List of Russian drugs

This page is a list of Russian drugs, or drugs that were developed in Russia, the former Soviet Union, and/or post-Soviet countries.

Many Russian drugs are indicated for enhancing physical, mental, and/or cognitive performance, including drugs described as nootropics or cognitive enhancers, drugs combatting fatigue, so-called adaptogens or actoprotectors, and others.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

There have been concerns about Russian drugs in the Western world owing to lower standards of medical evidence in Russia compared to the West, for instance in the case of Russian COVID vaccines like Sputnik V.^[7][8]

Some Russian drugs have been attempted to be repurposed and developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the West, such as phenylpiracetam (fonturacetam), (R)-phenylpiracetam (MRZ-9547),^[9] Noopept (omberacetam),^[10] and armesocarb (the active enantiomer of mesocarb).^[11]

List of Russian drugs

• Aceclidine (Glaucostat, Glaunorm, Glaudin) – parasympathomimetic miotic
• Acetomepregenol (ACM; mepregenol diacetate; Diamol) – progestin
• Adapromine (1-(1′-adamantyl)propylamine; Etandan) – adamantane, antiviral, psychostimulant, antidepressant
• Alafen (alaphen, alafena; amphetamine–β-alanine) – amphetamine derivative, antiserotonergic^{[12][13][14][15]}
• Arabinopyranosyl-N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (Aranose, Aranoza) – antineoplastic agent
• Bemethyl (bemitil) – actoprotector
• Bromantane (Ladasten) – psychostimulant, antidepressant, anxiolytic, adaptogen/actoprotector, immunostimulant
• Butagest – progestin
• Carubicin – anthracycline antineoplastic agent
• Chlodantane (chlodantan; ADK-910) – adamantane, adaptogen/actoprotector, immunostimulant
• Chloracyzine – tricyclic antidepressant, phenothiazine, coronary vasodilator, antianginal
• Cortifen (cortiphen, kortifen, fencoron) – glucocorticoid, antineoplastic agent
• Corvalol (corvalolum, Korvalol) – tranquilizer related to valerian
• CoviVac – COVID vaccine
• Cytestrol acetate – antiestrogen, cytostatic antineoplastic agent
• Deltaran (delta sleep-inducing peptide) – alcohol withdrawal treatment
• Dilept (GZR-123) – antipsychotic
• Diucifon – leprostatic agent
• Emoxypine (Mexidol; Mexifin) – actoprotector, antioxidant
• EpiVacCorona – COVID vaccine
• Eprobemide (Befol) – antidepressant, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A
• Ethacizine (ethacyzine; Ethacizin) – antiarrhythmic agent
• Fabomotizole (Afobazole) – anxiolytic
• Feprosidnine (Sydnophen) – amphetamine derivative, psychostimulant
• Fluacizine (Phtorazisin) – tricyclic antidepressant, phenothiazine
• Fotretamine (Fotrin) – alkylating antineoplastic agent, immunosuppressant
• Gamofen (gamophen; amphetamine–GABA) – amphetamine derivative, GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue, central agent, central depressant^[16][12]
• Gidazepam (hydazepam, hidazepam) – atypical benzodiazepine, anxiolytic, TSPOTooltip translocator protein agonist/ligand
• Gludantan (gludantane) – adamantane, antiparkinsonian agent, antidepressant
• Glufimet (RGPU-238; dimethyl 3-phenylglutamate) – GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid and phenibut analogue
• Glutaron (RGPU-135; neuroglutamine, neuroglutam; β-phenylglutamate; 3-phenylglutamate) – glutamate analogue, psychostimulant, antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroprotective^{[17][18][19][20]}
• Hemantane (hymantane) – adamantane, antiparkinsonian agent
• Hopantenic acid (homopantothenic acid; N-pantoyl-GABA; Pantogam)^{[lower-alpha 1]} – central depressant, GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue
• Ipidacrine (Neiromidin) – acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
• Latrepirdine (dimebolin; Dimebon) – antihistamine, antiserotonergic, nootropic
• Mecigestone (pentarane B) – progestin
• Megestrol caproate (MGC) – progestin
• Meldonium (Mildronate) – anti-ischemia agent
• Menthyl isovalerate (validolum; Extravalerianic, Validol, Valofin, Menthoval) – anxiolytic
