Validol is one of the oldest and most famous drugs on our pharmaceutical market. For decades, the composition and appearance of the medicine have not changed. It is still sold in pharmacies and is popular due to its low price, minimum contraindications and effectiveness. Many who have not used this drug before ask: Does Validol increase or decrease blood pressure and pulse? Patient reviews vary. After all, the medicine affects everyone individually. Let's take a closer look at how Validol acts on blood pressure.
Indications for use
The medicine is not classified as therapeutic, it acts symptomatically - it relieves unpleasant manifestations associated with disruption of the autonomic department.
Important!
Never take medications without a doctor's prescription. Even “harmless” drugs can be harmful if taken without prior examination and medical advice.
Validol is prescribed for:
- neuroses;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- hysteria;
- functional cardialgia;
- tachycardia associated with excitement (increased heart rate);
- angina pectoris of a neurotic nature;
- motion sickness syndrome (sea sickness);
- headaches associated with tension and fatigue.
More detailed indications for use and contraindications are recommended to be clarified in the instructions supplied with the drug.
The medication calms the nervous system, relieving symptoms that appear during stress, irritation, anxiety, and anxiety. When a person is in a nervous state, his blood pressure often rises. This causes blood vessels to spasm, blood flow to deteriorate, headaches and other unpleasant symptoms to occur. Validol is often prescribed precisely for such symptoms. Thus, the question of whether Validol increases or decreases blood pressure can be answered – usually it decreases.
Instructions and indications for use
"Validol" belongs to the group of combined cardiological drugs for oral administration. It has a sedative effect on the central nervous system. The principle of operation is based on irritation of receptors and nerve endings in order to reduce pain and regulate the nervous and vascular systems. Does Validol increase blood pressure or lower it? The drug also causes a slight reflex vasodilatory effect caused by irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth.
Widely used in the treatment of various cardiac, vascular and nervous disorders. Indicated in complex therapy:
- functional cardialgia;
- an attack of angina;
- neurosis-like disorders;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- restless, hysterical states;
- neuralgia;
- seasickness, motion sickness.
Validol is prescribed for angina pectoris
The therapeutic effect from taking Validol occurs within 3–5 minutes. That's why it's so popular as first aid if there's pressure in the chest or in a stressful situation. By acting on the receptors of the tongue, menthol improves blood circulation and normalizes the functioning of the nervous system. At the same time, it is absolutely safe and in small quantities is practically harmless to the body.
At the first signs of angina or other discomfort, you need to put 1 tablet (capsule) under the tongue and wait for complete dissolution. You can take no more than 2 tablets at a time, and the daily norm is 3 units. The liquid should be dripped onto the tongue or a piece of sugar in the amount of 4 drops and slowly dissolve. There is no course of treatment as such. Long-term use is not recommended because it may cause unwanted reactions:
- headache;
- nausea;
- drowsiness;
- conjunctivitis.
Despite its harmlessness, you should not get carried away with Validol. In some cases, it can mask a heart attack or serious heart attack. And this is fraught with untimely provision of medical care. The drug is completely contraindicated if you are allergic to its components and have diabetes. It can be used by children and pregnant women only according to strict medical indications.
Validol may cause nausea
Composition of Validol
Before we move on to a detailed description of the effect of the medication on blood pressure, we will find out what is in its composition and how it acts on the body.
Validol is available in two forms - tablets and drops. Tablets are more convenient to use - you can take them with you, putting them in your pocket, wallet or handbag, they will not spill like drops. They are easier to use outside the home, for example, on the street.
Validol contains:
- Valerian is a medicinal plant that has a calming effect on the nervous system and has a beneficial effect on blood vessels. Recommended for cardiovascular pathologies, VSD, neuroses, insomnia.
- Menthol - dilates blood vessels, has an antispasmodic effect, relieves muscle tension, has a mild analgesic effect, and calms.
- Excipients: calcium stearate, sugar. Due to its sugar content, Validol should be taken with caution by people suffering from diabetes.
