impaired penetration of calcium ions through the walls of large arteries.
At the same time, the drug has no effect on the pressure in the duct, so it can be prescribed to patients with cardiovascular pathologies at any stage of the disorder.
The drug is quite old, but it is still actively used because it causes minimal side effects, is well tolerated and has a wide range of pharmacological activity.
Vinpocetine
has similar properties but is considered stronger. It is prescribed for cerebral ischemic processes. Including as a means to recover quickly after a stroke.
Attention: Unlike cinnarizine, it lowers blood pressure slightly.
The transfer is still good. It can be used as a medicine for the prevention of CNS pathologies.
Suitable for long-term use.
Piracetam
Strictly speaking, not a complete cerebrovascular drug. It is a combined tool that can be described as a CNS trophism corrector and at the same time a nootropic. Piracetam improves brain function, concentration, increases the ability to memorize information.
It is used in patients with cardiovascular disease, secondary brain disorders, neuroendocrine disorders and other dangerous conditions. It is universal in its own way.
Well tolerated, assigned to courses. It is not recommended to use it for too long, as the effect is greatly reduced.
Deproteinized calf blood hemoderative
This is a complex medicine. It restores normal cerebral blood flow, improves their function, adjusts metabolic processes, promotes brain tissue regeneration and increases efficiency.
The product is based on the blood components of calves. Proteins have a huge allergic potential, so there is a risk of an immune response, an inadequate reaction of the body's defenses.
It is advisable to increase the dose gradually and monitor your health closely.
There are also herbs, but they are not considered medicines. These are food supplements, so you should not place serious hopes on them.
Each of the groups listed above is represented by several other trade names (manufacturers register different variants).
The choice of remedy depends on the severity and characteristics of the clinical case. The decision remains at the discretion of the treating specialist.
Cerebral blood vessels have different tolerances, have their own characteristics. The likelihood of side effects is determined individually; if suspicious symptoms occur, you should contact your specialist again.
Nootropics
A broad group of drugs that partially includes the other categories presented and described here.
These drugs affect health in several ways:
- Stabilization of cell membranes. This increases the strength of the cytoplasmic membrane, the tolerance of charges at the micro level.
- Increased production of energy valuable compounds. As a result of brain structure, nervous tissues are provided with useful substances, thus improving memory.
- Acceleration of glucose transport and utilization. As a result, brain cells receive more nutrients and absorb them better.
- Acceleration of nerve impulse transmission in brain structures.
Nootropic drugs are memory tablets that improve concentration, speed and quality of thinking, they are represented by many subgroups:
Acetylcholine Precursors
Meclofenoxate, deanol aceglumatate. At the biochemical level, they stimulate the work of the brain, increase the intensity of nerve impulse transmission.
Well tolerated, but only in measured doses. Excessive consumption of or excess of the active substance causes seizures, psychotic disorders and brain disorders.
Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
Pyrrolidine derivatives
Piracetam, Aniracetam, Dupracetam, and a dozen more. In terms of clinical efficacy, they are approximately identical. The only difference is the main indications: one drug is effective for prophylaxis, another for stroke recovery, and so on.
Many of the names described are complex measures that affect several aspects of pathology: disorders of brain biochemistry, quality of cerebral circulation, and inhibition of oxidative processes in the central nervous system.
Amino acids
The most popular option is glycine. The drug is universal, it is prescribed for both adult patients and children.
Has relatively little specific activity. Therefore, it is not suitable for the correction of complex pathological processes.
As a basic technique or disease prevention, it's a great job. Amino acids, like other organic compounds, can cause allergies. Therefore, you have to behave to the maximum when receiving.
Peptides
Drugs used to improve memory are used as a means of preventing or restoring brain function after TBI, stroke, and inflammatory processes.
They have no hormonal activity, due to their high degree of purity they practically do not cause allergic reactions.
Often used as a basis for the treatment of mild to moderate diseases.
Analogs of GABA
Gamma amino butyric acid and others are inexpensive tablets to stimulate brain activity. They mimic the action of a special organic substance that accelerates the transmission of nerve impulses in brain structures.
This type of medication also has other effects: antiplatelet, psychostimulant, sedative. True, very few.
These funds are eligible for long-term use.
Pyrodoxine derivatives
Powerful drugs, stimulants of tissue metabolism. They help to improve memory and brain function, eliminate excessive nervous tension, correct the manifestations of addiction (cravings for alcohol, nicotine). But you can’t take them for long.
Nootropics are not comic drugs. All the recommendations on brain "acceleration" that are so actively discussed on the network are dangerous delusions.
Funds should only be used in indications with the direct consent of the physician. If the funds are drunk incorrectly, under the wrong regimen, overdose can lead to chaotic biochemistry.
It is fraught with psychosis, increased risk of schizophrenia, extrapyramidal disorders (convulsions, motor problems).
Most of the tablets described for improving memory and brain function can only be taken by adults: the child's nerve tissue, the biochemistry of the central nervous system have not yet been determined, the risk of mental destruction is high even if used correctly according to the regimen.
Antioxidants and vitamins
Oxidative processes in cells are a phenomenon of electron transfer from the atoms of the cytological structure to a substance that aggressively acts on tissues.
