Corvalol - can I take it constantly?

Information about Corvalol

Corvalol is a combination medicine that is produced in tablets and drops by several companies in the Russian Federation and the CIS.

The tablets have a flat-cylindrical shape. They are white, inclusions are allowed.

Corvalol tincture is a clear, colorless alcohol solution with a characteristic odor.

The main components of the drug contain:

1. Phenobarbital, which has a sedative and hypnotic effect. It enhances the effect of other active ingredients included in the medication.
2. Peppermint oil. It expands the lumen of blood vessels, mainly coronary and cerebral, has an antispasmodic and disinfectant effect, normalizes the movement of bile, eliminates bloating, and accelerates intestinal motility.
3. Ethyl ester of α-bromoisovaleric acid. It calms the nervous system and relieves spasms of smooth muscle tissue. The mechanism of its action is associated with a weakening of the excitability of the central nervous system and increased inhibition processes in the brain. In addition, it affects the vasomotor center located in the medulla oblongata.

In addition to the active ingredients, the tablets contain fillers that do not have a therapeutic effect:

• lactose;
• E-460;
• E-576;
• E-459;
• E-1400.

Drops contain the following indifferent ingredients:

• E-1510;
• E-524;
• water.

Analogs

Corvalol is an analogue of the German drug Valocordin. They have an identical composition and differ in cost in favor of a domestic product. According to the active substance, Corvalol is similar to Barboval, Validol, Valemidin, Bellataminal, Valoserdin. The benefits and harms of Corvalol are identical to similar medications.

Herbal preparations have a milder effect. Extracts of valerian, chamomile, and thyme have a similar effect to Corvalol. Herbal infusions have a calming effect. Medicinal plants have a long-term effect without damaging the nervous system and without causing addiction.

Benefits of Corvalol

Due to the positive effect of Corvalol on the heart, it is used for disorders of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by the following symptoms:

• tachycardia;
• high pressure;
• pain in the heart area.

Due to its sedative effect, Corvalol will be useful if the patient has:

• neuroses, due to which the patient is too excited;
• hypochondria is a condition when a person believes that he has signs of some disease;
• sleep disturbance, as Corvalol accelerates falling asleep.

Corvalol is useful for patients who have spasms of the large intestine and gall bladder.

The annotation for Corvalol does not say, but alcohol tincture can be used to lubricate herpes blisters to make it go away faster.

Addiction and dependence on Corvalol

Phenobarbital and ethyl bromoisovalerate may be considered narcotic drugs. When taking Corvalol regularly as a calming and sedative, the patient quickly becomes accustomed to the drug. One can speak of a certain degree of addiction even after two or three weeks of regular use of the drug.

Gradually, the standard dose ceases to produce the desired effect, which leads to the need to increase the dose, which, in turn, causes risks of deterioration in health. Subsequently, the drug accumulates in the body, so even a normal dose can cause phenobarbital poisoning.

It should be noted that sleep induced by a significant dose of Corvalol is often restless and does not bring a feeling of vigor upon awakening.

The harm from Corvalol also lies in the development of addiction to the drug. The patient feels chronic fatigue, is in a depressed, apathetic mood, and speech and concentration may suffer.

Contraindications of the drug

Harm from Corvalol may occur if you take it if there are contraindications. The drug (regardless of the release form) should not be taken if:

• allergy to the composition of the medication;
• liver and kidney dysfunction;
• the period of gestation and breastfeeding.

If a woman takes Corvalol during lactation, then she needs to switch the baby to artificial feeding.

When returning to breastfeeding, it should be taken into account that phenobarbital is completely eliminated from the body within a week. Otherwise, it will cause the child to become apathetic, lethargic, or, conversely, very excited. Possible convulsions, loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, headaches, dizziness, bradycardia or tachycardia, decrease or increase in temperature, miosis, nystagmus, hypotension, cyanosis, shortness of breath, decreased daytime diuresis.

Due to the phenobarbital contained in Corvalol, for a breastfed baby, it can cause drug dependence. And ethanol can cause low birth weight in a child and mental retardation.

Drops are contraindicated:

• patients with skull and brain injuries;
• patients with central nervous system pathologies;
• persons suffering from alcohol addiction, including those who have undergone successful treatment for alcoholism.

The tincture, depending on the manufacturer, is approved for children of different ages. For example, medicines produced by Marbiopharm can be taken from 12 years of age, and drugs from other companies – from 3 years of age. But in any case, Corvalol drops should be given with caution to minors.

The tablets contain milk sugar, so they are contraindicated if the patient is diagnosed with the following pathologies:

• lack of enzyme that breaks down milk sugar;
• impaired absorption of dextrose and galactose;
• hypolactasemia.

In pediatrics, Corvalol tablets are not used for children due to lack of treatment experience.

When is it advisable to use Corvalol?

According to the instructions for use, it is known that drops are prescribed to people over twelve years of age with the following ailments:

1. Poor process of falling asleep.
2. Disorders of the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
3. Pain behind the sternum.
4. Increased blood pressure levels.
5. Neurotic disorder.
6. A pathological condition of the human central nervous system, which appears as a result of its exhaustion during prolonged mental or physical stress.
7. Hypochondria (a human condition that is expressed in constant worry about the possibility of getting sick).
8. Depressive disorders.
9. Bloating.
10. Cardiopalmus.
11. Cramping pain in the abdomen.
12. Panic attacks with vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Does Corvalol lower or increase blood pressure? Hypotensive patients should not take the drug, as drops and tablets lower it even further and can cause serious consequences.

Dosage regimen

Treatment with Corvalol should be prescribed by a doctor, who will select a treatment regimen depending on the severity of the clinical picture and the age of the patient.