In this combination, menthol and valerian enhance each other's effects. The therapeutic effect of each substance increases.
Validol increases or decreases blood pressure
By decomposing the drug into its component components, we can understand how validol acts on the body.
The drug is obtained by dissolving menthol in isovaleric acid, which is why it can be recognized by its rather specific aroma. The resulting substance, entering the human body, irritates the nerve endings. To be more precise, the receptors of the mucous membranes are irritated. In addition, hormones are produced that are responsible for the manifestation of painful sensations. As a result, the drug blocks pain.
Action of Validol at high blood pressure
With high blood pressure, blood vessels narrow. The main active components of Validol (menthol and valerian) have a dilating effect on blood vessels and relieve spasms.
The medicine also calms the nervous system, due to which the autonomic department comes into a balanced state. As the person calms down, the person’s blood pressure gradually returns to normal, the heart rate decreases, blood flow improves, and the headache caused by vascular spasms goes away.
Important!
If blood pressure has increased for reasons not related to psycho-emotional experiences, then Validol will not have the desired effect. It is not effective for chronic hypertension and severe diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Thus, Validol lowers blood pressure and pulse. But it is used only in cases where the increase in pressure is caused by:
- Sudden excitement, fear.
- Stress.
- Psycho-emotional stress.
- Nervousness, anxiety.
- Panic attack.
Does Validol lower blood pressure and how to take it correctly for hypertension
The use of Validol for high blood pressure is not always indicated, most often for certain reasons for the development of hypertension. However, the active substances of the drug contribute to the expansion of blood veins, which leads to a slight decrease in pressure. Let's talk about the advisability of using Validol for hypertension.
Does Validol lower or raise blood pressure?
When making a medicine, the menthol substance is dissolved in the ester state of isovaleric acid, resulting in a complex remedy that has a comprehensive effect. The effect of the drug is aimed at irritating the nerve endings, which leads to the dilation of all blood vessels, stimulating the production and removal of chemical bonds that control the pain threshold. Therefore, after the active substances of the drug are absorbed into the body, the blood vessels dilate and pain is relieved.
It turns out that when blood pressure is exceeded, the blood vessels narrow, and when there is hypotension, on the contrary, they dilate. This gives us the right to conclude that Validol helps reduce blood pressure. Additionally, the drug has a calming effect on parts of the nervous system, restores myocardial contractions - but pressure rises most often against the background of nervous overstrain. Therefore, the drug indirectly has antihypertensive properties: after taking Validol, the patient becomes calmer, increased heartbeat disappears, the blood circulation process is normalized, and blood pressure decreases. Validol can also be prescribed in emergency situations (very high blood pressure, an attack of hypertension, a hypertensive crisis), because the result occurs within 5 minutes after consumption.
Properties of the medicine
The main properties of Validol, based on the composition:
- thanks to menthol, pain is relieved, irritability is relieved, blood vessels dilate, and anxiety is eliminated;
- Medicinal valerian has a sedative (calming) effect, reduces nervous tension, normalizes heart rate, and fights sleep disorders.
Indications for use
Validol has a wide range of applications:
- hysteria with fits of crying or laughter;
- neurotic disorders;
- pain syndrome in the heart;
- seasickness;
- angina pectoris;
- frequent stress;
- chronic fatigue;
- insomnia;
- increased nervousness;
- excitement;
- hypertensive crises;
- osteochondrosis localized in the thoracic or cervical region;
- weakened heart function.
How to take Validol with high blood pressure?
Many people believe that the drug is produced only in the form of large tablets. However, it can also be purchased in the form of gel capsules or liquid drops.
The drug should be taken in this way:
- The tablet form should not be chewed or washed down with water. It goes under the tongue and dissolves. You can take up to 2 tablets maximum at one time. It is permissible to take a maximum of 4 pieces per day.
- The capsule form is used in the same way as the tablet form, that is, sublingually. It is permissible to consume capsules orally with water. The dosage and daily rate are the same.