• Mesocarb (Sidnocarb, Sydnocarb, Synocarb) – amphetamine derivative, psychostimulant
• Methylphenatine – amphetamine derivative, psychostimulant^[21][22]
• Methylphenylpiracetam – racetam, sigma σ₁ receptor positive allosteric modulator
• α-Methyltryptamine (αMT; Indopan) – tryptamine derivative, antidepressant
• Metralindole (Inkazan) – antidepressant, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A
• Moracizine (moricizine; Ethmozine) – antiarrhythmic agent
• Nooglutyl (Nooglutil; N-5-hydroxynicotinoyl-L-glutamate) – nootropic
• Pabofen (pabophen; amphetamine–PABA) – amphetamine derivative, antihypoxic agent^[12][23][24]
• Pentarane A (D'6-pentarane) – progestin
• Phenatine (phenatin; Fenatine; amphetamine–niacin; N-nicotinoylamphetamine) – amphetamine derivative, psychostimulant, hypotensive agent
• Phenazepam – benzodiazepine, anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic
• Phenibut (β-phenyl-GABA; Anvifen, Fenibut, Noofen; Citrocard, RGPU-147) – central depressant, anxiolytic, GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue, gabapentinoid
• N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester (omberacetam; Noopept) – nootropic, racetam, cyclic glycine-proline prodrug
• Phenylphenamine (phenylamphetamine) – amphetamine derivative^[25]
• Phenylpiracetam (fonturacetam; Phenotropil, Actitropil, Carphedon) – psychostimulant, nootropic, racetam
• Phenylpiracetam hydrazide (fonturacetam hydrazide) – anticonvulsant, racetam
• Picamilon (N-nicotinoyl-GABA, pycamilon, and pikamilon) – anxiolytic, GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue
• Pipofezine (Azafen, Azaphen) – tricyclic antidepressant
• Pirlindole (Lifril, Pyrazidol) – antidepressant, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A, serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
• Polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate (PMSPH; methylsilicic acid hydrogel; Enterosgel) – enterosorbent
• Propylphenamine (propylamphetamine; possibly N-propylamphetamine) – amphetamine derivative^[25]
• Prospidium chloride (prospidine) – cytostatic, anti-inflammatory agent
• Pyridoxiphen (amphetamine–pyridoxine; pyridoxylamphetamine) – amphetamine derivative, sympatholytic, hypotensive agent
• Quifenadine (Phencarol, Fencarol) – antihistamine
• RGPU-95 (p-chlorophenylpiracetam) – antidepressant, anxiolytic, racetam^[26]
• RGPU-207 (cyclic GABA derivative) – GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue, mitochondrial modulator^[27]
• RGPU-260 – GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid analogue, cardiac stimulant^[28]
• Riamilovir (Triazavirin) – antiviral
• Selank – tuftsin analogue, nootropic, anxiolytic
• Semax – ACTHTooltip adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment analogue, nootropic, neuroprotective, neurorestorative
• Sodium polydihydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate (Hypoxen) – antihypoxic agent
• Sputnik Light – COVID vaccine
• Sputnik V – COVID vaccine
• Sulfozinum (sulfazin) – pyrogenic and pain-inducing agent used in psychiatry, for instance psychosis
• Temgicoluril (tetramethylglycoluril; Adaptol, Mebicar, Mebicarum, Mebikar) – anxiolytic
• Testifenon (testiphenon, testiphenone, chlorphenacyl dihydrotestosterone ester) – androgen/anabolic steroid, cytostatic antineoplastic agent
• Tetrindole – antidepressant, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A
• Thiophenatine (N-thionicotinoylamphetamine) – amphetamine derivative^[29][25]
• Tipindole – serotonin antagonist and monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• Tolibut (β-(4-methylphenyl)-GABA)) – anxiolytic, analgesic, neuroprotective, GABATooltip γ-aminobutyric acid and phenibut analogue
• Traneurocin (cycloprolylglycine; CPG; NA-831) – racetam-like neuroprotective, neurogenic, nootropic, and anxiolytic
• Trimeperidine – opioid analgesic
• Umifenovir (Arbidol) – antiviral
• Vishnevsky liniment – topical wound medication

Phenamine (Fenamin), a psychostimulant, is not specifically a Russian drug but the Russian name for amphetamine.^[30]

