The Indian Practioner, Vol: XXXIV No.7 July 1981
Fortege** in Common Geriatric
Complaints
V. S. NATARAJAN,* M.D., M.R.C.P (UK), F.I.C.A., F.C.C.P.
Consulting Physician in Geriatric & General Medicine, Madras.
Introduction
GERIATRIC MEDICINE is a new discipline in India. The problems of old people and their management require special attention and in many ways different from the management of geriatric patients in Western countries.
The common problems of aged persons in our country are mainly nutritional deficiencies irrespective of the person’s socioeconomic status, tuberculosis, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, general weakness, fatigue, poor sleep, flatulence, mild constipation and loss of memory. This study aims to asses the usefulness of Fortege, an Ayurvedic drug, in the relief of these complaints in geriatric practice.
Fortege
Fortege is described as a tonic for fatigue (nervous, muscular, sexual); keeps one fresh, alert and energetic; its ingredients help in toning up neuro-glandular sv, Arms; is said to help digestion and assimilation, correct flatulence and dyspepsia and to relieve mild constipation; helps in decongesting the congested pro-state and helps to relieve the associated micturition complaints.
Each tablet of Fortege contains:
| Kamboji(Breynia patens) | 56 mg. |
| Kuncha beej (Mucuna pruriens) | 30 mg. |
| Suddha Kachura (Curcuma zedcaria) | 30 mg. |
| Samudra sosh beej | 15 mg. |
| Varadhara beej (Argyria speciosa) | 15 mg. |
| Varadhara moo!, (Argyria speciosa) | 15 mg. |
| Asan (Withania somnifera) | 7.5 mg. |
| Vacha (Acorus calamus) | 7.5 mg. |
| Mari (Piper nigrum) | 7.5 mg. |
| Synth (Zingiber Officinalis) | 7.5 mg. |
| Chini Kabab (Cubebs Officinalis’ | 7.5 mg. |
| Kalkara (Anocyclus pyrethrum) | 7.5 mg. |
| Sukhadver (Santalum album) | 7.5 mg. |
| Jaifal, (Myristica fragrans) | 4.5 mg. |
| Javantri (Myristica fragrans arillus) | 3.0 mg. |
| Laving (Caryophyllus aromaticus) | 7.5 mg. |
Patients and Method
75 patients aged 60 years and more who attended my clinic during 1979-80 ‘A ere taken up for study. The following investigations were made: Urine & Stools examination, Chest X-ray, ECG, Blood Urea, Blood Sugar, routine blood examination. Patients with ailments like Diabetes, Hypertension, Depression, Cancer, and other diseases were excluded from the study. Fortege was given for 6 weeks to geriatric patients. Later, the same patient was put on a placebo for another 6 weeks. The results were then analyzed. They were again given a maintenance dose of Fortege.
Common Geriatric Complaints
Each patient had more than one complaint. Fatigue and lack of energy were present in 57 patients (76%). General weakness was present in 72 patients(9670) prostatic symptoms were present in 24 patients (32%); sexual weakness was present in 6 male patients (8%), failing memory was present in 24 patients(32%); poor sleep was present in 51 patients (68%); flatulence, dyspepsia, mild constipation were present in 24 patients (32%) They were 57 male patients and18 female patients, a total of 75 patients(Table I)
Table I
Common Geriatric Complaints N=75 (M=57; F=18)
| Complaints | Males | Females | Total | % |
| 1. Fatigue & Lack of energy | 45 | 12 | 57 | 76 |
| 2. General Weakness | 54 | 18 | 72 | 96 |
| 3. Prostatic Symptoms | 24 | – | 24 | 32 |
| 4. Sexual Weakness | 6 | – | 6 | 8 |
| 5. Poor Sleep | 39 | 12 | 51 | 68 |
| 6. Failing Memory | 18 | 6 | 24 | 32 |
| 7. Flatulence, Dyspepsia, Mild Constipation | 18 | 6 | 24 | 32 |
Results of Fortege Treatment
The results of 6 weeks of Fortege treatment are as follows:
Fatigue & Lack of Energy: There was a satisfactory improvement in 45 patients (78.9%) and poor improvement in 12 patients (21.1%).
General Weakness: There was a satisfactory improvement in 60 patients (83.3%) and poor improvement in 12 patients (16.7%).
Prostatic Symptoms: There was a satisfactory improvement in 18 patients (75.0%) and the improvement was poor in 6 patients (25.0%).
Sexual Weakness: 6 males had complained of sexual weakness. Three patients showed good improvement and three showed poor improvement.
Failing Memory: 9 patients had satisfactory improvement (37.5%), and improvement was poor in 15 patients (62.5%)
Poor Sleep: There was a satisfactory improvement in 36 patients (70.6%), and there was no change in 15 patients (29.4%).
Flatulence, Dyspepsia, Mild Constipation: There was a satisfactory improvement in 15 patients (62.5%) suffering from these complaints,
and there was very little change in 9 patients (37.5%).
The majority of the patients showed satisfactory improvement in common geriatric complaints in response to Fortege treatment.
Table II
Results of Fortege Treatment (6 weeks)
| Complaint | Good | % | Moderate | % | Total satisfactory improvement | % | Poor | % | Total | % |
| Fatigue,
Luck of Energy: |
21 | 36.8 | 24 | 42.1 | 45 | 78.9 | 12 | 26.7 | 57 | 100 |
| General Weakness: | 27 | 37.5 | 33 | 45.8 | 60 | 83.3 | 12 | 16.7 | 72 | 100 |
| Prostatic Symptoms: | 9 | 37.5 | 9 | 37.5 | 18 | 75.0 | 6 | 25.0 | 24 | 100 |
| Sexual Weakness: (Males) | 3 | 50.0 | – | 3 | 50.0 | 3 | 50.0 | 6 | 100 | |
| Failing Memory : | 6 | 25.0 | 3 | 12.5 | 9 | 37.5 | 15 | 62.5 | 24 | 100 |
| Poor Sleep : | 15 | 29.4 | 21 | 41.2 | 36 | 70.6 | 15 | 29.4 | 51 | 100 |
| Flatulence, Dyspepsia, Mild constipation: | 9 | 37.5 | 6 | 25.0 | 15 | 62.5 | 9 | 37.5 | 24 | 100 |
Follow Up
After 6 weeks of treatment with Fortege, all the 75 patients were given the only placebo, in the same dosage as Fortege„ for 6 weeks. The symptomatology deteriorated from week to week and by the end of six weeks of placebo treatment, 90% of the patients complained of symptoms they had before. They were again put on Fortege and they improved. After a further six weeks of Fortege treatment, they were put on a maintenance dose of 2 to 4 Fortege tabs. a day. The patients experienced a sense of well being.
There were no toxic or untoward effects observed with Fortege treatment
Conclusion
Foirtege, an Ayurvedic drug, is found useful in relieving Complaints Cornmcnly saw in geriatric practice.
Acknowledgement
I am thankful to Alarsin Pharmaceuticals, Bombay, for supplying Fortege tablets and the placebo required to carry out this clinical study.
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