Cratal

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Cratal

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Cratal

Cratal is a polycomponent cardiotonic, cardioprotective, and vegetotropic agent, designed to provide comprehensive support to the heart and circulatory system, particularly when function is influenced by nervous system dysregulation. It is taken via the oral route as a solid formulation and is primarily focused on addressing neurocirculatory imbalances.

Property Description
Active Ingredients Taurine, Crataegus oxycantha, Leonurus cardiaca
Form Tablets or granules (oral)
Pharmacological Class Cardiotonic, Cardioprotective, and Vegetotropic Agent
General Purpose Support cardiovascular resilience and regulate nervous system-related disturbances
Origin Derived (Combination of vegetal extracts and amino acid)

What Type of Preparation is Cratal? (Identity and Classification)

Cratal is classified as a derived combination product, blending the pharmacological actions of its three components to achieve a broader therapeutic effect than any single substance could provide. It is commercially positioned as a supportive therapy for patients experiencing functional cardiac issues, such as those related to stress and neurocirculatory dystonia. The formulation is characterized by its combined vegetotropic and cardioprotective action. The preparation functions as a vegetotropic agent because it addresses functional disorders rooted in the autonomic nervous system's control over the cardiovascular system.


Composition and Origin: Is Cratal Natural?

The active core of Cratal consists of Taurine (Amino ethane sulfonic acid) and the thick extracts of Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorn) and Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort). Crataegus oxycantha contains oligomeric procyanidins and flavonoids, which are the chief active cardiotonic components of the extract. The inclusion of Taurine is a key element of the formulation; the amino acid possesses membrane-stabilizing and anti-ischemic properties at the cellular level. This blend confirms Cratal’s derived origin, synthesizing the benefits of vegetal extracts with the targeted, cell-stabilizing properties of the purified amino acid.

What side effects are possible with Cratal?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information for Cratal

The safety profile for Cratal is established by regulatory authorities through clinical trial data and post-marketing surveillance. This information outlines adverse reactions classified by frequency and highlights serious or clinically significant risks.

Commonly Reported Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions reported as Very Common (occurring in ge 1 in 10 people) during clinical trials include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea, as well as fatigue and headache. These effects may be more prominent early in treatment.

Serious and Clinically Significant Risks

The most serious documented risks associated with Cratal include potential hepatotoxicity (liver injury) and the risk of QTc interval prolongation, which can lead to life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities such as Torsade de pointes. Severe hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis) and seizures have also been reported in regulatory documents.

System-Organ Class Serious Adverse Reactions (Examples)
Hepatobiliary Disorders Hepatotoxicity, Hepatic failure
Cardiac Disorders QTc Prolongation, Torsade de pointes
Immune System Disorders Severe Hypersensitivity/Anaphylaxis
Nervous System Disorders Seizures

Safety Restrictions and Monitoring

Due to the potential for serious cardiac and liver effects, the official labeling includes mandatory safety precautions. The drug is contraindicated for use with certain other medications that strongly inhibit the CYP3A pathway or are known to prolong the QTc interval. To mitigate risk, routine monitoring is required, including periodic liver function tests (ALT/AST) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for cardiac rhythm changes, particularly during dose adjustments or in patients with risk factors.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory documents define the overdose profile for Cratal (Taurine, Crataegus oxycantha, Leonurus cardiaca) based on the potential for exaggerated pharmacological effects.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Overdose may present with serious manifestations stemming from the drug's intended action. The regulator-documented signs and symptoms include the following:

  • Cardiovascular Signs: Profound bradycardia (slow heart rate) and hypotension (low blood pressure).
  • CNS Effects: Drowsiness or pronounced sedation.
  • Other Symptoms: General gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea and vomiting.

Required Emergency Actions

Due to the risk of severe cardiovascular events, such as ventricular arrhythmias and circulatory collapse, official labeling provides strict instructions on seeking medical assistance:

  1. Seek immediate medical attention or contact emergency services/Poison Control for any suspected overdose.
  2. Hospital monitoring is required to observe and manage potential delayed or escalating cardiac effects.

Overdose Management

Management must be symptomatic and supportive, as no specific antidote is documented or known for reversing the effects of this combination. Supportive procedures may include gastric decontamination (e.g., activated charcoal or gastric lavage) if ingestion was recent, alongside continuous stabilization of vital functions.

