Review of drugs Mebicar or Adaptol | What to choose

Updated: 04/23/2021 15:13:41

Expert: Abramova Tsilya

We present to your attention two anxiolytic drugs - Mebicar and Adaptol. The same composition, dosage, principle of action and indications - what is the difference between them? Both drugs are prescribed in the complex treatment of neuroses, cardiac diseases, addiction to tobacco and in other situations to relieve fear and anxiety. At first glance, the drugs differ only in price, and Mebikar, as a cheaper drug, is the winner. But is it really that simple?

The experts of our magazine collected data on the drugs in question and found out that Adaptol is considered an original drug, while Mebicar is a generic. The original has undergone clinical trials and has established itself as a medicine effective in the treatment of various neurological conditions. The generic differs in its auxiliary components and, theoretically, its effectiveness may be lower.

Studies have shown that both drugs cope with the task and are equally often used in practice. It is safe to say that in this case, the generic Mebicar is practically not inferior to the original Adaptol and can successfully compete with it in the pharmaceutical market.

Composition and release form: is there a difference?

The main active ingredient is the same for Adaptol and Mebicar - tetramethyltetraazabicyclooctanedione. The drugs in question differ in their auxiliary components. Mebicar additionally contains povidone and calcium stearate, Adaptol contains the same calcium stearate and methylcellulose.

Both drugs belong to the same pharmacological group. These are anxiolytics, they are also tranquilizers - drugs that relieve anxiety and fear. They are used in practical psychiatry and neurology, and are used in therapy for the complex treatment of certain diseases.

Mebicar and Adaptol are available in tablets. The dosage of the drug differs:

1. Adaptol is presented on the pharmaceutical market in the form of 500 mg tablets.
2. Mebicar is available in tablets of 300 and 500 mg.

The cost of drugs varies:

1. Adaptol - about 600 rubles for 20 pieces.
2. Mebicar - about 400 rubles for 20 pieces.

Mebicar is one and a half times cheaper, which determines its popularity. But let's find out whether the price of the more expensive option - Adaptol - is justified, and whether it is worth saving in this case.

Cheap analogues and substitutes for the drug adaptol: list with prices

Most often, when studying the global pharmaceutical market, Ukrainian-made drugs turn out to be the cheapest, but upon closer study it becomes clear that the price range is as great as in other countries.

Cheap analogues of the drug:

1. Mebikar, a drug with the same name as that of Russian manufacturers, but the price starts from 190 rubles. The same list of indications: nervous excitability, irritability, neuropsychic disorders.
2. Tranquilar - its price is higher: 500-600 rubles. The composition contains similar substitutes that affect the restoration of the nervous system, eliminating unreasonable anxieties, fears and excessive irritability.
3. NOOBUT-IC. Made with phenibut. Suitable for children from three years old. Costs about 550 rubles. Used for severe cases of alcohol syndrome.
4. Glyceside. The Ukrainian-made drug is cheaper, costs about 70-100 rubles. Has a slight sedative effect. Gently soothes, brings the general condition back to normal.

How do they work?

The instructions for use state that tetramethyltetraazabicyclooctanedione in Adaptol and Mebicar acts on various tissues:

1. enhances oxygen supply to the myocardium;
2. improves blood flow in the heart muscle;
3. normalizes the balance of electrolytes in the blood;
4. activates protein synthesis;
5. increases the energy resource of the cell.

The active substance of both drugs is similar in structure to natural metabolites of the human body. It affects the functioning of the hypothalamus and the main neurotransmitter systems. The drugs under study are involved in the synthesis of choline, serotonin and adrenaline. When applied as a course, the following effects are expected:

1. anxiety and restlessness go away;
2. the feeling of fear decreases;
3. emotional stress decreases;
4. Cognitive functions improve: attention, memory.

Adaptol and Mebicar do not reduce mental and motor activity, so they can be prescribed during the day (including during school and work). They do not cause drowsiness, but improve the natural flow of sleep if it is disturbed. They do not lead to the development of euphoria and do not affect mood. Ease nicotine addiction.

Reviews from patients who took the drug

Sergey, 29 years old, Tomsk

I suffer from myopathy. The doctor prescribed Adaptol. I used 2 packages of the drug (500 mg, 20 tablets) per course of treatment. Irritability disappeared, I became calm, my sleep was normal. I am satisfied with the treatment. In 2 months I want to repeat the course of therapy.

Alexander, 68 years old, Orel

I was worried at a friend's funeral. Blood pressure increased and anxious thoughts appeared in my head. The doctor prescribed Mebicar. I took the medicine for 30 days, 3 tablets per day. A week later, my blood pressure stabilized, my general condition improved, and I felt peace of mind.