The result is a violation of membrane integrity and cell death due to the impossibility of separation from the external environment, usually during transport of materials. The reaction produces ions that are also able to destroy other structures.
If we do not take biochemistry into account, oxidation leads to the death of entire tissues, the gradual degradation of body systems. The brain also suffers, so does memory, attention, thinking.
Interestingly, these phenomena are quite physiological, they play one of the main roles in the aging process.
The challenge is to stop negative change. Antioxidant preparations can help with this.
They can be divided into 3 broad categories:
- Enzymes and minerals. The former have the ability to speed up the body’s natural processes. Including the binding of free radicals and their rapid removal from body structures.
Minerals are components of many organic molecules. Their systems do not know how to synthesize, materials with food come from the outside. The main elements that can fight radicals are selenium, manganese and zinc.
- Flavanoids. Low molecular weight compounds. Due to their structural features, they can bind free radicals themselves by attaching charged particles (ions) to themselves. By their nature, these are organic structures.
The most famous are tannin, quercetin (found in tea, etc. ), catechin (found in quality wines).
Vitamins- . A, E, B, C. In sufficient quantity, they reliably cover the body from dangerous threats.
Drugs to improve the memory of the antioxidant group are the mainstay of treatment, their task is to prevent pathological processes from the central nervous system, to slow down tissue aging, so they are suitable for elderly patients.
Anti-lipid disorders
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels can cause disorders of increased nerve activity.
This phenomenon is associated with disorders of fat metabolism in the body, the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. This creates a mechanical barrier to blood movement.
Trophism of brain structures is severely affected. Stroke is likely in later stages of the disorder.
The pathological process can last for years, gradually deteriorating the quality of memory and thinking. In this case, special drugs are enough to restore the work of the central nervous system.
To restore lipid metabolism, clear your blood vessels:
Statins- Inhibit fat production. This type of medicine should be used with caution. Especially the funds of the early generations. They cause many side effects.
- Fibrates are used for some forms of hyperlipidemia or as part of treatment with statins.
- Nicotinic acid. For indications only. Because the drug is difficult to tolerate.
Correction of brain disorders is performed using these tools in different combinations.
Medicines to lower blood pressure
Increased nerve activity may be associated with an increase in blood pressure. Suffering from trophic brain tissue. The result is memory and attention problems.
These drugs come in several groups:
- Beta blockers. Metoprolol tartrate, bisoprolol fumarate, Propranolol hydrochloride, and several other variants.
- Calcium antagonists. Loosen the blood vessels, liquefy the pressure level.
- ACE inhibitors. Medicines that slow down the production of a special substance - angiotensin. This increases the tone of the arteries.
- Diuretics. Medications to remove excess fluids.
- Central operational tools. They regulate the work of blood vessels at the level of the brain itself.
All are applied strictly according to the indications.
Attention: Wrong combinations "plant" the kidneys, the heart. This is a situation where treatment is more dangerous than the disease itself.
Measures to increase blood pressure
Low blood pressure affects thinking and memory, and worse. Because in the presence of insufficient trophism of brain structures, there are problems in the work of the brain: with memory, thinking.
It is difficult to correct low blood pressure. Herbal preparations (Eleutherococcus, Ginseng, Schisandra) are prescribed. Also tonic drugs. All medications that increase blood pressure are described in this article.
The main role is given to the treatment of the primary pathology, the cause of the disorder. Also lifestyle and diet changes.
This is not an easy task. I need the help of a competent cardiologist. Neurologists are involved as needed.
Precautions
Drugs, even when used properly, can be dangerous. To reduce them, there are a few nuances to keep in mind:
- Vitamins improve memory and attention, but only at doses that correspond to physiological doses: the principle of "more, the more effective" does not work here, hypervitaminosis, cardiovascular, brain, connective tissue and endocrine disorders develop. systems.
- Improper doses of nootropic substances cause psychosis, destroy nerve fibers. They should not be used without a doctor's sanction and instructions.
- Products of plant origin, organic components (proteins, amino acids, enzymes) often cause allergies. This is a consequence of their nature. Therefore, you have to take care of your health.
- Tablets that improve brain function, including nootropic, cerebrovascular, should not be used in patients with central nervous system tumors, such as multiple sclerosis in the relapse phase. Because pathological processes will accelerate and worsen.
Do not take a single medicine. The treatment appointment is the last stage of correction, the tip of the iceberg. Prior to this, a comprehensive diagnosis is made.
In all cases, you should consult a specialist.
Tests required for memory impairment
Neurologists are studying the characteristics of the disorder. If necessary, cardiologists and endocrinologists are involved in the case.
To make a diagnosis, you must perform the following procedures:
- Interview the patient.
- History of use.
- EEG. To study the electrical activity of the central nervous system.
- Bilateral cerebral vascular scan.
- Ultrasound technique that provides information about the structure and functional activity of arteries.
- X-ray of the skull.
- MRI on demand.
- Blood pressure measurement: normal or daily.
- ECHO-KG, ECG. Cardiac examinations.
Memory medications are designed to combat the root cause. There is no point in correcting increased nerve activity without eliminating the culprit of the underlying disorder.