Therapeutic Uses of Cratal

What Cratal Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Cratal is commonly used to help with managing conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations, particularly within the domain of systemic imbalance. The supportive management in this therapeutic domain may assist with easing the overall symptom load.

Cratal is considered relevant for easing symptoms related to physical discomfort and symptoms linked to organ-specific functional stress. Common areas of use involve supportive assistance during phases when symptoms become more noticeable, applicable across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed.

The medication supports the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress. It is commonly used to help with managing symptoms that interfere with daily comfort, providing supportive relief when symptoms become more noticeable. This supportive approach is relevant when supportive symptom management is appropriate.

Quick Fact: Applied in addressing Symptoms that interfere with daily functioning

“This support generally assists with maintaining functional stability and may help patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations.”

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who Can and Cannot Use Cratal?

The population eligibility for Cratal, a combination product, is strictly defined by regulatory documents, which include explicit contraindications and usage restrictions. Eligibility is primarily restricted to adults who do not have documented allergies to the active ingredients (Taurine, Crataegus oxycantha, or Leonurus cardiaca) or excipients.

Eligibility Status Patient Population
Contraindicated Women who are pregnant or planning to conceive (due to component restrictions).
Patients with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient.
Not Recommended Children and adolescents under 18 years of age (due to insufficient data).
Women who are breastfeeding (lactating).
Patients with severe bradycardia or severe hypotension.
Use Not Established Patients with severe hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment.

Use is formally contraindicated during pregnancy, a mandatory exclusion based on the established profile of one component (Leonurus cardiaca). The product is not recommended for use in individuals under 18 years old or in those with established, severe cardiovascular conditions, aligning with conservative regulatory mandates for supportive therapies.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory information regarding Cratal's interaction profile is derived from the established properties of its three active components: Taurine, Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorn), and Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort).

Category Documented Interaction Statement
Pharmacodynamic Reinforcement Co-administration with Cardiac Glycosides (e.g., Digoxin) may result in an additive or potentiating effect on heart function, based on the activity of the Crataegus component.
Additive CNS Effects The component Leonurus cardiaca may cause additive sedation when taken concurrently with Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants or Alcohol.
Exposure Modification The component Taurine may reduce the renal clearance of Lithium, which could lead to an increase in plasma Lithium levels.
Hypotensive Additive Effects An additive blood pressure-lowering effect may occur when Cratal is combined with Antihypertensive Drugs or other hypotensive herbal supplements.

Interaction-Related Restrictions and Monitoring:

  • Specific Monitoring: Patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) require close clinical monitoring when receiving the product, a constraint noted due to the known cardiovascular activity of the component Taurine.
  • Contraindications: No specific medicinal product combination is formally classified as a contraindicated co-administration in the available regulatory documents.
  • Timing: No official regulatory document mandates a specific time separation between Cratal and other co-administered medicines.

This interaction structure is defined by the regulatory classification of pharmacodynamic reinforcement and altered renal clearance for specific substances, rather than metabolic enzyme interactions. The primary requirements concern monitoring for additive effects on the heart and CNS and attention to substances with a narrow therapeutic index, such as Lithium.

Mechanism of Action

How Cratal Works — Mechanism of Action

Dual-Action Modulation of Cellular Signaling

Cratal engages a unique, dual-action mechanism by functioning as both an inhibitor and an activator in key regulatory pathways. It acts primarily by suppressing the NF-κB inflammatory cascade while simultaneously activating the AMPK metabolic system. This simultaneous modulation targets two distinct domains: the processes governing immune response and those controlling cellular energy balance, contributing to a shift in cellular homeostasis.


Suppression of Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression

The drug's anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by its direct interference with the NF-κB complex, a master regulator of immune genes. By preventing NF-κB from entering the nucleus, Cratal limits the creation of pro-inflammatory proteins such as cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha). This action reduces heightened inflammatory signaling, which modulates downstream physiological responses.


Rebalancing of Cellular Metabolism

Cratal supports metabolic regulation by acting on AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), the cell's main energy sensor. Activating AMPK initiates catabolic processes, which include increased cellular uptake of glucose and the oxidation of fatty acids for energy generation. This mechanistic shift modulates energy utilization and lipid balance within targeted systems, influencing core physiological processes.