Ekaterina, 35 years old, Ryazan

I suffer from VSD. I took Mebicar for 14 days, 1 tablet 4 times a day. I felt improvement on the 3rd day. After the course of therapy, I began to sleep soundly, and my mental discomfort disappeared. There were no side effects. A good sedative. I recommend.

After the birth of the child, I fell into some kind of depressive state. It persisted for a long time, so I was forced to turn to a specialist. He prescribed me a two-month course of Mebicar tablets.

I took a tablet in the morning and in the evening. The doctor warned that the drug has a cumulative effect, that is, it takes time to feel a positive result. I began to notice changes after 5-6 days. My mood improved significantly, the negative thoughts that tormented me were replaced by a positive attitude towards life. After completing a full course of therapy, I was finally able to fully enjoy my new role as a mother.

Separately, I would like to note that I took the pills while breastfeeding my baby. The therapy was carried out under the supervision of a specialist; no pathologies or deterioration in the child’s condition were identified.

With the help of Mebikar, he struggled with his long-term addiction to smoking. I decided to get rid of the addiction on my own after the doctor discovered that I had heart problems.

Quitting smoking was not accompanied by any special means; it depended only on willpower and the desire for a healthy lifestyle. However, I regularly felt the urge to smoke a cigarette.

As a result, I turned to a neurologist and talked about my problem. The specialist recommended that I take Mebicar tablets for three months. Initially, I did not feel any changes, but gradually the craving for smoking began to disappear. The nervousness and irritability associated with quitting smoking were eliminated. My head became clear and I felt like a new person.

A couple of years have passed since then; during this period I have not smoked a single cigarette. An excellent result, certainly achieved with the help of Mebikar.

Due to problems at work, serious problems with nerves began. Various phobias, nervousness, anger, and aggressiveness became my constant companions. A neurologist diagnosed me with a severe neurotic disorder.

As therapy, I was prescribed Mebicar tablets. I drank them for quite a long time, almost 5 months. The treatment was accompanied by periodic intestinal disorders and pressure surges. But the drug managed to cope with my main problem.

In general, reviews about Mebicare are positive. Experts note that adverse reactions were observed in no more than 20% of patients. In 98% of cases, therapy has a positive result.

Veronica, 28 years old, Chelyabinsk: After the birth of her child, she fell into some kind of depressive state. It persisted for a long time, so I was forced to turn to a specialist. He prescribed me a two-month course of Mebicar tablets.

Separately, I would like to note that I took the pills while breastfeeding my baby. The therapy was carried out under the supervision of a specialist; no pathologies or deterioration in the child’s condition were identified.

Mebikar tablets are a group of tranquilizers that help eliminate emotional stress, restlessness, anxiety, fear, and excessive irritability.

The active component of the drug is tetramethyltetraazabicyclooctanedione, also called mebicar for short. The structure of the synthetic active component is similar to the structure of natural mebicar produced in the human body. The substance acts on the brain centers responsible for regulating emotions and behavioral reactions.

The drug does not accumulate in the body and is excreted by the kidneys; no drug dependence on Mebicar has been observed.

Assessing the effectiveness of drugs

Controversy among doctors continues regarding Adaptol and Mebicar. Old-school specialists say that these drugs have proven their effectiveness in clinical practice. Neurologists and psychiatrists prescribe these drugs - and see their positive effects. The beneficial effects of medications are confirmed by clinical trials:

1. Mebicar has proven itself in the treatment of anxiety disorders associated with autonomic dysfunction. Studies have shown that the drug relieves feelings of anxiety and fear without causing drowsiness or reducing memory and attention.
2. Adaptol has been used in complex therapy of irritable bowel syndrome. The effect was noticeable already in the second week of taking the drug. The study authors especially emphasized the fact that Adaptol reduces anxiety and eliminates autonomic disorders without causing significant side effects.
3. Both drugs are successfully used in neurological and psychiatric practice, in dermatology, which is confirmed by numerous scientific works.
4. There are many similar examples, and these drugs are popular in Russia and the former CIS countries. But what do foreign colleagues say about this? A review of Cochrane studies did not provide information on the effectiveness of Adaptol (Mebicar). There is only data on not very large-scale studies that showed the beneficial effects of Adaptol, but you can’t focus on them alone. The sample is too small to seriously talk about the effectiveness of the drug.
5. Some sources refer to Adaptol and its analogues as “fuflomycins,” emphasizing the fact that these drugs have not undergone randomized clinical trials. According to the position of evidence-based medicine, such drugs cannot be used in the practice of a modern doctor.

Comparison of side effects of Adaptol and Mebicar

Side effects or adverse events are any adverse medical event that occurs in a subject after administration of a drug.

