Piracetam

About piracetam

Piracetam acts on your brain and nervous system. It is thought to protect the part of your brain called the cerebral cortex against a lack of oxygen. The cerebral cortex is responsible for your thoughts and actions and plays a role in your movement, reasoning, perception and recognition.

Piracetam is used, alongside other medicines, to treat a movement disorder called cortical myoclonus. This condition causes short jerky muscle movements, particularly in your arms and legs.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking piracetam it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si estás embarazada, intentando tener un bebé o amamantando.

• If you have a blood clotting problem.

• If you have any kind of unusual bleeding or if you have recently had surgery.

• If you have ever had a bleed on the brain (a haemorrhage).

• If you have been told you have a type of movement disorder called Huntington's chorea.

• If you have problems with your kidney or liver.

• If you are on a controlled salt (sodium) diet.

• If you are taking thyroid hormones.

• Si está tomando o usando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez has tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about piracetam and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take piracetam exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usually taken two or three times daily. The normal starting dose is nine tablets (three tablets in the morning, three at midday and three in the evening). Your dose may be increased over the first few weeks, and if so, your doctor will tell you how much to take and when to take it. Your dose will also be on the label of the pack to remind you, but if you are unsure about what to do, ask your pharmacist for further advice.

• Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not break or chew the tablets, as piracetam has a bitter taste.

• Try to take your doses at the same times each day, as this will help you to remember to take them. You can take piracetam before or after meals.

• If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Intenta mantener tus citas regulares con tu médico. Esto es para que tu médico pueda verificar tu progreso.

• Tell your doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after taking piracetam.

• Keep taking piracetam until your doctor tells you otherwise. Stopping suddenly can cause your symptoms to return, so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually when this is necessary.

• Si vas a someterte a una operación o tratamiento dental, informa a la persona que realiza el tratamiento sobre los medicamentos que estás tomando.

• Si compras algún medicamento, consulta con un farmacéutico que sean adecuados para tomar con tus otros medicamentos.

Junto con sus efectos útiles, la mayoría de los medicamentos pueden causar efectos secundarios no deseados, aunque no todos los experimentan. Estos generalmente mejoran a medida que su cuerpo se adapta al nuevo medicamento, pero hable con su médico o farmacéutico si alguno de los siguientes efectos secundarios persiste o se vuelve problemático.

Si experimenta otros síntomas que cree que pueden deberse a este medicamento, hable con su médico o farmacéutico.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.