How to store Actovegin

Composition and release form

The following types of medicine are produced:

• Solution for injection 2 ml, 5.0 No. 5, 10 ml No. 10. Contained in clear glass ampoules that have a breaking point. Packed in blister packs of 5 pieces.
• The solution for infusion (Actovegin intravenously) is contained in 250 ml bottles, which are sealed with a stopper and placed in a cardboard box.
• Actovegin tablets have a round, biconvex shape and are covered with a yellow-green coating. Packaged in dark glass bottles of 50 pieces.
• The cream is packaged in tubes of 20 g.
• Gel 20% is packaged in tubes of 5 g.
• Actovegin ophthalmic gel 20% is packaged in tubes of 5 g.
• Ointment 5% is packaged in tubes of 20 g.

The composition of the drug Actovegin, which helps with insufficient blood flow, includes as an active substance a deproteinized hemoderivative from calf blood. The injection drug also contains sodium chloride and water as additional substances.

Composition (solution, injections)

Solution for infusion in NaCl or dextrose solution:

• Main substance: blood components (Hemoderivat deproteinized from the blood of calves 25 or 50 ml.);
• Excipients: sodium chloride, water for injection + dextrose (for solution with dextrose);
• Physico-chemical properties: transparent solution, colorless or slightly yellow;
• Packaging: 250 ml of solution in a glass bottle with a stopper and an aluminum cap. The bottle is placed in a cardboard box, which is protected by a transparent holographic sticker with tamper evident.

Injection:

• Main substance: Actovegin concentrate (converted to Hemoderivat deproteinized from the blood of calves) 80 or 200 or 400 mg.;
• Excipients: sodium chloride, water for injection;
• Physico-chemical properties: yellowish solution, transparent, practically devoid of particles;
• Packaging: Actovegin is produced in ampoules of 2, 5 and 10 ml with a break line. 5 ampoules per package (contour, plastic) - 1 or 5 packages in a cardboard pack. Each pack is protected by a transparent sticker with a hologram and a tamper evident seal.

At the time of completing the course, you must stop drinking alcoholic beverages, since ethanol will neutralize the entire therapeutic effect of Actovengin and will accelerate the development of degenerative changes in the tissues of blood vessels and nerve endings. If you have vascular diseases, you should stop smoking, as nicotine constricts blood vessels, disrupting the already obstructed blood flow.

Medicine Actovegin: what helps

The drug is used as prescribed by a doctor for a number of diseases and disorders.

What do injections and pills help with?

Indications for use of the tablet form include:

• complex treatment of vascular and metabolic disorders of the brain (ischemic stroke, dementia, insufficiency of blood flow in the brain, head injury);
• diabetic polyneuropathy;
• arterial and venous vascular disorders, as well as consequences associated with such disorders (trophic ulcers, angiopathy).
• Actovegin droppers and injections are prescribed for similar diseases and conditions of the body.

Indications for use of ointment

The medicine is indicated in the following cases:

• inflammatory processes of the skin and mucous membranes, wounds (burns, abrasions, cuts, cracks, etc.);
• weeping ulcers, varicose veins, etc.;
• to activate tissue regeneration after burns;
• for the purpose of treatment and prevention of bedsores;
• in order to prevent skin manifestations associated with the effects of radiation.

For similar diseases, Actovegin cream is used. Indications for the use of Actovegin gel are similar, but the drug is also used to treat the surface of the skin before starting the process of skin transplantation in the treatment of burn disease.

The use of the medicine in various forms for pregnant women is carried out for similar indications, but only after a doctor’s prescription and under his supervision. Actovegin for athletes is sometimes used to increase their performance. What Actovegin ointment, as well as other forms of drugs, are also used for, and what this or that form helps with, will be consulted by the attending physician.

Dosage

IV, IV (including in the form of infusion) and IM. Due to the potential for anaphylactic reactions, a test is recommended before starting the infusion. Actovegin instructions for use will help you.

1. Metabolic and vascular disorders of the brain: from 5 ml to 25 ml (200-1000 mg) per day IV daily for 2 weeks, followed by switching to Actovegin in tablet form;
2. Ischemic stroke: 20-50 ml (800-2000 mg) in 200-300 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution or 5% dextrose solution, IV drip daily for 1 week, then 10-20 ml (400-800 mg ) IV drip - 2 weeks followed by switching to Actovegin in tablet form;
3. Wound healing: 10 ml (400 mg) IV or 5 ml IM daily or 3-4 times a week depending on the healing process (in addition to local treatment with Actovegin in dosage forms for topical use);
4. Radiation cystitis: daily 10 ml (400 mg) transurethral in combination with antibiotic therapy. The rate of administration is about 2 ml/min. The duration of treatment is determined individually in accordance with the symptoms and severity of the disease;
5. Peripheral (arterial and venous) vascular disorders and their consequences: 20-30 ml (800-1000 mg) of the drug in 200 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution or 5% dextrose solution, intravenous or intravenous daily; duration of treatment is about 4 weeks;
6. Prevention and treatment of radiation damage to the skin and mucous membranes during radiation therapy: the average dose is 5 ml (200 mg) intravenously daily during breaks from radiation exposure;
7. Diabetic polyneuropathy: 50 ml (2000 mg) per day IV for 3 weeks, followed by switching to Actovegin in tablet form - 2-3 tablets. 3 times/day for at least 4-5 months.

