Validol: is it harmful, what are the consequences of an overdose?

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are in first place worldwide in terms of the frequency of fatal situations, leaving emergency neurological conditions and even cancer far behind. The level of technical development of the country and life does not play a big role.

During urgent periods, when the question of the patient’s possible death and further prognosis is at stake, the use of medications is required to normalize the nutrition and respiration of the muscle fibers of the heart - the myocardium in the first place.

And here medications like Nitroglycerin are usually used. And this is not a guarantee of a positive result, but the chances are good.

In Russian medical practice (the same feature was adopted by neighbors in the former Union), for some reason preference is given to more controversial drugs with already proven low effectiveness.

Moreover, it is not only patients and ordinary people who have nothing to do with medicine who “sin” like this, but also doctors and specialists.

Validol is a menthol-based medicine, perhaps the most popular remedy, which, as they say, “both in the feast and in the world.”

As the average person assumes, this is a panacea for heart attack, angina pectoris and much more. In fact, its beneficial effect is too small and its use is possible in a strictly limited number of cases.

Composition and mechanism of action

The basis of the medication is a menthol solution. This is the key component. The drug is available in liquid form (drops), but more often you can find it as lozenges (sublingually, under the tongue) and capsules.

Tablets often contain glucose and sucrose; (which diabetics should remember) capsules do not have this deficiency.

The effect is always approximately the same. Menthol leads to irritation of nerve endings (for example, in the oral mucosa), provokes the release of specific substances, and activates some physiological processes.

Several results are achieved:

• Anesthesia. Due to the production of large amounts of enkephalins and endorphins, special substances that reduce the body’s susceptibility to negative stimulation. In particular, sensitivity to pain decreases (antianginal effect).

However, this is not an axiom; it all depends on the source and intensity. It is impossible to cope with angina pectoris and heart attacks with Validol alone.

• Sedative effect. It's a sedative. Achieved due to the presence of menthol in the composition. Used in the treatment of panic attacks and minor anxiety disorders.
• Dilatation of arteries and capillaries. The action is achieved due to a reflex decrease in the tone of blood vessels, and, accordingly, their walls.

This is also an imperfect effect, it is not predictable enough and is based on a purely physiological reaction, the intensity of which depends on the body of a particular patient and many surrounding, accompanying conditions.

Accordingly, partial normalization of blood flow through the coronary arteries to the myocardium and through the vessels to the brain is achieved.

The composition of Validol makes it a mild drug with a predominantly sedative effect. In the full sense, calling it a cardiac medicine and even a medicine can be done with a great degree of convention.

How to take it correctly?

What does the herbal composition of Validol help with, and how to take it? When coming to the pharmacy, every person who decides to self-medicate must clarify the specifics of taking any drug.

Important! In order not to take risks and take care of your health, it is recommended to first undergo an examination by a doctor, who will prescribe therapy taking into account all the individual characteristics of the patient.

As for Validol, according to the instructions, take 1 tablet up to 3 times a day. If you use the capsule (sublingual) form of the drug, you can take 1 capsule up to 4 times a day. The main thing is not to exceed the permissible dosage. The maximum intake limit is 4 times a day, 1 tablet.

Taking a pill

The length of time you take the drug depends on the symptoms you have. Be sure to place the capsule or tablet under the tongue until completely dissolved. The effect of taking the medicine should be relatively quick. As the manufacturers promise, relief occurs within 5 minutes after administration.

If a person has serious problems with the cardiovascular system, then he always needs to have a Nitroglycerin tablet with him. Validol is not effective for a heart attack, but it can relieve headaches after taking this medicine.

What does Validol help with?

Indications for use are described in the instructions. If we consider the reasons, we can draw some conclusions.

• Angina pectoris. In this case, the issue is more than controversial. Coronary insufficiency (another name) is accompanied by impaired myocardial nutrition.

At best, the drug will alleviate the pain, but will not allow you to cope with the source of the problem.

This means that it cannot be considered a first aid medicine, and therefore the indication is very controversial.

• Cardialgia. The generalized name for heart pain (read how to distinguish heart pain from others here.). In this case, it would be more correct to say what kind of discomfort can be relieved in this way.

Validol helps against neurogenic cardialgia, but not in the treatment of heart attack, angina pectoris, or other similar phenomena.

• Neurosis, panic attack. Accompanied by pronounced vegetative moments. Nausea, feeling of fear, dizziness, weakness. Possible loss of consciousness.

Validol tablets allow you to relieve disorders, have a mild sedative effect, normalize the patient’s condition, and therefore can be recommended for first aid.

Preference is given to the tablet form, for the reason that the effect is achieved after 5 minutes or even faster.

• Motion sickness on water (sea sickness) and air transport. The syndrome is of reflex origin and is extremely painful for patients. The medication is used as a first aid measure.
• Headaches from heart and some other drugs.

The described causes, such as neurogenic cardialgia, motion sickness and neuroses with panic attacks, are key indications for which Validol helps well. In the context of such, it should be considered as a drug.

What is vegetative-vascular dystonia, and how to treat it?

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In the ever-memorable Soviet times, there was a joke about general practitioners who, in response to any patient complaints, gave a three-letter diagnosis - acute respiratory infections. Times have changed, and three letters have changed, now the universal diagnosis of therapists looks like “VSD” - vegetative-vascular dystonia. Medical statistics show that up to 70% of all visits to a therapist end with this diagnosis.

• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• What to do during attacks?
• Diet
• Prevention

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is, by and large, not a disease, but a set of symptoms, one of the conditions of the body, characterized by malaise. In fact, whether a condition that, according to various estimates, “suffers” from 30 to 60% of the world’s population is considered a disease is a debatable question. Finding a clear definition of what vascular dystonia is is almost impossible. Let's try to figure out what kind of illness this is.

Let's start with the name. Dystonia is a permanent spasmodic muscle contraction that occurs due to a number of factors. The autonomic system is an autonomous (not directly subordinate to the brain) part of the nervous system. The autonomic system is responsible for the functioning of internal organs, breathing, blood circulation, digestion and metabolism.

Well, there’s probably no need to explain what vessels are. Now everyone knows about the internal “pipeline” of the body, which pumps blood throughout the body, carrying life-giving oxygen and necessary nutrients to tissue cells.

The name vegetative-vascular dystonia refers to a whole range of symptoms, including:

• pain in the heart area
• periodic pain under the left shoulder blade
• numbness in hands
• dizziness, weakness
• fainting
• headache
• tremor (shaking) in the limbs
• feeling of constriction in the throat at rest, difficulty breathing
• cold hands and feet
• sweating
• cardiopalmus
• redness, or vice versa, paleness of the face
• frequent yawning due to lack of air
• feelings of fear and anxiety
• abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea.

Diagnostics

In addition to therapists, the diagnosis of “vascular dystonia” is also made by neurologists, cardiologists and therapists. Although VSD is a very common diagnosis, it should not be taken lightly: the symptoms of VSD may indicate the approach of extremely serious diseases, including cardiovascular diseases.

What is the nervous system responsible for?

If you have been diagnosed with this, do not be lazy to undergo electrocardiography, ultrasound examination of the heart, and electroencephalographic examination of the brain. This is the case when it is better to be overly cautious than to later pay for the consequences with your own health, or even worse.

Based on the results of a series of examinations, the doctor can prescribe treatment, which should never be neglected. Moreover, the prescribed treatment will most likely be outpatient - that is, you will be treated without hospitalization.

Treatment

There are various approaches to the treatment of this disease, depending on the view of the causes that give rise to it. Traditionally, the causes of VSD are:

• nervous overstrain, prolonged stress exposure
• chronic infectious diseases
• intoxication
• deficiency of vitamins in the body
• poor nutrition, non-compliance with diet
• nervous overstrain
• strong mental experiences
• physical overload
• head injury
• frequent colds
• chronic poisoning with arsenic, lead, mercury
• excessive impressionability, vulnerability
• alcohol abuse
• smoking.

However, modern medical science is increasingly inclined to believe that dystonia is a physical expression of a nervous disorder, nervous and emotional overload, expressed in the “language” of various body systems.

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We can say that vegetative-vascular dystonia is a syndrome of impaired interaction between the “higher” control systems of the body (central nervous system) and its “lower” executive systems (autonomic nervous system, circulatory system, reproductive system, digestive system, etc. .).

So in the West, a patient with such a diagnosis is no longer driven from doctor to doctor, but is sent straight to a psychotherapist. In our country, they often still prefer to treat consequences, signs, rather than causes. Of course, you can treat the consequences endlessly, just as you can endlessly wipe water from under a leaky pipe, instead of just once fixing the fistula - that is, the cause.

So, you received a diagnosis of VSD, went through all possible examinations and made sure that this diagnosis did not “dismiss” any disease with similar symptoms (which could be, for example, cardiovascular diseases or thyroid diseases).

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia should begin, first of all, with the elimination of stress factors that adversely affect the patient’s psycho-emotional background. It is clear that an active life within society, unfortunately, is practically impossible without stress. Therefore, along with the possible minimization of stress, it would be useful to change your own attitude towards it. For this, the help of a psychologist will undoubtedly be useful.

Both medicinal tranquilizers (Rellanium, Seduxen), antidepressants (Coaxil, Azophene), and medications based on components of plant origin - extracts and tinctures of motherwort, valerian - will help to establish the “relationship” of the brain and nervous system with the “lower” systems.

But the use of such a traditional drug as validol is now causing considerable controversy: while some doctors recognize validol as an effective and efficient drug, others argue that validol can only have an effect as a placebo.

For vegetative-vascular dystonia of moderate severity, sanatorium-resort treatment is often used. A change of environment has a beneficial effect on the emotional background, and sea bathing, mineral waters, diet and fresh air heal the body.

What to do during attacks?

Vegetative-vascular dystonia does not always manifest itself as a mild ailment; sometimes VSD causes acute attacks accompanied by fainting, which can be dangerous. Modern doctors do not have a common opinion whether the so-called diencephalic crisis is one of the causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia, or whether it is a separate condition with similar, but more acute symptoms. But, since VSD and diencephalic crisis usually go side by side, it is necessary to mention the latter.

Diencephalic crisis, diencephalic syndrome, hypothalamic syndrome is a complex of symptoms caused by dysfunction of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for the connection between the central and autonomic nervous systems. A diencephalic crisis usually occurs against the background of a serious psycho-emotional shock, it can also be a consequence of a traumatic brain injury, and more often it is a combination of these two factors. During a diencephalic crisis or an acute attack of vegetative-vascular dystonia, the patient feels dizziness, loss of orientation, “darkening” in the eyes, weakness and numbness in the limbs, a feeling of coldness in the feet and palms.

