Sequential therapy with Mexidol (parenteral) followed by Mexidol FORTE 250 mg (oral) notably enhances recovery of motor, sensory, cognitive, and other neurological functions among patients in the late recovery phase post-ischemic stroke, facilitating better social and domestic adaptation and increased participation in life and society.
Key Findings
Results
Patients receiving sequential Mexidol therapy showed statistically significant improvements in neurological deficit assessments compared to controls.
Group 1 (Mexidol) showed statistically significant improvements versus Group 2 (standard therapy only) on the Rivermead Mobility Index and the Scandinavian Stroke Scale
Study population consisted of 250 patients with ischemic stroke evaluated between 6 and 12 months post-event
Sample included 136 women and 114 men with mean age of 63±14 years (range 28-74 years)
Group 1 received Mexidol 500 mg (10 mL) parenterally for 14 days followed by Mexidol FORTE 250 mg orally three times daily for an additional two months
Results
Patients receiving sequential Mexidol therapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements in social and domestic adaptation compared to the control group.
Social and domestic adaptation was assessed using the Barthel Index
Group 1 received sequential Mexidol therapy added to standard therapy and medical rehabilitation
Group 2 received only standard therapy and medical rehabilitation without Mexidol
Improvements in the Barthel Index were statistically significant in Group 1 compared with Group 2
Results
Sequential Mexidol therapy was associated with statistically significant improvements in cognitive and emotional status and sleep quality in post-stroke patients.
Cognitive and emotional status assessments were conducted as part of the study protocol
Sleep quality was also assessed as an outcome measure
Group 1 showed statistically significant improvements in these indicators compared with the control group
These improvements were observed in patients in the late recovery phase (6-12 months post-ischemic stroke)
Results
Marked improvements were observed in key domains of functioning, task performance, and social participation according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in the Mexidol-treated group.
A comprehensive analysis of changes in functioning, activity, and participation was conducted in accordance with ICF domains
Group 1 showed marked improvements in functioning, task performance, and social participation compared to Group 2
ICF domain analysis provided a standardized framework for evaluating rehabilitation outcomes beyond traditional neurological scales
Improvements spanned motor, sensory, cognitive, and other neurological functions
Methods
Sequential therapy with Mexidol administered parenterally then orally was evaluated as a strategy to enhance standard medical rehabilitation in the late post-stroke recovery phase.
The treatment protocol involved an initial parenteral phase: Mexidol 500 mg (10 mL) for 14 days
This was followed by an oral phase: Mexidol FORTE 250 mg three times daily for two additional months
The sequential approach was added on top of standard therapy and medical rehabilitation in Group 1
The study targeted patients specifically in the late recovery phase, defined as 6 to 12 months post-ischemic stroke
What This Means
This research suggests that adding a specific drug treatment called Mexidol (ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate) to standard rehabilitation care can meaningfully improve recovery outcomes for people who have had an ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel). The study followed 250 stroke survivors who were between 6 and 12 months past their stroke event. Half received standard rehabilitation plus a two-part Mexidol regimen — first given by injection for two weeks, then taken as oral tablets three times daily for two more months — while the other half received only standard rehabilitation. Those who received Mexidol showed statistically significant improvements across multiple measures including physical mobility, neurological function, independence in daily activities, thinking and memory, emotional wellbeing, and sleep quality.
The study also evaluated outcomes using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), a standardized global framework that looks beyond symptoms to measure how well a person can perform everyday tasks and participate in social life. Patients receiving Mexidol showed marked improvements in these broader life participation measures as well, suggesting the benefits extended beyond clinical test scores to real-world functioning.
This research suggests that sequential Mexidol therapy — injectable followed by oral — may serve as a useful addition to standard post-stroke rehabilitation programs, particularly for patients still in the recovery window of 6 to 12 months after their stroke. The findings are notable because improvements were seen across a wide range of outcomes including movement, sensation, cognition, mood, and social participation, pointing to potential multi-faceted benefits of this treatment approach when combined with established rehabilitation methods.
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V. Koval'chuk, N. Molodovskaya, N. L. Samus, K. V. Nesterin, Eh.O. Amanova, I. V. Koval'chuk, et al.. (2026). [Enhancing medical rehabilitation outcomes for patients following ischemic stroke].. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202612608260