The duration of treatment is determined individually, depending on the symptoms and severity of the disease.

The drug Actovegin: instructions for use

Injections

The drug in ampoules is used in the form of injections (shots). Injections with Actovegin are given intravenously, intramuscularly, intra-arterially. The drug is also administered into the vascular bed in the form of infusions.

As a rule, at the first stage of treatment, the dose of injections and infusions is quite high, then it is reduced, and at the end of therapy the patient is transferred to the tablet form of taking the drug. The course of treatment with Actovegin, as a rule, is no more than 1-1.5 months.

Use of tablets

Taken orally. Actovegin tablets are swallowed whole, without chewing, and washed down with a small amount of water. Most often, doctors prescribe 1-2 tablets of the drug three times a day. After achieving the desired result, the dose can be reduced to 1 tablet once a day. 1 tablet of Actovegin per day is also prescribed for children over three years of age.

Ointment instructions

Actovegin gel, ointment and cream are used topically. Most often, doctors prescribe intramuscular injections of Actovegin, which, it must be said, are always unpleasant and painful. The dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor and depends on the severity and type of disease.

Features of storage and use of the drug

When using the solution, the ampoule must be warmed to room temperature before administration.
After this, the medicine must be shaken and drawn into a syringe. The drug can be injected into a vein or artery, but intramuscular administration is usually practiced. This procedure is quite unpleasant; the medicine must be administered very slowly, so the process is accompanied by painful sensations. Only a physician should administer the solution. Before starting permanent treatment, the patient is checked for tolerance to the drug. A few grams of medication are injected into the muscle and the reaction is observed. If no side effects occur, a course of treatment is prescribed, the duration of which is determined by the attending physician. The dosage is selected individually, based on the type and severity of the disease, age and characteristics of the patient’s body.

In no case should the drug be used in the following cases:

1. If you are allergic to any of the components included in the product.
2. In case of renal failure, which is accompanied by disturbances in the outflow of urine.
3. With pulmonary edema.
4. In severe forms of heart failure.
5. During pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although no deterioration in the condition of the fetus was found when pregnant women used the medicine, it is recommended to stop using it for this period.

It is necessary to use the medication carefully and constantly monitor the patient’s condition:

• if a child under three years of age is being treated. Although very often the medicine is used even to treat newborns;
• with increased levels of chlorides or sodium in the blood.

It is very important that the drug is stored correctly. If the solution is transparent and has a slight yellow tint, then it can be safely used.

The following storage conditions for the medication must be observed:

1. Since the drug does not contain preservatives, the ampoule can only be used once. Once the ampoule with the solution has been opened, the medicine cannot be used. The solution must be used immediately and its remains must be disposed of.
2. The medicine can be stored for three years.
3. The drug should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
4. The temperature of the room in which the medicine is located should be no more than twenty-five degrees above zero.
5. The product must be kept out of the reach of children.

Following these recommendations will help protect yourself from dangerous consequences.

If the color changes or any foreign impurities appear in the medicine, it is strictly not recommended to use it.

Analogues of the drug Actovegin

Analogs can replace Actovegin injections and tablets:

• Cortexin.
• Vero-Trimetazidine.
• Cerebrolysin.
• Chime-25.
• Solcoseryl.

However, when discussing analogues of Actovegin in ampoules, it should be noted that a similar active substance is only found in the drug Solcoseryl. All other drugs listed above have only similar indications for use. The price of analogues depends on the manufacturer.

Which is better - Cerebrolysin or Actovegin?

Cerebrolysin contains the hydrolyzate of brain matter freed from protein. Which drug to prefer is determined only by the doctor, depending on the indications. In some cases, these drugs are prescribed simultaneously.

Cortexin or Actovegin - which is better?

Cortexin is also a drug of animal origin. But it is obtained from the cerebral cortex of piglets or calves. Which drug is advisable to prescribe in a particular case should only be determined by a specialist.

What is better - Actovegin or Solcoseryl?

The drug contains Solcoseryl - the same active ingredient that is made from the blood of calves. But Actovegin has a longer shelf life, since it contains a preservative. However, some experts note that the preservative can negatively affect the human liver.