The sedative should be taken before meals. The drops are pre-diluted in ¼ glass of water. For children, a single dose is 1 drop per year of the child’s life. The tincture should be given to minors once a day; in severe cases, the doctor may increase the frequency of taking the medicine to 2 times a day.

A single dosage for adults is usually 1-2 tablets or 30 drops. If necessary, for example, when the heart rate increases, it can be increased to 3 tablets or up to 50 drops.

The duration of action of Corvalol depends on the individual characteristics of the patient, but the tincture can be taken 2 or 3 times a day. The tablets should be taken twice a day. You can take no more than 6 tablets per day.

“Corvalol as a sleeping pill”: how many drops should you take

If the patient plans to use the medication for insomnia, the concentration of the medication will vary from 15 to 30 drops per use. One drop contains 0.01 milliliters of active substance. The medicine must be diluted with a small amount of water.

The solution is slightly hot as it contains ethanol. It is not recommended to greatly dilute the drug, as this may reduce the reflex effect of peppermint. In addition, you should not drink Corvalol with water or other liquids: juices, milk, soda.

According to the instructions for use of Corvalol drops, the medication should be used as a sleeping pill approximately thirty minutes before bedtime. Reviews from experts recommend using the medicine at night for insomnia, lubricating the skin of the wings of the nose and behind the ears with the solution.

It is known that Corvalol, used in this way, helps eliminate stress and calm down. The drug is prescribed for children after the age of twelve for sleep. When used, do not exceed the dosage, which ranges from 3 to 15 drops per day. People who cannot tolerate alcohol-based medications can use Corvalol in tablet form.

"Corvalol" as a sleeping pill in tablets is taken in a concentration that depends on age and body weight. On average it is 1-2 tablets. The drug is taken after eating, half an hour before going to bed. The tablets can be swallowed whole with water, or dissolved by placing them under the tongue.

There is an opinion that when used sublingually, Corvalol begins to “work” faster, for this reason this method of use is considered more preferable. It must be remembered that the tablet form is not prescribed to children under eighteen years of age and is not combined with alcoholic beverages.

Overdose

If Corvalol is taken in dosages higher than therapeutic, it can cause poisoning, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• trembling pupils;
• ataxia;
• depression or stimulation of central nervous system functions;
• hypotension.

In case of chronic overdose, bromism occurs, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• depressed mood;
• indifference to what is happening;
• runny nose;
• inflammation of the conjunctiva;
• problems with coordination;
• hemorrhagic diathesis.

In case of an overdose of Corvalol, the antidote is unknown, so medications are prescribed that eliminate the signs of poisoning and support the function of vital organs. If intoxication has led to depression of the central nervous system, then the victim is administered caffeine and Niketamide (Cordiamin).

Corvalol poisoning is possible if you take expired or improperly stored medicine. The expiration date and storage rules must be clarified in the annotation, since they may differ depending on the manufacturer.

Drops produced by most manufacturers are good for 18 months and must be stored at temperatures up to 15 degrees, but the tincture from Moscow Pharmaceutical Factory CJSC does not lose its properties at air temperatures up to 20 degrees for 2 years from the date of release.

Help with poisoning

If the symptoms of poisoning are minor, the patient needs gastric lavage. After the procedure, it is advisable to take one of the sorbents: activated carbon, smecta. Activated carbon prevents the absorption of toxic substances into the blood and accelerates their elimination from the body. It is better to take the product in the form of an aqueous solution. To do this, the tablet must be crushed and mixed with 100 ml of boiled water at room temperature. It is possible to use white activated carbon.

In case of poisoning, cleansing enemas are recommended. The victim must be provided with plenty of fluids; warm, sweet tea is better than other drinks. It is necessary to normalize low blood pressure and replenish lost glucose reserves.

For mild poisoning, the above measures are usually sufficient. In case of moderate and severe poisoning, calling an ambulance should be a mandatory measure.

If the patient is unconscious, he is laid on a hard surface, belts and belts are loosened, and all jewelry that restricts movement and prevents free access of air is removed. Before doctors arrive, it is necessary to monitor the patient’s pulse. In case of severe poisoning, cardiac massage and artificial respiration are required.

To stabilize the condition of corvalol poisoning, intravenous administration of the antidote drug, bemegride, is necessary. In most cases, moderate and severe forms of poisoning are treated in a hospital setting. The patient will need the help of a therapist and gastroenterologist. Treatment in specialized institutions involves the administration of glucose, sodium chloride, plasma and diuretics. If there is a significant concentration of phenobarbital in the blood, hemodialysis may be necessary.

Drug interactions

When taking the drug Corvalol, you need to consider the following points:

1. Medicines that depress the central nervous system enhance the effect of Corvalol.

1. Phenobarbital, which is part of Corvalol, is an inducer of liver enzymes, so it can weaken the effect of drugs that undergo biotransformation in it, for example, anticoagulants, glucocorticoids, birth control pills, Griseofulvin.

1. Due to the phenobarbital contained in it, Corvalol enhances the effect of local anesthetics, analgesics and hypnotics.

Video: instructions for use

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Side effects and first aid

Side effects of Corvalol most often occur in people who have individual intolerance to the components of the drug, as well as in patients who do not follow the instructions for use and doctor’s recommendations.

Side effects include:

• dizziness;
• weakness, apathy;
• decrease in pressure, sometimes to critical levels;
• drowsiness, fatigue;
• decreased heart rate;
• deterioration of memory and concentration.

Signs of allergies include skin rashes, less commonly nasal congestion, itching, redness of the face and neck, and conjunctivitis.

Patients who have drunk a large dose of the drug should take actions aimed at eliminating signs of intoxication and cleansing the body. To do this, you need to drink plenty of clean water and stop taking Corvalol.