It should be remembered that fainting often occurs during an attack of vegetative-vascular dystonia, so at the first signs of an attack you need to take a sitting or lying position, immediately call a doctor yourself, or ask others about it. At this moment, you should not hold a pill in your mouth, like Validol, which many people stick in their tongue when they feel ill. If the circumstances are unfortunate, a whole tablet will easily clog the respiratory tract of a person in a state of fainting, which can have fatal consequences for him.

Although fainting usually goes away without complications, a person can suffer serious head injuries as a result of falling from their own height. But fainting poses a particular threat to a person who is driving a vehicle at the time of fainting. In this case, danger threatens not only the patient himself, but also other road users, as well as pedestrians who may become victims of an out-of-control car. If signs of fainting (“darkening” in the eyes, numbness of the limbs, weakness, dizziness, etc.) catch you while driving, immediately pull over to the side of the road, stop driving, and turn off the engine. Put the car on the parking brake, open the windows, call an ambulance and wait for the paramedics to arrive.

Diet

Proper nutrition and diet are useful in general, and in the treatment or prevention of vegetative-vascular dystonia in particular. The diet of a patient with vegetative-vascular dystonia should be complete in terms of food composition, content of vitamins and mineral salts, with dietary restrictions on table salt and foods that contain large amounts of cholesterol.

Recommended

Not recommended

List of products recommended and not recommended for consumption for vegetative-vascular dystonia.

However, pregnancy itself is already a considerable stress, both for the physical and emotional state, that is, it contributes to VSD.

Prevention

Vegetative-vascular dystonia, like any disease, is easier to prevent in a timely manner than to treat later. Prevention of VSD, like treatment, should be carried out in two directions - normalization of the psycho-emotional sphere and general strengthening of the body.

It’s easy, of course, to say “don’t worry about anything and be calm,” but how difficult it is to put it into practice. However, try to at least adhere to three simple rules:

1. Keep a stable daily routine, wake up and go to bed at the same time.
2. The body must receive sufficient uninterrupted sleep, at least 8 hours a day.
3. During the working day, regular cyclic alternation of periods of work and rest is necessary.

Well, the methods of general physical strengthening of the body are quite banal and are known, without a doubt, to everyone. In order to prevent vegetative-vascular dystonia, it is necessary:

• properly temper children from toddler age, do not wrap up
• play sports, run, swim, lead an active lifestyle.
• avoid colds.
• eat well, follow a diet.
• treat inflammatory and infectious diseases in a timely manner.

In general, vegetative-vascular dystonia is not a deadly diagnosis. The main thing is not to “run” and follow all the doctor’s instructions.

1. 10/28/2014 at 1:53 pm
2. 11/14/2014 at 09:20
3. 11/30/2014 at 4:13 pm
4. 02/28/2015 at 00:45
5. 07/22/2015 at 21:48

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Common misconceptions about effectiveness

An erroneous opinion formed since Soviet times, the low level of medical culture of the population, and the lack of educational work have led to the fact that Validol has an almost cult-like character, shrouded in a mass of myths.

Misconception #1:

The drug fits perfectly into the treatment regimen for heart attack, angina pectoris, and in emergency conditions.

The drug is strictly not suitable for first aid within the framework of these provisions.

Its potential is extremely low, at most it can slightly alleviate the pain syndrome, which in such a situation is not only unacceptable, but also dangerous.

Discomfort allows you to control the dynamics of the process, while only the unpleasant sensation is relieved, and myocardial destruction continues.

Misconception #2:

Validol eliminates the need to call an ambulance.

No. Not true. Since this is an ineffective medicine, you cannot do without an emergency room.

Misconception #3:

The drug is used as part of ongoing treatment (for example, insomnia), long-term, over many weeks or even months.

Nothing more than a misconception. The product can be used to relieve pain, but not permanently, this is a one-time measure.

Misconception #4:

The medication is prescribed as the main one without the use of others.

There is no point in drinking Validol in isolated form. Maximum as an aid to the main treatment. Because there is no sufficient effect, it is a waste of time, precious if help is needed urgently.

All of the above is true only for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, no one bothers to use the named drugs in other cases. The list of indications is described in the instructions.

They are named above, so it is better to stick to the vegetative and neurological aspects for use. This is a key area of ​​application.

Indications for use

Validol acts on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The drug irritates the nerve endings, which helps reduce pain. In addition, it has a sedative effect on the body as a whole. Based on its composition, it is prescribed for:

1. Functional cardialgia;
2. Neurosis;
3. Hysteria;
4. Sea and air sickness;
5. Toxicosis (rarely, strictly as prescribed by a doctor);
6. Angina pectoris.

Functional cardialgia, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris - all this is accompanied by changes in heartbeat and pain in the heart area. Sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, severe weakness, increased sweating, and a sharp increase in blood pressure (BP).

To quickly reduce such severe symptoms, doctors prescribe analgesic medications. Validol helps normalize heart rhythm and reduce stress levels by stimulating receptors. As a result, pain decreases and vascular permeability increases.

Neuroses

This condition is a disorder of the nervous system that occurs due to prolonged emotional stress. A person in this state experiences:

• Sudden changes in mood;
• Cardiopalmus;
• Increased sweating;
• Dizziness;
• Lack of appetite;
• Poor sleep;
• Frequent tearfulness;
• Weakness;
• Increased excitability.

The effect of Validol in this condition will be positive, since a person will be able to calm down in a short period of time. Almost every second inhabitant of the planet suffers from neurosis, but not everyone pays attention to the treatment of this condition.

