ABSTRACT
Caffeinol--a combination of ethanol and caffeine in appropriate concentrations--exerts neuroprotective and anticonvulsive action. Research conducted on rats in models of ischemic brain damage have shown that caffeinol decreases the size of cortical damage by about 80%, improves motional coordination and memory. The sooner caffeinol was administered, the better were beneficial therapeutic effects. What is more, the medicine may be safely combined with other methods used in stroke treatment, such as hypothermia and thrombolysis, what additionally increases its neuroprotective influence. Research on people have shown that caffeinol is less effective as neuroprotective agent in patients abusing alcohol, while chronic intake of caffeine does not influence its activity. Mechanism of its activity is not known yet, however, it is assumed that it bases on an antagonism of NMDA receptors. Regarding the fact that the most of strokes in humans concern subcortical areas, it is justified to conduct further research on caffeinol, which would involve other brain structures, thus allowing to define its use in clinical practice.
