Ineffective Drugs: Cerebrolysin and Piracetam

Abstract

The study of drug efficacy is greatly importance, since the data obtained can be used as a scientific tool for re-evaluating drugs. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of cerebrolysin and piracetam in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The study included 124 patients with moderate acute ischemic stroke (AIS). All patients were divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The control group included 40 people receiving standard therapy (acetylsalicylic acid, lisinopril, nebivolol, pentoxifylline, L-lysine escinate). The cerebrolysin group consisted of 42 patients who additionally received cerebrolysin (10ml) in a volume of 200ml (0.9% NaCl) once a day. The piracetam group included 42 patients who additionally received piracetam (10ml) in a volume of 200ml (0.9% NaCl) three times a day. The course of inpatient treatment lasted 3 weeks. At the end of treatment, there was a significant (p <0.05) regression of neurological symptoms in patients with acute ischemic stroke in all comparison groups by 1.75 (p <0.05) times in the control group, by 1.85 (p < 0.05) in the cerebrolysin group and by 1.78 (p <0.05) in the piracetam group. There was no statistically significant intergroup difference (p> 0.05). The study results do not demonstrate clinical benefits of cerebrolysin and piracetam for treating acute ischemic stroke.