Hysteria

High levels of stress and prolonged emotional tension are provocateurs of hysteria. This is a severe mental disorder that is accompanied by:

• Temporary paralysis of the limbs;
• Vomiting;
• Tachycardia;
• Increased body temperature;
• Complete lack of appetite;
• A sharp change in mood - from laughter to crying;
• Motor excitations;
• Falling on the floor;
• Weakening of taste and hearing receptors.

A person in such a state is unable to distinguish reality from reality. This disease is treated with special medications. Validol for hysteria acts as an additional, auxiliary and preventive drug.

Angina pectoris

It is possible to prescribe Validol for angina pectoris, but this drug will not provide a medicinal effect. It acts as maintenance therapy, because angina needs to be treated with stronger drugs.

Angina attack

Symptoms of this disease:

• Arterial hypertension;
• Increased sweating;
• Nausea;
• Aching, pressing, stabbing pain in the heart, shoulder, jaw;
• Pale skin;
• Arrhythmia;
• Heart cough.

All this can manifest itself not only after physical activity, but also in a state of calm. The positive effect of Validol is to stabilize nerves, reduce heart rate, normalize blood pressure, and reduce pain.

Important! The mechanism of action of Validol on the body is quite mild, so it is better to take such capsules or tablets for preventive purposes. Angina pectoris, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure cannot be treated with Validol, since it only masks the problem. It is better to replace this drug with modern and effective heart medications.

Seasickness

Even a healthy person can experience seasickness or air sickness. This condition manifests itself due to a simple malfunction of the vestibular apparatus.

Seasickness

The lack of a hard surface under your feet and constant swaying position causes many people to:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• Weakness;
• Sweaty hands.

Validol will not only help normalize heart rhythm, but also prevent the feeling of nausea. Menthol, which is included in the composition, reduces the amount of saliva produced, which reduces the feeling of a lump in the throat.

Toxicosis

There is a lot of debate about the benefits and harms of Validol during pregnancy or breastfeeding. To feed or not to feed the child if the mother took Validol tablets? Is it dangerous for pregnant women to take the drug? These questions have been debated for a long time, since there is no clear answer.

Important! Women during pregnancy and during the lactation period should seek help from a doctor before taking Validol. Only he is able to prescribe such a drug. Self-medication in such situations is strictly prohibited.

There have been no separate studies to study the effects of Validol on a woman’s body during pregnancy, so taking this drug is possible only if the benefit to the mother is greater than the harm to the child in the womb.

Potential dangers from taking Validol:

1. Due to its vasodilating properties, the drug is able to increase blood flow in the vessels of the placenta and increase the tone of the uterus. All this can disrupt the usual blood supply and lead to premature birth and complications during labor.
2. In the first trimester, Validol can lead to miscarriage, as it dilates blood vessels and increases contractility of the uterus.
3. Only a doctor can prescribe a drug for toxicosis. Home use of Validol in the fight against toxicosis can cause a number of side effects in women.

Since the drug lowers blood pressure, it should not be taken by women who suffer from severe hypotension and bradycardia. This drug is also contraindicated for those who have increased uterine tone.

To combat the feeling of nausea, it is enough to take simple menthol-flavored lollipops, but they will not in any way affect blood pressure, heart function and blood vessels.

Rules of use and dosage regimen

Capsules usually contain 100 mg of active substance, tablets - 60 mg. The maximum permissible daily dose of Validol is 600 mg.

You can take two tablets at a time. They start with one, if after 5-10 minutes there is no effect, you can drink a second, but no more.

If a liquid form is used, then a single dosage is 4-5 drops (diluted in 50 ml of water). The maximum daily dose is 9-24 drops.

The total duration of treatment is no more than 7 days.

Overdose

If the drug is taken taking into account the suitability, dosage and rules of administration, then there should be no side effects. Side effects from Validol are possible in case of overdose.

Overdose

Modern medicine always takes into account the fact of patient inattention, therefore such negative symptoms are indicated in the instructions.

In case of overdose, it is possible:

• Heart rate too slow;
• Low blood pressure;
• Nausea;
• Diarrhea;
• Vomit;
• Headache;
• Exacerbation of liver and kidney diseases.

The prescribed dose cannot be lowered or increased. Only the attending physician can do this. Validol must be taken strictly according to the instructions - this is the main condition for safety.

Contraindications

There are not many reasons to refuse the drug. You can take Validol in most cases.

There are several exceptions:

• Individual intolerance to the medication, including its main active ingredient - menthol.

The reaction can be anything from minor redness, itching of the skin, rashes to angioedema and anaphylactic shock.

The latter conditions pose a colossal threat to human life and require emergency care.

Unfortunately, menthol often provokes an immune response, so great care must be taken.

• Polyvalent allergic reaction. What is she?

This is sensitivity to many medications at once, not only to menthol or Validol.

What can provoke a violation and a dangerous response is an open question. Depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

It is not considered a direct contraindication for use, but you need to carefully monitor your well-being.

• It is also not recommended to take Validol during pregnancy, since a reflex drop in blood pressure is possible, which can be dangerous for the mother and fetus.

There is no such indication directly in the instructions for the medication; the data is based on the characteristics of the effect of the pharmaceutical drug.

• The same applies to nursing mothers. The medicine penetrates into milk and can cause disturbances in the child’s well-being and organ function.

The general rule applies: use is permissible if the benefit outweighs the potential harm.

However, given the indications, it is difficult to imagine a situation where Validol has no alternatives and is required without fail. This is extremely unlikely.

• Arterial hypotension. Drop in pressure level. It is relatively rare, but the pharmaceutical agent tends to reflexively throw off the tonometer readings.

