Validol is a product that is available in every home medicine cabinet due to its availability, low price and effectiveness, proven over decades. It relieves pain in the heart area well, soothes and improves sleep. But few people know about the effect of the drug on blood pressure (BP), although now half of the people suffer from manifestations of hypertension. Does Validol lower or increase blood pressure, what is the composition of the tablets, is it possible to drink it for hypertension and hypotension - today all your questions will be answered.
Pharmacology and pharmacodynamics
As already mentioned, Validol has a sedative and vasodilator effect. Thanks to the influence of the active components, there is an improvement in peripheral blood circulation, pain and discomfort disappear, and a calming effect on the central nervous system is exerted. The drug is actively used for various diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
The active elements are very quickly absorbed in the oral cavity and after 3-5 minutes their highest content is noted in the general bloodstream. The effect of taking it can be observed within 5-7 minutes.
Composition of the drug
To find out exactly how Validol affects blood pressure, whether it helps to increase or decrease it, you need to know about the composition of the drug. It includes two active components:
- Valerian. Indicated for insomnia, increased nervous overload, fatigue, imbalance. The valerian herb itself contains useful organic acids that help eliminate the listed symptoms - formic, malic, palmitic, acetic and stearic.
- Menthol. Being in the composition of the drug in the form of valerian herb ether, menthol helps to calm down, get rid of causeless anxiety, irritability and emotional stress. Due to its dilating effect on the coronary vessels, the component is also an antispasmodic. Eliminates headaches and smooth muscle spasms.
Such a simple composition and low cost of the drug make it a safe, reliable remedy, and Validol has a minimal number of side effects. However, despite the harmlessness of the drug, like any other medicine, it is better to use it after consultation with your doctor.
How to take Validol correctly
Before using the drug, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications and that allergies will not appear.
Capsules and tablets should be placed under the tongue and held until the medicine is completely absorbed. You can take 1 tablet or 1 capsule at a time. 3-4 doses per day are allowed. The maximum permissible dose per day is 12 capsules or 10 tablets. The duration of the treatment course should not exceed 10 days. If no result is observed after taking it, then you should consider taking other medications.
Operating principle
The center contains menthol and isovaleric acid. The latter is obtained by artificial synthesis or from natural valerian root. It is this composition that helps achieve a sedative effect, normalizes blood circulation, relieving spasms and dilating blood vessels.
After taking the pill, the pain subsides, pulse and blood pressure return to normal values.
The principle of action of the drug is based on reflex reactions that occur when nerve endings are irritated.
When mucosal receptors are stimulated, the production of hormones responsible for controlling blood vessel permeability and pain is accelerated. There is a sudden release of large amounts of peptides, dynorphins, enkephalins and endorphins.
Histamines and kinins, which are active endogenous compounds, are also released. In addition, irritation of nerve fibers causes dilation of blood vessels.
Adverse reactions and overdose
Due to individual intolerance to the components, an allergic reaction may occur, manifested by a rash, itching or hives.
If you take the medicine in excessive doses over a long period, there may be a deterioration in the condition, accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and watery eyes. Such signs are not dangerous and disappear immediately as soon as the dose is reduced to an acceptable value. Or you can stop taking it for a while.
An overdose may lower blood pressure or increase the likelihood of unwanted reactions.
An overdose can enhance the good and bad effects of taking the drug. There may be deterioration in heart function, severe pain in the head, nausea followed by vomiting, agitation, and suppression of the functions of the central nervous system.
In this case, it is advisable to begin symptomatic therapy.
How does the medicine affect blood pressure levels?
The main active ingredient of the drug, isovaleric acid, has been extracted for many centuries and is used not only for the production of Validol, it is part of the products Relaxozan, Bromural and many others. In 2007, scientists came to the conclusion that Validol was not effective enough and did not perform its functions fully, but later they returned the drug to pharmacy shelves.
There is an opinion that Validol lowers blood pressure due to a mild sedative effect, reflex vasodilation, elimination of pain and nervous tension. This effect is due to irritation of mucosal receptors due to the presence of isovaleric acid in the composition. It has the ability to regulate blood pressure in the vessels, helps release tissue hormonal components into the general bloodstream, due to which the capillaries expand.