Mebicar has more side effects than Adaptol. This implies that the frequency of their occurrence is low in Mebicar and low in Adaptol. Frequency of manifestation is an indicator of how many cases of an undesirable effect from treatment are possible and registered. The undesirable effect on the body, the strength of influence and the toxic effect of drugs are different: how quickly the body recovers after taking it and whether it recovers at all. When using Mebicar, the body's ability to recover faster is higher than that of Adaptol.

Indications for use

Indications for Mebicar and Adaptol are similar:

1. neurotic disorders: anxiety, phobia, depression, emotional lability, etc.;
2. complex therapy for cardialgia (heart pain), coronary heart disease;
3. recovery after myocardial infarction;
4. addiction to tobacco – to reduce craving for nicotine;
5. when prescribing antipsychotics and tranquilizers - to improve their tolerability.
6. Indications for therapy are determined by the doctor after examination.

Comparison of addiction between Adaptol and Mebicar

Like safety, addiction also involves many factors that must be considered when evaluating a drug.

So, the totality of the values ​​of such parameters as “o syndrome” in Adaptol is quite similar to the similar values ​​in Mebicar. Withdrawal syndrome is a pathological condition that occurs after the cessation of intake of addictive or dependent substances into the body. And resistance is understood as initial immunity to a drug; in this it differs from addiction, when immunity to a drug develops over a certain period of time. The presence of resistance can only be stated if an attempt has been made to increase the dose of the drug to the maximum possible. At the same time, Adaptol has quite a small amount of “syndrome”, just like Mebicar.

How are they transferred?

Experience shows that anxiolytics are well tolerated and side effects are rare. The following conditions may occur:

1. allergic reaction such as skin itching and rash;
2. decreased blood pressure;
3. increased body temperature;
4. nausea, abdominal discomfort.

These reactions are not a reason to stop therapy. Usually blood pressure and body temperature return to normal on their own. Only if an allergic rash and abdominal pain appears should you stop taking the drug and consult a doctor.

During treatment there is no addiction. Cancellation is well tolerated and no dosage adjustment is required.

pharmachologic effect

Allergic reactions (skin itching), at high doses - a short-term slight decrease in blood pressure, hyperthermia (increase in body temperature by 1–1.5 ° C), dyspeptic disorders.

A decrease in blood pressure and body temperature is not an indication for discontinuation of the drug and normalizes on its own.

Enhances the effect of sleeping pills and narcotic drugs.

Precautionary measures

Adaptol and Mebicar are not prescribed in the following situations:

1. pregnancy;
2. lactation period;
3. children under 18 years of age;
4. individual intolerance to the drug.

The drugs are low-toxic, and overdose is unlikely. Exceeding the dosage can lead to a sharp decrease in blood pressure, weakness and attacks of dizziness. When such symptoms appear, gastric lavage is indicated.

Prescription restrictions

It is prohibited to prescribe tablets if you have an individual intolerance to the components of the composition, as well as in the first trimester of pregnancy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI1wvPRmI8

At the discretion of the doctor, a tranquilizer can be prescribed to pregnant women from the second trimester.

It is important to note that the effect of Mebicar on the child’s body (including newborns) has not been fully determined, so the tranquilizer should be prescribed with caution and only under the supervision of a doctor. We are talking about both younger patients and women during lactation who are breastfeeding newborns.

Synonyms of nosological groups

4 years.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

The bioavailability level is 80%. Once in the blood, the active substance is bound by red blood cells (40% of the dose received), the rest of it remains free in the plasma. The highest concentration in the blood is observed 0.2 hours after oral administration, the same concentration is observed for 3-4 hours, after which the concentration begins to gradually decrease. Excreted by the kidneys (most of it) and intestines. Does not accumulate in the body.

The drug belongs to the class of anxiolytic, stress-protective, nootropic drugs. Improves oxygen supply to myocardial tissue; normalizes the disturbed electrolyte balance of the blood, the content of potassium ions in plasma, erythrocytes and myocardial cells; helps to enhance protein synthesis and increase the energy resources of the cell.

Regulates disturbed night sleep without having a direct hypnotic effect. It does not have an anticholinergic or muscle relaxant effect and does not impair coordination of movements. Eases or relieves nicotine withdrawal.

Belarusian generics

Belarusian generics are not so numerous, because it is impossible to list all the drugs. The table below contains the names of the most popular ones.

Over-the-counter options

Adaptol is an antidepressant, and it is quite natural that it is sold exclusively by prescription, however, you can also find over-the-counter drugs with similar effects in the pharmacy:

• Mebicar IC;
• Afobazole;
• Selank;
• Tranquilar IC.

However, you should not self-medicate, or independently replace a drug prescribed by a doctor, even if it is commercially available - only the doctor professionally compares the patient’s problem and contraindications to taking the drug.