At a reduced level this can be dangerous. It is fraught with fainting and injuries.

Therefore, patients with a tendency to hypotension or vegetative crises with unstable blood pressure must approach treatment with caution. Consultation with a specialist is required.

• Taking Validol, according to some data, is prohibited in case of acute myocardial infarction and after an emergency condition, because the drug can provoke uncontrolled narrowing and expansion of the coronary arteries, which will only aggravate the course of the pathological process.

Adelfan - instructions for use, indications and contraindications, cost and analogues

Since the time when the diagnosis of “hypertension” became popular, the lifesaver of the sick, adelfan, also became known. A good old friend of patients, cheap and simple, adelfan was recently made “persona non grata” by pharmacists. So much so that for some reason Adelfan was even discontinued from production. What has he done so wrong to humanity, what is he like?

Instructions for use of adelfan

Latin name: Adelphane.

Adelfan has two active ingredients:

1. Reserpine;
2. Dihydralazine.

Name of the drug (trade): Adelfan.

Release form: tablets. The color of the tablets is white. There is a risk of a fault. By the presence of such a mark they judge whether it can be broken. Previously, it was not recommended to divide coated tablets. Nowadays there are forms of various drugs in shells, but with a risk. We focus on risk. If there is no shell and no risks, such a tablet can be divided.

Composition and mechanism of action

The antihypertensive drug adelfan is a combination medicine. The two-component combination of the active ingredients of this drug: reserpine and dihydralazine ensures the rapid action of the drug.

Reserpine dilates blood vessels, being a psychoactive drug, has a neurotropic effect on the body. This affects the nervous system: central and peripheral, normalizing the condition of blood vessels. Reserpine is a sympatholytic. Substances in this group slow down the transmission of impulses from the sympathetic parts of the nervous system to organs that can give excessive responses to these impulses.

Dihydralazine also acts systemically: it reduces the tone of the smooth muscles of the vascular walls of the circulatory system. The very word “hypertension” indicates the trigger mechanism of the disease. Literally – excessive tone. This means vessels.

Dihydralazine relaxes the blood vessels of the entire body, removing risk from the most important organs. As a result, the blood supply to the heart, kidneys, and brain is improved, they no longer suffer from a lack of nutrients and oxygen starvation.

These fragments are important for the functioning of the entire organism. These are the components of neurons - neurotransmitters. Basic:

• GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid suppresses the excessive stimulating, disturbing effects of external factors. This neurotransmitter balances emotions. Congenital GABA deficiency is sometimes observed. The person is irritable, often worried about even minor events, and reacts with an inadequate response to them;
• Glutamates. Excitatory neurotransmitters include glutamates. The action of glutamate is opposite to that of GABA. Leading neurotransmitter that deprives you of calm. Paradoxically, it is the neurotransmitter glutamate, produced in naturally increased quantities in the brain of individual people, that contributes to the development of horizons and erudition;
• Another neurotransmitter is glycine, the effect is similar to GABA, only slightly weaker. We are accustomed to the same name for a pharmaceutical drug, but brain neurons normally contain it themselves. Glycine gently soothes. But your own is not always enough;
• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates planning rather than immediate action. He “gives respite,” but not reassurance;
• Acetylcholine is an assistant in learning, a kind of information fixer. It is not produced constantly, but the learning process requires the presence of this neurotransmitter. The effect of adelfan is similar to the effect of nootropics; they also affect brain mental functions through neurotransmitters. Most nootropic drugs act mainly on this mediator – acetylcholine. And Adelfan too;
• The stress neurotransmitter adrenaline is the target of adelphan. It is this that needs to be slowed down so that the hypotensive effect of the drug on the body manifests itself, so that calm comes. Adrenaline does not recognize any barriers, even the blood-brain is not a hindrance to it. Adrenaline is synthesized by the adrenal glands. Once in the brain, it acts directly and intensely. Strength comes from somewhere, endurance and courage increase, but for a short time. This is good for those who are healthy. Adrenaline is a neurotransmitter for survival in force majeure situations, a stimulant of action. But for those suffering from hypertension, such stimulation does not improve survival. Increased secretion of adrenaline is a risk factor for hypertensive patients. Here the inhibitory effect of adelphan is very useful;
• There is also norepinephrine. The action is similar to the combined effect of dopamine and adrenaline. Improves mood, gives enthusiasm and fun. Gives the feeling of “I can do anything.” It is this, and not adrenaline, that motivates you to jump with a parachute and strive for “nerve-tickling” attractions and situations. The delight of anticipation of takeoff as a passenger in an airplane ready to take off also gives norepinephrine;
• Serotonin is a pleasure hormone. Its deficiency plunges a person into depression. Neurotransmitters are a connected, separate, although not autonomous, system of the body. They promote adaptation to the environment. The nature of their actions is greatly influenced by the person himself: his belief system, upbringing, principles, psychological type.

Based on the characteristics of the substances synthesized by the body, it is clear that not all neurotransmitters provoke an exacerbation of hypertension. Adelfan has no selective action; it can slow down everything. But this is better than leaving out-of-control stimulants that cause vasospasm and increased blood pressure to run rampant. When the latter goes off scale, a person has no time for pleasure, learning or planning for the future.

Inhibiting the production of serotonin for a relatively short period of action of adelfan will not harm the patient. If there are no contraindications.

Here adelfan is similar in action to glycine. It slows down and deepens breathing, and pulse contractions become less frequent. Additional effect of the drug: a slight decrease in temperature.