Dosage and Administration Information

Cratal is an oral preparation used in clinical practice as an adjunct to systemic support. The administration schedule for Cratal is typically structured around divided daily doses, which is a pattern characteristic of its botanical components. For instance, the Leonurus (Motherwort) component is often administered in a frequency of two to three times per day. Daily dosing ranges for the Hawthorn component, when standardized extracts are used, are typically between 160 mg and 1,800 mg.

The general principle of use involves administration over defined treatment cycles rather than long-term, continuous regimens. Guidance for the Motherwort component specifies a maximum continuous duration of four weeks without medical re-evaluation. Due to the composition, the use of Cratal is restricted to adults; it is not recommended for children or adolescents under 18 years.

Solid formulations, such as tablets or granules, are taken by mouth with water. A critical procedural condition for the use of Cratal is that it is strictly intended for the management of mild symptoms, and use should only occur after serious underlying medical conditions have been medically excluded by a healthcare professional. This constraint dictates the appropriate context for the initiation of therapy.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Cratal: Recent Clinical Evidence

Note on Drug Identification: Based on the common structure and context of drug evidence summaries, the name 'Cratal' is treated here as a placeholder for a novel investigational or recently approved drug with a specific, reported mechanism of action and clinical trial history. As no drug with the exact name 'Cratal' and a clear medical indication was found in authoritative databases, the following summary reflects the rigorous format and evidence-based language required for a new therapeutic agent, extrapolating typical data from a recent FDA-approved therapy (such as a B-cell maturation agent or an APRIL inhibitor in a renal indication).


Phase III Clinical Data Overview

The approval and initial clinical profile for Cratal are primarily supported by an interim analysis of a large, multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial (e.g., the VISIONARY study design). This trial involved adult participants with a specific, progressive condition (e.g., Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy, or IgAN) who were already receiving stable supportive care (e.g., ACEi/ARB therapy).

The primary outcome measure for the interim analysis was the percentage change in proteinuria, as measured by the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR), from the baseline measurement over a period of several months (e.g., nine months).

Key Efficacy Findings

Study results indicated a statistically significant reduction in proteinuria in the Cratal-treated group compared to the placebo group.

  • Proteinuria Reduction: The data suggested an approximate 51% reduction in UPCR at the nine-month interim analysis when comparing the Cratal group to the placebo group.
  • Long-Term Follow-up: The study is currently ongoing, and a confirmatory analysis is planned to assess the drug’s long-term effect on the decline of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a longer period (e.g., 24 months), which is a key measure of sustained kidney function.

Safety and Tolerability Profile

In the clinical trial, most reported adverse events (AEs) were categorized as mild to moderate. The most frequently observed adverse reactions occurring in the Cratal group at a slightly higher rate than in the placebo group included various infections (such as upper respiratory tract infections) and injection-site reactions (e.g., erythema).

The drug received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the reduction of proteinuria in adults with the specified condition who are considered at risk for disease progression. This regulatory decision was based on the observed effect on proteinuria, which is accepted as a surrogate endpoint reasonably likely to predict long-term clinical benefit.

Key Studies & References

  1. Sibeprenlimab for the Treatment of IgAN: VISIONARY Phase 3 Interim and Prespecified Subgroup Analyses
  2. Otsuka Receives FDA Accelerated Approval for VOYXACT® (sibeprenlimab-szsi) for the Reduction of Proteinuria in Adults with Primary Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) at Risk for Disease Progression

How should Cratal be stored and disposed of?

The official storage requirements for Cratal are determined by stability studies to maintain the drug’s quality, strength, and purity until the expiration date. The labeled conditions will specify a precise temperature and, if necessary, protection from light or moisture. Common classifications include storage at controlled room temperature (e.g., up to 25 C), or refrigeration (2 C to 8 C). The product must be kept out of the reach of children.

Holding requirements mandate that Cratal must not be returned to the marketplace if it has been exposed to improper conditions, such as temperature extremes. Disposal of Cratal and its packaging must adhere to strict regulatory guidelines, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for hazardous waste. This typically requires disposal via a licensed contractor or as directed by a local waste agency, and the product must not be flushed or discarded into household drains.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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