Emoxypine

Emoxypine (2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine), also known as Mexidol or Mexifin when used as the succinate salt, is an antioxidant manufactured in Russia by Pharmasoft Pharmaceuticals. Its chemical structure resembles that ofpyridoxine (a type of vitamin B6). It is not approved for any medical use in the United States or Europe.

Emoxypine was first synthesized by L.D. Smirnov and K.M. Dumayev, then studied and developed in the Institute of Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and National Scientific Center of Bioactive Substances Safety.

In Russia, emoxypine has a wide range of applications in medical practice. It purportedly exercises anxiolytic,anti-stress,anti-alcohol, anticonvulsant, nootropic, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory action.[citation needed]Emoxypine presumably improves cerebral blood circulation, inhibits thrombocyte aggregation,lowers cholesterol levels, hascardioprotective and antiatherosclerotic action.

One study determined the effectiveness of emoxypine in 205 patients with clinical manifestations of lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR). Patients were divided into two groups, and further were divided into subgroups depending on the presence of motor disturbances. All patients received a course of conventional medical treatment and physiotherapy; main group additionally received emoxypine. Thereafter, clinical-neurological control of long-term results of treatment in subgroups of patients was performed. The results showed that the use of emoxypine in the combined therapy of patients with LSR led to significant and persistent reduction of severity of pain syndrome and rapid recovery of function of spinal roots and peripheral nerves compared with conventional therapy.