Everything in the complex seems to imitate a dream. Reflexively the body relaxes. Accordingly, vascular tone decreases and blood pressure normalizes. Sleep also improves.

Even a one-time dose helps stop a patient’s hypertensive crisis. Systematic, regular treatment reduces crises to a minimum. Dihydralazine, a component of the drug, after three weeks of use provides a persistent decrease in arterial tone.

Indications for use

The drug is prescribed exclusively for arterial hypertension. It has many additional positive effects:

1. Increased blood flow;
2. Stimulation of metabolic processes;
3. Protection against damage caused by high blood pressure to vital organs;
4. Calming effect;
5. Decreased vascular tone.

But the indication for the therapeutic use of adelfan is one, main one: hypertension. The purpose of the drug is to lower blood pressure.

Contraindications

Any synthetic substance that interferes with processes produced by the body has contraindications. Anything that is introduced externally may not suit everyone. Adelfan is contraindicated if the patient simultaneously has any of the following problems:

• Pheochromocytoma;
• Intolerance to the substances that make up the drug (any of the components);
• Depression or a tendency to it (by inhibiting serotonin, adelfan can increase the symptoms of neurological abnormalities);
• Thyrotoxicosis;
• Peptic ulcer of any part of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Tachycardia;
• Heart attack (acute phase or recent);
• Aortic stenosis;
• CHF if the MVB is high (blood volume per minute);
• Severe renal or liver dysfunction;
• Epilepsy;
• Constrictive (chronic) pericarditis.

Pregnancy is also a reason for restrictions: the first and third trimesters are an absolute contraindication to taking Adelfan. In the second - for health reasons, when a pregnant woman needs Adelfan. Better - once, the dosage is minimal.

Relative contraindications (use with caution)

Reception under close medical supervision and self-control is carried out for diseases and conditions:

1. Diabetes;
2. Atherosclerosis – cerebral and coronary;
3. Bradycardia, especially persistent;
4. Elderly age;
5. Cholelithiasis;
6. Gout;
7. Intraventricular block (cardiac conduction disturbance);
8. Erosive gastritis.

Side effects

The two components that make up adelphan produce powerful work in the body. They complement each other, but each performs the functions defined by its chemical formula. Some patients may react to some of the substances with an allergy. Or a paradoxical reaction (reverse effect) will occur.

Side effects may be:

• Disorders in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, increased acidity of the gastric environment, increased salivation, vomiting, ulceration of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, bleeding in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Dry mouth;
• Bradycardia;
• Extrasystole;
• Fainting;
• Edema;
• Dizziness;
• Angina;
• Headache;
• Orthostatic hypotension;
• Hyperemia of the facial skin;
• Restless sleep;
• Extrapyramidal disorders (motor neurological disorders - tremor, tics, parkinsonism, dystonic syndrome, chorea and others);
• Headache;
• Nasal congestion from swelling of the mucous membrane;
• Cerebrovascular diseases (brain pathologies caused by the condition of its blood vessels - cerebrovascular accidents);
• Irritability;
• Anxiety;
• Glomerulonephritis;
• Brain swelling;
• Anorexia;
• Blood disorders (thrombocytopenia, low hemoglobin);
• Jaundice;
• Weight gain or loss;
• Blurred vision;
• Diseases of the reproductive system;
• Hearing loss;
• Eczema;
• Dyspnea;
• Balance imbalance;
• Nosebleeds;
• Decreased attention, lethargy.

It is not necessary that a “side effect” will appear, although the list is impressive. Tens of thousands of hypertensive patients have taken it and continue to take it without complications. Someone is still trying to find it, someone is switching to analogues and substitutes for adelfan. Those who tolerated the cheap drug well are frustrated by having to look for a replacement.

Price

The price of Adelfan was affordable, even in the era of total rise in drug prices, it was above 150 rubles.
didn't get up. Previously it was much cheaper. At pre-reform prices - only 10 rubles, that was the cost. It lasted until 2012, everything suited everyone. But pharmacists and doctors considered adelfan obsolete. Now only analogues are sold in pharmacies, their price starts from 150 rubles (rarely), mostly more expensive. The list of side effects of analogues is no less. Those who did not experience any undesirable effects when taking the original adelfan are forced to test the tolerability of substitutes on themselves.

Mode of application

According to the official instructions for use compiled by the manufacturer, Adelfan tablets should be taken several times a day. Usually this is twice or thrice a day, here the doctor focuses on the patient’s initial blood pressure readings and the body’s response.

It is not recommended to exceed the dosage or take it more than three times, although there is advice to take two tablets at once. But this will double the risk of experiencing any of the side effects. Neither the patient nor his doctor knows all the weak points of a particular organism. Where it is thin, where it will tear - it is better not to check.

Food does not reduce the activity of the drug components; you can take it after it. When an emergency appointment is required, you quickly need to normalize blood pressure, stop the crisis, no one thinks about the time when food was taken. The main thing is to stabilize the situation.

When taken regularly, given the possible aggressive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to play it safe and not take it on an empty stomach.

Overdose

The rules for using adelfan do not allow exceeding the dose; this is fraught with many serious disruptions to the body’s vital functions. Violations may occur:

• A sharp drop in blood pressure, which is sometimes more dangerous for a hypertensive patient than a crisis;
• Depression of respiratory function - emergency assistance will be required;
• Extrapyramidal disorders. It's good if they're temporary. Maybe it will be different.
• Angina;
• Confusion;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• Arrhythmia;
• Falling into a coma;
• IHD;
• Cramps.