- The liquid form of the drug is sold in bottles with a dispenser. You can take from 2 to 6 drops per appointment. The daily norm is 20-24 drops. You will also need refined sugar, since the liquid will have to be applied to it. Then a piece of sugar should be placed in the sublingual area and dissolved.
Contraindications
Validol has almost no side effects or restrictions and is considered a safe drug, but there are also limitations. It is undesirable to consume the drug in the following cases:
- low blood pressure (hypotension), because the drug helps expand the circulatory system, which leads to an even greater decrease in blood pressure;
- some pathological disorders of the heart, as the effect of stealing is obtained, which can lead to a heart attack;
- compressive pain behind the chest area;
- excessively enlarged peripheral vessels: in this case, blood flow in the coronary veins is disrupted, as a result of which the heart muscles die;
- pregnancy period, since menthol contracts the uterus, which threatens miscarriage and premature birth;
- breast-feeding;
- age category up to 12 years.
How does Validol affect the pulse?
Usually, when there is stress, excitement, anxiety, restlessness, a person’s pulse increases. Tachycardia is also observed during panic attacks, and sometimes very strong.
The sedative reduces stimulation of the nervous system and normalizes autonomic processes.
A person who takes Validol at a time when he is nervous begins to calm down faster. As the condition normalizes, the pulse decreases, breathing becomes smooth, and the muscular system relaxes.
It should be understood that the medication does not act on the pulse itself, but on the reactions of the vegetative body, which controls all the main processes in the body.
Is it possible to drink Validol with low blood pressure?
If a person suffers from hypotension (low blood pressure), he should be wary of any medications that lower blood pressure.
As mentioned above, Validol can lower blood pressure, but indirectly, due to its sedative effect.
Usually, during a period of panic attack, excitement, irritation, anxiety, blood pressure also increases in hypotensive people, although not as much as in people prone to hypertension. Thus, Validol can lower the blood pressure of a hypotensive patient to its normal level.
On a note!
If a person is physically healthy and takes Validol as a sedative for stress, he will not have problems with low blood pressure. Vasodilation with menthol and valerian is moderate, without causing serious side effects.
But still, if you are suffering from hypotension, especially with dizziness and weakness, you should not take the risk and take Validol on your own.
Only a doctor can give a definite answer whether you can take this drug in your case.
How to take Validol
The use of the drug in tablets is convenient because it does not need to be swallowed and washed down with water.
The medicine is placed under the tongue and dissolved. The drops are diluted with water and drunk. The medication is used regardless of food, 1-3 times a day. The tablets have a pleasant menthol-sweet taste, similar to mint candies.
Validol acts symptomatically, so it is not prescribed in long courses. Sometimes a one-time use is enough.
The doctor selects a more precise period of administration and dosage.
This is also interesting:
Is tachycardia dangerous with VSD?
When to drink and how to take it
For high blood pressure, Validol can be used as an additional medicine, which can dilate blood vessels and calm the nervous system. If the pathology is chronic, then the pressure will not be reduced with such a medicine. It is recommended to take Validol in the following cases:
- During a hypertensive crisis. In this case, the remedy will quickly remove spasms of the vascular system and reduce heart pain. In addition, Validol will have a calming effect, which will allow you not to aggravate the crisis and wait for other medications to take effect. Such a cheap remedy can become indispensable during crises, since the result appears almost immediately after use.
- For osteochondrosis. In this condition, pain in the neck and chest often occurs, and blood pressure may also increase. In this case, Validol will relieve pain, tension and spasms.
- With poor sleep. Often, with frequent stress and emotional tension, insomnia begins to develop; people cannot fall asleep and sleep normally. To eliminate such symptoms, you can use Validol. It is also useful to take the drug for high blood pressure, if it is not caused by disease and is an independent pathology.
- With a weak heart. If the patient’s work involves heavy stress, then shortness of breath and chest pain may occur frequently. The described medicine can relieve symptoms.