See also

• Russia and weapons of mass destruction § Chemical weapons

Notes

1. Originally Japanese development, an object of Russian interest at least since the early 1970s

References

1. Jędrejko K, Catlin O, Stewart T, Anderson A, Muszyńska B, Catlin DH (August 2023). "Unauthorized ingredients in "nootropic" dietary supplements: A review of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, international regulations, and potential as doping agents". Drug Test Anal. 15 (8): 803–839. doi:10.1002/dta.3529. PMID 37357012.
2. Voronina, T. A. (2023). "Cognitive Impairment and Nootropic Drugs: Mechanism of Action and Spectrum of Effects". Neurochemical Journal. 17 (2). Pleiades Publishing Ltd: 180–188. doi:10.1134/s1819712423020198. ISSN 1819-7124.
3. Napoletano F, Schifano F, Corkery JM, Guirguis A, Arillotta D, Zangani C, Vento A (2020). "The Psychonauts' World of Cognitive Enhancers". Front Psychiatry. 11: 546796. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.546796. PMC 7516264. PMID 33024436.
4. Jansone B, Kuum M, Maciulaitis R (November 2016). "Pharmacology in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: From historical roots to nowadays achievements". Pharmacol Res. 113 (Pt B): 723–730. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.04.024. PMID 27168226.
5. Oliynyk S, Oh S (September 2012). "The pharmacology of actoprotectors: practical application for improvement of mental and physical performance". Biomol Ther (Seoul). 20 (5): 446–456. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2012.20.5.446. PMC 3762282. PMID 24009833.
6. Akarachkova ES (2011). "Chronic Fatigue and Approaches to Its Treatment". Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology. 41 (9). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 899–905. doi:10.1007/s11055-011-9506-6. ISSN 0097-0549.
7. Lovelace, Berkeley Jr. (11 August 2020). "Scientists worry whether Russia's 'Sputnik V' coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective". CNBC. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
8. Eckel, Mike (15 April 2021). "Good Science, Bad Marketing? Russia's Sputnik Vaccine Is Plagued By Controversy, Missteps". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
9. "MRZ 9547". AdisInsight. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
10. "Omberacetam". AdisInsight. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
11. "Armesocarb - Melior Pharmaceuticals". AdisInsight. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
12. Aleksandrova AY, Smirnova SM (1968). "[Pharmacological characteristics of the condensation product of Fenamin [amphetamine] and γ-aminobutyric acid]" (PDF). Farmakologiya I Toksikologiya. 31 (5): 525–526.
13. Masiuta GF, Pesina KG (1965). "K farmakologii alafena, produkta kondensatsii fenamina s beta-alaninom" [Concerning pharmacology of alaphen, a product of phenamine and beta-alanine condensation]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 28 (5): 517–520. PMID 5875806.
14. Masiuta GF (1966). "Vliianie alafena na nekotorye funktsii tsentral'noĭ nervnoĭ sistemy" [Effect of alaphen on some functions of central nervous system]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 29 (5): 524–527. PMID 5995061.
15. Arbuzov SI, Masiuta GF (1968). "Ob antiserotoninovom deĭstvii alafena" [On the antiserotonin effect of alaphen]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 31 (5): 527–529. PMID 5707720.
16. Kopelevich VM (31 July 1979). "Advances in the Search for Medicinal Drugs Based on γ-Aminobutyric Acid". Russian Chemical Reviews. 48 (7). Autonomous Non-profit Organization Editorial Board of the journal Uspekhi Khimii: 679–691. Bibcode:1979RuCRv..48..679K. doi:10.1070/rc1979v048n07abeh002392. ISSN 0036-021X. Gamophen (XLVII), the product of the condensation of GABA with phenamine, readily permeates through HEB and inhibits the orienting effects in white mice. The preparation has a hypothermic activity and potentiates the action of barbamyl and chloral hydrate, but, in contrast to the majority of depressants, it enhances the convulsant activity of corazole168.
17. Tiurenkov IN, Bagmetova VV, Chernysheva IV, Iarkova MA (2013). "[Some aspects of the psychostimulant effect of a phenyl derivative of glutamic acid (RGPU-135, glutarone) in experimental animals]". Eksp Klin Farmakol (in Russian). 76 (11): 7–12. PMID 24555226.
