Nootropil Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Nootropil Tablet contains the active ingredient piracetam, a nootropic medicine related to GABA. It is used to help control involuntary muscle jerks, support memory and concentration, aid recovery after head injury, and assist with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsonism, and stroke-related difficulties with speech, walking, or understanding. It works by supporting blood and oxygen supply to the brain and helping protect the cerebral cortex. It is available in several forms and should be used exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Nootropil Tablet

Nootropil is a brand-name medicine containing the active ingredient piracetam. It belongs to a group of medicines called nootropics, which protect brain tissue and help nerve cells communicate with each other.

Nootropil Tablet uses

• Controlling involuntary muscle jerks, shakes, or spasms (cortical myoclonus), usually alongside other medicines
• Managing memory loss, poor concentration, and vertigo linked to aging
• Supporting recovery from brain dysfunction or symptoms like dizziness or headaches after a head injury
• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinsonism (tremors and involuntary movements)
• Stroke-related difficulty speaking, walking, or understanding

Benefits of Nootropil Tablet

• Improves blood and oxygen supply to the brain to support cell function
• Helps protect the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thoughts, actions, movement, reasoning, perception, and recognition

How Nootropil Tablet works

Piracetam acts on the brain and nervous system. It is thought to protect the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain in charge of thoughts and actions, from a lack of oxygen.

Nootropil Tablet dosage

This medicine can be taken with or without food, or before or after meals. Swallow tablets whole with a drink of water; do not break or chew them, as the medicine has a bitter taste. Take your doses at the same times each day to help you remember and to keep a steady level in your body. It is usually taken two or three times a day.

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for the next dose — in that case skip the missed dose and do not double up. Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop; finish the full course even if you feel better. Do not stop taking it suddenly, as this may cause your symptoms to come back or trigger withdrawal effects like headache, anxiety, or seizures.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Granules
• Injection
• Syrup
• Capsule

Side effects of Nootropil Tablet

Common

• Nervousness or feeling shaky
• Weight gain
• Sleep changes (trouble sleeping or feeling drowsy)
• Nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea
• Dizziness

Serious

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands, and feet
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Worsening seizures or muscle spasms if the medicine is stopped suddenly
• Hallucinations

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before taking it.
• This medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding because it passes into breast milk and could harm the baby. Talk to your doctor before using it.
• Use this medicine with caution if you have kidney problems, since it is removed from the body through the kidneys and could build up, raising the risk of kidney damage. Your doctor may adjust your dose.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have problems with your liver before starting this medicine.
• It is not known how this medicine interacts with alcohol. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking it.
• This medicine can cause drowsiness in some people. Avoid driving or using tools or machinery if it affects you this way.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms such as headache, anxiety, or seizures with abnormal behavior and uncontrolled body movements. Your doctor may help you reduce the dose gradually.
• Use with caution if you have heart conditions like heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, or high blood pressure, due to a higher risk of serious side effects.
• Older adults should use this medicine with caution because of a higher risk of serious side effects.
• Tell your doctor you are taking this medicine if you need surgery, as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
• Use with extreme caution if you have a bleeding disorder, as this medicine can make it worse.
• Before starting this medicine, tell your doctor if you have a blood clotting problem, unusual bleeding, recent surgery, a past brain hemorrhage, Huntington's chorea, kidney or liver problems, are on a controlled salt diet, or are taking thyroid hormones.

Storage

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light
• Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicine; take it to your local pharmacy for safe disposal

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you think you or someone else has taken too much of this medicine. Bring the medicine container with you, even if it's empty.
• Tell your doctor right away if you notice difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands, or feet, as these can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
• Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse or do not improve while taking this medicine.

Alternatives

• Valproate
• Clonazepam
• Levetiracetam