Drug compatibility

Drug interactions manifest themselves in different ways. Negative effects studied:

1. MAO inhibitors (antidepressants) taken with adelfan will give a paradoxical reaction: a sharp upward jump in pressure, increased motor and mental activity of the patient;
2. When taking additional antihypertensive drugs, a cumulative effect is observed: the blood pressure-lowering effect of adelfan increases;
3. Medicines for Parkinsonism are less effective;
4. It is dangerous to combine cardiac glycosides with adelfan: arrhythmia often occurs;
5. Ethanol-based drugs, tranquilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics cause an overlay effect: the pressure decreases more;
6. Adelfan is incompatible with ACE inhibitors.

Additional instructions

Driving. Those taking the drug should not drive. Even if the patient has done this before, he should know: there is an unnoticed inhibition of reactions. This is not allowed while driving.

Job. If the work requires precision movements (embroiderer, turner, complex equipment adjuster, etc.), adelfan may interfere with such actions. The medicine especially affects fine motor skills at the beginning of use. You need to either change the drug or go on sick leave during the period of adaptation to Adelfan. Next - depending on the situation. If exactly the same drug or one with a similar effect is needed, sometimes doctors recommend a change in activity. Health is more important.

Surgical operations. In the event of an upcoming planned surgical intervention for any reason, adelfan is canceled. This is done in advance; there must be at least a three-day pause: from the last dose to the operation.

Surveys. Regular monitoring of the blood condition, the presence of salts in it that are important for metabolism (magnesium, potassium, sodium, other components) is mandatory.

Analogs

Patients treated with Adelfan for a long time, after the production of the drug ceased in 2020, needs an adequate replacement. The medicine is recognized as obsolete morally and in quality. This explains that it has no synonyms, only analogues.

There are an extremely large number of blood pressure lowering agents on the pharmaceutical market. The choice is not easy. Adelfan analogues may have a similar composition or a different one, but similar in action (antihypertensive). The medicine is selected individually.

• Reserpine. One of the active components of adelfan, produced as a separate drug. Some of the properties inherent in the complex medicine are preserved in this component.
• Adelfan-Ezidrex. A medicine that is many times more expensive than its predecessor. In terms of side effects, the new one is hardly inferior to the outdated one. Manufacturers position Adelfan-Ezidrex as a drug taken less frequently - twice, sometimes once a day. The advantages include the absence of facial hyperthermia and another side effect that occurs with its predecessor, Adelfan: diarrhea. This is almost an analogue of adelfan in composition. The drug is supplemented with a third component, hydrochlorothiazide. Pharmacists consider this medicinal composition to be improved. Diuretic added. If the kidneys are healthy, the drug will be eliminated without problems within a day. But diuretics are not indicated for everyone. Those who have previously taken regular adelfan cannot always switch to its analogue. The issue of replacement is decided together with the doctor observing the patient.
• Captopril, capoten. The drugs are based on the action of captopril included in them. ACE inhibitors. The names and manufacturers vary. Fast-acting drugs - blood pressure decreases in minutes. This is convenient in case of a spontaneous, instantly developed crisis - then it is desirable to stop it quickly. But if the symptoms gradually increase, it is also better to reduce blood pressure gradually. Then the choice is preferable from mildly acting agents. Captopril is often used by ambulance paramedics on calls. Taken under the tongue, it is absorbed quickly and works almost immediately.

• Nifedipine. This drug and its group with different trade names (Corinfar, Cordaflex, Zanifed, Phenigidine) rapidly reduces blood pressure. Calcium channel blocker. Prescribed to patients whose blood vessels can withstand sudden changes in pressure. With severe atherosclerosis, changes in blood pressure are dangerous, especially a sharp decrease. Nifedipine is an active antispasmodic. The drugs in this group increase heart rate.

• Enalapril. ACE inhibitor. A slow-acting medicine is not suitable as a quick remedy. It spares the kidneys and reduces the load on the heart. Sometimes it lowers blood pressure quickly - this varies from person to person.
• Enap. A frequently prescribed relatively cheap drug. The same enalapril.
• Trirezide. The composition is similar to Adelfan-Ezidrex, plus the component potassium chloride, which prevents hypokalemia.
• Veroshpiron. Lowers blood pressure due to its diuretic effect. There are many possible side effects, and there are also contraindications.

Most modern analogues of adelfan have a prolonged (long-lasting) effect. The addition of additional components eliminates some possible side effects, ensuring a gentle effect. Everyone has new qualities, but they are not always positive.

Reviews

Marina: Mom drank Adelfan for forty years! And there was nothing like that, why they are afraid, he always helped her. Until she was 75, her heart was healthy, I didn’t drink that, and so did my blood pressure. And since I was thirty, my heart hasn’t been good. They just remove cheap medicines, this substitute is the same, they added something there, and why is it better? Ten times more expensive, but it doesn’t help like Adelfan did. It's not that it's outdated, it's the price.

Anonymous: Yeah, well, I like it! I’ve been taking Adelfan-Ezidrex for six months, why save on health, I only have one life. Well, you'll have to run to the toilet one more time, you'll think about it. When there is a crisis, you still run. If you read horror stories about side effects, you can’t eat or drink anything, and you can’t breathe in a gas mask either. And when there is pressure, fold your paws on your chest and wait for the result. I drank Adelfan, I took Esidrex - alive! I don't see any risk.