18. Bagmetova VV, Chernysheva IV, Merkushenkova OV, Berestovitskaia VM, Tiurenkov IN (2013). "[Antidepressant properties of beta-phenylglutamic acid hydrochloride (RGPU-135, glutarone) in comparison to imipramine, tianeptine, and fluoxetine]". Eksp Klin Farmakol (in Russian). 76 (3): 7–9. PMID 23767095.
19. Tyurenkov IN, Bagmetova VV, Chernyshova YV, Merkushenkova OV (December 2014). "Dose-dependent effects of β-phenylglutamic acid hydrochloride (RGPU-135, neuroglutam) on animal behavior". Bull Exp Biol Med. 158 (2): 229–233. doi:10.1007/s10517-014-2729-0. PMID 25432279.
20. Tyurenkov IN, Bagmetova VV, Chernysheva YV, Merkushenkova OV (April 2014). "Comparison of neurotropic effects of L-glutamic acid and its new derivative β-phenylglutamic acid hydrochloride (RGPU-135, glutarone)". Bull Exp Biol Med. 156 (6): 781–784. doi:10.1007/s10517-014-2449-5. PMID 24824696.
21. Guchok MM (1955). "K sravnitel'noi farmakologicheskoi kharakteristike fenatina i metilfenatina" [Comparative pharmacological characteristics of phenatine and methylphenatine]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 18 (5): 17–23. PMID 13294194.
22. Guchok MM (1968). "Vliianie fenatina i metilfenatina na deiatel'nost' vysshikh otdelov tsentral'noĭ nervnoĭ sistemy belykh krys" [Effect of phenatine and methylphenatine on the higher nervous activity in albino rats]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 31 (1): 3–5. PMID 4233970.
23. Arbuzov SI, Generalov VI (1967). "Eksperimental'noe izuchenie farmakologicheskikh svoĭstv pabofena" [An experimental study of the pharmacological properties of pabophen]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 30 (1): 51–55. PMID 5594359.
24. Nikiforov MI, Azhubalis VA, Generalov BI (1968). "Vliianie pabofena na bioélektricheskuiu aktivnost' golovnogo mozga" [Effect of pabophen on the bioelectric activity of the brain]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 31 (6): 647–650. PMID 5713573.
25. Central Intelligence Agency Office of Scientific Intelligence (9 November 1959). "Scientific Intelligence Report: Soviet Research on Radiological Safety". CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov). Retrieved 29 September 2024. A few others have been suggested as having some therapeutic effect but this has not been shown adequately. These include [...] phenatine (benzedrine plus niacin), [...] Appendix C: Substances Investigated for Prophylactic Effect Against Irradiation: [...] phenatine [...] thiophenatine [...] propylphenamine [...] phenamine [...] methylphenatine [...] methylphenatine [...] phenylphenamine [...]
26. Tiurenkov IN, Bagmetova VV, Shishkina AV, Berestovitskaia VM, Vasil'eva OS, Ostrogliadov ES (November 2010). "[Gender differences in action Fenotropil and its structural analog--compound RGPU-95 on anxiety-depressive behavior animals]". Eksp Klin Farmakol (in Russian). 73 (11): 10–14. PMID 21254591.
27. Mokrousov IS, Perfilova VN, Prokofiev II, Popova TA, Vodopyanova EG, Vasil'eva OS, Tyurenkov IN (July 2019). "Effect of a new cyclic derivative of GABA, RGPU-207, on the functions of cardiac and cerebral mitochondria of stressed animals". J Pharm Pharmacol. 71 (7): 1055–1064. doi:10.1111/jphp.13086. PMID 30864160.
28. Kustova MV, Perfilova VN, Prokofiev II, Tyurenkov IN (March 2021). "Effect of RGPU-260, a Novel GABA Derivative, on Functional Reserves of Rat Heart after Chronic Alcohol Intoxication". Bull Exp Biol Med. 170 (5): 631–635. doi:10.1007/s10517-021-05121-7. PMID 33788110.
29. Arbuzov SI (1956). "K farmakologii tiofenatina" [Pharmacology of thiophenatine]. Farmakol Toksikol (in Russian). 19 (1): 16–21. PMID 13318005.
30. Jablonski, S.; Leonard, R.M.; National Library of Medicine (U.S.) (1961). Russian Drug Index. Public Health Service publication. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service. p. 40. Retrieved 5 October 2024. PHENAMINE (Fenamin) Synonyms: Actedron, Adipan. Allodene. Amphetamine. Benzedrine, Elastonon. Isoamyne. Isomym, Mecodrin, Norephedrane. Phenedrine, Profamina, Propisamine. Psychedrine, Simpatedrin, Sympamine. Sympatedrine. Phosphate : Actemin. Amphetamine Phosphate. Monophos. Raphetamine Phosphate. Sulfate : Atentol, Amphetamine Sulfate, Fenamin. Phenamine, Psychoton, Simpamina. d-l-phenyl-2-aminopropane (phosphate or sulfate): [Chemical structure] [...]

Further reading

• Jablonski, S.; Leonard, R.M.; National Library of Medicine (U.S.) (1961). Russian Drug Index. Public Health Service publication. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service. Retrieved 5 October 2024.