CLINICAL EFFICACY OF ALMITRINE-RAUBASINE - AN OVERVIEW

Different pharmacological properties of almitrine-raubasine show that this combination may be a good therapy for the treatment of age-relate d cerebral disorders and functional rehabilitation after stroke. Many clinical studies have been carried out in France and in the rest of Eu rope, confirming the value of this compound in such situations. Withou t discussing the complexity of clinical trials in both the areas of co gnitive disorders and stroke, we shall present two studies demonstrati ng the beneficial effects of almitrine-raubasine against cognitive imp airments. The first is a double-blind controlled study versus placebo with a 3-month follow-up period involving patients (aged between 60 an d 85) with memory loss, lack of concentration, impaired mental altertn ess, and emotional instability. The second is a controlled multicenter study of 155 outpatients (age 70-85) presenting with cognitive declin e (assessed by MMSE, SCAG). In both these studies, almitrine-raubasine significantly improved symptomatology and was superior to placebo, es pecially in the vascular cases. This confirms the validity of previous studies and justifies the indication of these compounds in the treatm ent of age-related cognitive disorders. Other studies also demonstrate d the beneficial effect of this compound on neurosensory vascular diso rders, with specific studies carried out on chorioretinal dysfunctions (visual symptomatology) and in vestibular disorders (vertigo associat ed with electronystagmographic modifications). The appropriate and usu al dosage (2 tablets per day) and the good tolerance of the compound h ave been confirmed in a French multicentric study in 5,361 outpatients .