Violetta N. And Enap helps me. I also drank Adelfan for twenty years. There are a lot of ailments, I don’t know, maybe some kind of medication. The neighbor complains, coughs, says it’s from him, but I say nothing. The pressure is almost normal. Yes, I’m used to adelfan, there’s not enough of it in the first aid kit, but what should we do now, we’ll live without it. As much as we can. Enap is inexpensive, holds pressure normally. I recommend it.

Pressure is the factor that immediately reports any abnormalities in your body. Each person is special and it is impossible to talk about a single blood pressure norm for everyone. It depends on age, gender and genetics. Different people with the same indicators may feel differently. It happens that a healthy person experiences “jumps” and they are not associated with any disease. This may be the result of stress or other external stimuli. In this case, there are a number of drugs that can normalize the cardiovascular system. In this article, we will look at the effect of Validol on blood pressure and find out whether it increases or decreases it.

The composition of validol and its effect on the body

The drug "Validol" today is a very accessible and fairly cheap medicine. It acts very quickly and the effect occurs immediately. Validol is a clear oily liquid, sometimes with a yellowish tint, that smells like menthol.

It includes:

Active ingredients

• 1) Menthol. It is used to relieve irritation, weaken muscles, relieve pain and fatigue. It has a pleasant aroma.
• 2) Methyl ether. Has a calming effect on the entire body.
• 3) Isovaleric acid. It is extracted from the roots of valerian officinalis and has an unpleasant odor. It reduces feelings of anxiety and restlessness. Has a vasodilating effect.

Validol is the most common drug used for heart disorders

Validol: benefits and harm

Validol is an essential component of a home, travel or work first aid kit, helping with heart problems. The medicine has become so commonplace in everyday life that many people, without hesitation, swallow it for any reason.

Meanwhile, Validol, like all drugs, provides not only benefits, but also harm. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand how to take it correctly so as not to cause complications.

The active component of the drug is a concentrated solution of racemic menthol (levomenthol) dissolved in menthyl isovalerate.

When taken sublingually, the substance affects the cold receptors of the oral mucosa that are sensitive to it, and thanks to this irritation, a number of reactions are triggered: a number of endogenous elements are released - endorphins, opioid peptides (dynorphins, encphyphalins, etc.), histamine, kinin (a peptide responsible for vasodilation). The released substances play a vital role in reducing the intensity of pain, normalizing the condition of blood vessels and ensuring the proper functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and nervous system.

The drug has a very fast action: when administered sublingually, the active substance is absorbed by the oral mucosa and within 5 minutes after administration the patient feels better.

Menthol is metabolized in the liver and excreted from the body by the kidneys in the form of glucoronide.

Dosage forms of Validol are sublingual tablets (60 mg menthol) and capsules (100 mg), drops.

The drug is used for therapy:

• Mild angina attacks
• Kinetosis
• Hysteria
• Headache due to taking nitrates
• Neurosis.

The benefits and harms of the drug

Recently, there has been a rethinking of the properties of many medications, and Validol was no exception. Some people claim that it really helps, others are sure that the medicine is a dummy, akin to ordinary mints.

However, we must not forget that, like any treatment, Validol can help or harm, so the result of therapy largely depends on the correct diagnosis and compliance with the doctor’s prescriptions. And since scientists and doctors have not yet proven the absence of its benefits, much less harm, the drug is considered a medicine.

What are the benefits of Validol

Thanks to the levomenthol it contains, the drug has a slight sedative effect, so it will help calm the nerves after stress and make it easier to fall asleep. In some cases, it will relieve headaches caused by emotional experiences.

It is recommended to keep Validol with you when traveling to eliminate the feeling of motion sickness and nausea. It will be especially useful for people with problematic vestibular apparatus.

Tablets or capsules in some cases will relieve nausea after food poisoning or gastrointestinal dysfunction. But you shouldn’t count on Validol as a remedy for heartburn, since this property of the medicine has not been scientifically proven.

Is Validol harmful?

As mentioned earlier, the effect of the drug is achieved by irritating the sensitive endings and the subsequent release of substances into the blood that eliminate pain. But levomenthol does not have any effect on the condition of blood vessels.

Therefore, in serious cases (pre-infarction condition, atherosclerosis, etc.), the drug will do harm, as it will relieve the symptom, muffling the pain, but not the cause itself.

As a result, the disease will become more complicated, and in the event of a heart attack, fatal consequences cannot be ruled out.

If chest pain appears after stress, then a fear of death may arise, which will trigger the release of adrenaline. In turn, its action will worsen the condition of the heart. In these cases, Validol alone will not help; it must be taken with nitroglycerin, which will dilate blood vessels and eliminate circulatory disorders.

Pregnant women should also take Validol carefully and not take it without the knowledge of the doctor. The drug is not recommended for nursing women.

Validol should be used with caution by those people who have low blood pressure, as the drug can reduce its level.

Contraindications and side effects

The drug, when taken correctly in a normal dosage, usually does not cause negative reactions. Undesirable effects manifest themselves in the form of individual allergies, nausea, and lacrimation.

There are few contraindications: only hypersensitivity of the body. However, some people need to be careful: diabetics should choose dosage forms of the drug that do not contain sugar, and patients with hypotension should not forget that Validol can lower blood pressure.

Validol, like all medicines, can be a blessing or cause harm. Despite its beneficial effects and availability, it must be taken seriously: taken as prescribed by a doctor in the indicated dosage.

This article was written by specialists with medical education from the lekhar.ru team. You can read the original instructions on the manufacturer’s website: Validol.

Source: https://lekhar.ru/lekarstva/preparaty-dlja-serdca/validol-polza-i-vred/