During pregnancy and lactation

The indication for the use of Actovegin during pregnancy is fetoplacental insufficiency (impaired placental function, its inability to maintain the necessary exchange between the fetus and the mother's body). The prescription of Actovegin during pregnancy is due to the fact that fetoplacental insufficiency without treatment leads to disruption of intrauterine development and fetal hypoxia. It should be borne in mind that Actovegin should be prescribed with caution during pregnancy, monitoring the patient’s condition. It is not recommended to use Actovegin while breastfeeding.

Price, where to buy

In Minsk you can buy Actovegin ointment for 6-8, tablets for 66-111 BYN. rubles The price of tablets in Russia reaches 1,500 rubles. In Ukraine, the medicine can be purchased for 425 hryvnia (tab.). In Kazakhstan, the product costs 2,470 tenge (40 mg/ml 5 ml No. 5 solution d/in).

The vascular system in the human body is very complex and effective drugs are required to restore its normal functioning. These drugs include Actovegin - injections of this medicinal solution can be performed intravenously, intraarterially and intramuscularly, and can also be used for infusions (droppers).

Medicine Actovegin in injections

This drug is based on a natural component, a deproteinized hemoderivative from calf blood. Sodium chloride and purified water for injection are used as excipients.

There are the following forms of release of Actovegin in the form of a solution:

• 2 ml;
• 5 ml;
• 10 ml;
• 250 ml (bottle).

The first three dosages are for injection, the last type is used for infusion.

Why are Actovegin injections prescribed?

The active ingredient of the drug stimulates regenerative processes, improves trophism and metabolism in tissues. In addition, hemoderivat from calf blood increases the consumption of glucose and oxygen and intensifies energy metabolism.

As a result of using the drug, the resistance of cells to hypoxia (oxygen starvation) improves, and their energy resources increase.

The listed actions determine the indications for the use of Actovegin injections:

• ulcerative skin lesions of various origins;
• trophic disorders of dermal and epidermal cells;
• secondary regeneration processes;
• vascular and metabolic disorders in brain tissue, including ischemic stroke, cerebral insufficiency syndrome, severe traumatic brain injury;
• skin transplantation operations;
• damage to the skin due to radiation, nerve tissue, mucous membranes;
• arterial angiopathy;
• leg ulcers and the consequences of their occurrence;
• ischemia and hypoxia of various internal organs and tissues;
• venous and arterial vascular disorders;
• chemical and thermal burns;
• swelling of brain tissue of various etiologies.

The method of use and dosage of the drug depend on the disease, its severity and the nature of its course. First, Actovegin injections are given intravenously or intra-arterially, 10-20 ml. If drip infusion is required, 250 ml of solution is required (rate 2-3 ml per minute). Procedures are carried out every day or 3-5 times a week. After the exacerbation of the disease has ceased, Actovegin injections are prescribed intramuscularly or slow administration of reduced doses of the drug (5 ml) intravenously. For infusion, the medicine can be mixed with saline or glucose.

Properties of Actovegin

As written in the instructions for use of the drug, Actovegin is a drug that has a complex effect:

• Activates the metabolism of various tissues;
• Improves their trophism;
• Stimulates the regeneration process;
• Is a powerful antihypoxic agent;
• Increases the transport and accumulation of glucose and oxygen, increases their intracellular utilization;
• Stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP), providing the energy needs of the cell.

When the normal functions of energy metabolism are limited under conditions of hypoxia, lack of substrate and with increased energy consumption in the process of healing and regeneration, Actovegin stimulates the energy processes of functional metabolism and anabolism. The secondary effect of the drug is increased blood supply.

In patients with diabetes, Actovegin significantly reduces the symptoms of polyneuropathy (stabbing pain, burning sensation, numbness, crawling in the lower extremities). Objectively, the mental well-being of patients improves, and sensitivity disorders decrease. The effect of the drug Actovegin begins to appear no later than 30 minutes after injection, infusion or oral administration of the drug and reaches a maximum after an average of 3 hours.

Expert opinion

Author:

Andrey Igorevich Volkov

Neurologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Actovegin is considered the leader in prescription in the CIS countries. The drug is used as part of complex therapy for various diseases. Nevertheless, controversy surrounding Actovegin continues regarding its positive effects.

According to the ARTEMIDA study, the drug is included in the list of medicines with an evidence base. It is a reliable fact that in patients with brain pathologies, cognitive functions improved while taking Actovegin. The drug is included in the list of essential medicines. The variety of forms allows Actovegin to be prescribed for the treatment of various conditions. At the Yusupov Hospital, doctors use the drug as part of complex therapy for neurological, endocrine and cardiovascular diseases. Actovegin has proven itself to be positive in the treatment of acute conditions, as well as when used to prevent exacerbation of chronic pathologies. The frequency of development of undesirable effects while taking Actovegin does not exceed acceptable values. However, before you start taking the drug, you should consult your doctor. An experienced doctor will assess the severity of the condition and select the correct dosage of the medicine. Remember that self-medication is the cause of complications.