Knowing when Validol helps, whether it can lower or increase blood pressure, the rules for using the medicine are no less important.
If the tablet form is used, then the product must be placed under the tongue and dissolved. For one-time consumption, 1 tablet is used, but 2-4 tablets can be used throughout the day. 5 minutes is enough for relief to appear. For hypertension, you can use the drug for a course of 7 days. If the effectiveness is low or zero, then after 10 days the treatment can be repeated.
When using the medicine in the form of drops, apply 5 drops to a sugar cube and simply dissolve it. If capsules are used, they should simply be taken with water before meals.
Side effects
Validol tablets are well tolerated by patients, but in rare cases the following side effects may develop:
- nausea, vomiting;
- allergic reaction;
- dizziness;
- intestinal disorder.
Side effects are largely caused by an overdose of the drug. Some people consider Validol to be so light and harmless that when under stress they begin to dissolve tablet after tablet, which in no case should be done.
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Contraindications
In most cases, the drug is well tolerated by patients, and undesirable effects occur rarely. Contraindications for use are mainly associated with high sensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as to the alcohol solution of menthol:
- children under 14 years of age;
- alcohol addiction;
- persistent hypotension;
- diabetes mellitus (if glucose is present in the composition).
Important: Validol should not be taken if signs of myocardial infarction occur. It is believed that the use of this remedy can smooth out the symptoms, which in the future will lead to difficulties in making a diagnosis.
The danger of high blood pressure
Most cardiologists claim that Validol tablets mask the true causes of blood pressure surges and only negatively affect the patient’s general health. A person, observing an increase in blood pressure during anxiety, eliminates the unpleasant symptoms for a while, deliberately ignoring a trip to the doctor.
But if pressure drops become frequent and even with slight stress the tonometer numbers are significant - this is no longer just psychosomatics .
High blood pressure can be caused by many serious diseases that develop in the body. And the sooner they are detected, the easier it will be to treat them.
Fluctuations in blood pressure and persistent hypertension are dangerous because they can provoke heart attacks, strokes, and heart diseases. Elderly people are especially susceptible to this. Therefore, you should not ignore the symptoms. You should consult a specialist as soon as possible and undergo a medical examination.
Interesting facts about blood pressure:
- Fact 1
- Fact 2
- Fact 3
Not everyone is affected by hypertension, but blood pressure increases with age. Heredity is one of the significant factors in the development of arterial hypertension, and “good” genes, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can protect a person from hypertension.
Indeed, there is a concept - “working pressure”. This is the pressure under which a person feels satisfactory. However, the “working” pressure does not always coincide with normal pressure.
High blood pressure may have no symptoms. Sometimes the only way to detect an approaching hypertensive crisis is to measure your blood pressure.
Now you know the answer to the question, does Validol increase or decrease blood pressure, pulse and how it works. In conclusion, it is worth adding that the drug is an affordable and proven remedy that has a rapid sedative effect, but is not a medicine specifically for blood pressure.
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Validol and hypotension
The human condition with low blood pressure (scientifically hypotension or vegetative-vascular dystonia) is characterized by increased sweating, pale skin, weakness, weather sensitivity and malaise. During a drop in blood pressure, the tonometer shows marks of 90/60, 80/50, which forces the patient to look for means to improve the condition.
In such a situation, taking Validol will have the opposite effect, because it dilates blood vessels, calms you down, and after taking it makes you fall asleep. But a hypotensive person needs the opposite effect - increasing blood pressure, normalizing the pulse and receiving a boost of energy. It becomes obvious that taking Validol for hypotension is not only pointless, but also dangerous:
- blood ceases to fully supply the brain;
- the vessels dilate even more, causing a lack of oxygen;
- the general tone of the body decreases, the pressure drops even more.
Such a sedative effect will not help a hypotensive patient, but will only complicate his condition. Therefore, with low blood pressure, it is better to use caffeine-based drugs - Citramon, Caffeine, Etimizol, Cordiamin.
