Piracetam in the treatment of post-concussional syndrome. A double-blind study

Eur Neurol. 1978;17(1):50-5. doi: 10.1159/000114922.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Brain Concussion / complications*
  • Brain Concussion / drug therapy
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Evaluation
  • Fatigue / drug therapy
  • Headache / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / drug therapy
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy
  • Neurasthenia / drug therapy
  • Neurologic Manifestations
  • Piracetam / adverse effects
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use*
  • Placebos
  • Pyrrolidinones / therapeutic use*
  • Syndrome
  • Tremor / drug therapy
  • Vertigo / drug therapy

Substances

  • Placebos
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • Piracetam