Abstract: The present invention relates to novel pharmaceutical compositions having antiepileptic and antineuraglic action and containing (a) at least one anticonvulsive compound of the general formula I ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen having an atomic number up to 35, or is cyano, and X.sub.2 and Y together are an additional bond, or X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 together are the oxo radical, or X.sub.1 is hydroxy, X.sub.2 is hydrogen and Y is also hydrogen, and (b) at least one nootropic compound of the vincamine type which has the general formula II ##STR2## wherein Z.sub.1 is lower alkoxycarbonyl, Z.sub.2 is hydroxy and Z.sub.3 is hydrogen, or Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3 together are an additional bond, or one of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 is hydroxy and the other is hydrogen and Z.sub.3 is also hydrogen, in particular vincamine (DCI rec.), in which Z.sub.1 is methoxycarbonyl, Z.sub.2 is hydroxy and Z.sub.3 is hydrogen, and also e.g., vinpocetin (DCI rec.), in which Z.sub.1 is ethoxycarbonyl and Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preventing or treating cerebral insufficiency, which method comprises administering to a human being in need of such treatment, orally or rectally, a prophylactic or a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the general formula I ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen having an atomic number up to 35, or is cyano, and X.sub.2 and Y together are an additional bond, or X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 together are the oxo radical and Y is hydrogen, or X.sub.1 is hydroxy and X.sub.2 and Y are hydrogen. Examples of suitable compounds are 10,11-dihyro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide, 10,11-dihydro-10-oxo-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide and, in particular, carbamazepine (5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide).