Piracetam in the treatment of post-concussional syndrome. A double-blind study.
The effect of piracetam, a cyclical derivative of GABA, was compared with that of a placebo in a double-blind study of 60 patients with post-concussional syndrome of 2-12 months' duration. The daily dose of piracetam was 4,800 mg. After 8 weeks of treatment piracetam significantly reduced the occurrence and severity of the following symptoms: vertigo, headache, tiredness, decresed alertness, increased sweating and neurasthenic symptoms. No significant effect was observed on the following symptoms: tremor, orthostatic symptoms, and memory disorders. Side effect were reported by 64% of the patients under piracetam and by 32% under placebo. In the author's opinion, piracetam seems to be a promising new drug for the treatment of post-concussional syndrome.
D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D009440:Neurasthenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D009461:Neurologic Manifestations; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy
D010919:Placebos; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D010889:Piracetam