The effect of the product is clearly evident within 4-5 minutes after absorption under the tongue. Whether Validol reduces blood pressure can be understood by studying the elementary laws of physics. The pressure level is determined by the force of blood pressure on the vascular walls. With high blood pressure, a person experiences headaches, tinnitus, spots in front of his eyes, and nausea.
All this is a response to increased pressure in the body's vascular network. Validol expands the capillaries, making their walls more elastic, and the blood pressure level decreases by several units. But you should not assume that a direct indication for the use of Validol is a decrease in blood pressure. The drug has some effect on the blood pressure in the vessels and the condition of their walls, but does not solve the issue of the root cause of hypertension.
The main factors in creating blood pressure are the rate of blood ejection and the heart rate cycle, and Validol does not affect these processes in any way. It only has a sedative effect, eliminates vascular spasms and temporarily makes the patient feel better, slightly reducing blood pressure.
Validol can be used for high blood pressure, doctors say.
special instructions
Shelf life – 24-36 months (depending on the manufacturer). It should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of 9-16 degrees.
It is not recommended to take the drug in parallel with alcoholic beverages, since alcohol can have a suppressive effect on the central nervous system, which can lead to more severe adverse reactions.
If you use Validol together with psychotropic drugs, the effectiveness of the latter will increase.
After taking it, you should stop driving for a while.
Indications and contraindications for use
According to the instructions, Validol can be used for the following pathological conditions of the body:
- prolonged stress and emotional overload that provoked neurotic disorders;
- attacks of hysterics at moments of excessive emotional stress, manifested by uncontrollable laughter, screaming, crying;
- aching pain in the heart area of unknown etiology;
- seasickness (motion sickness on an airplane, car, ship);
- narrowing of blood vessels, headaches and deterioration of health during exacerbation of hypertension.
Taking the drug is not recommended for patients with signs of myocardial infarction, respiratory failure and bronchial asthma. Also, the tablets should not be taken by children and patients who have hypersensitivity to valerian and menthol.
If a person experiences long-term aching pain behind the sternum and wants to reduce it by using Validol, there is a danger of developing the opposite effect
A “steal” effect occurs when dilation of peripheral capillaries causes insufficient blood flow to the coronary artery. As a result, there is a risk of myocardial necrosis, and chest pain often indicates a pre-infarction condition. Therefore, in such a situation, Validol will have the opposite effect.
Analogs
If the patient cannot take Validol, he may consider taking analogues.
These include:
Kratal. It is considered an expensive drug. It has an antioxidant, cardiotonic and antihypoxic effect.
Tonginal. It is also an expensive analogue. It has a complex homeopathic effect.
Pumpan. Available in the form of solution and tablets. Has metabolic, cardiotonic effects. Helps normalize heart rhythm and maintain normal blood pressure.
Instenon. The action of the drug is aimed at stabilizing blood circulation in the brain and improving brain metabolism.
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.
Form of production
The drug is available in several forms:
- pills,
- solution,
- drops,
- capsules.
The active ingredients are the same everywhere. The INN (international nonproprietary name) of the drug is levomenthol solution in menthylisovalerate. The composition of Validol depends on the form of production. Capsules contain 50 mg or 100 mg of active substance. The tablets contain 60 mg of levomenthol in menthylisovalerate. The solution is intended for drip administration and is produced in ampoules of 5 ml.
Patient reviews
Svetlana, Tula “Validol is a salvation for me and my husband. We are both heart patients, so attacks of tachycardia occur quite often. We use Validol in capsules. It seems to me that this form of release is the most effective. When unpleasant symptoms appear, I put the tablet under my tongue and try to lie down. In terms of money, the drug is also suitable for us.”
Ivan, Ryazan “I’ve been using Validol for many years. The advantages include accessibility, quick effect, ease of use. I don’t see any downsides to the drug. In terms of price-quality ratio, this is an excellent product. Of course, the drug will not help with serious pathologies. But it perfectly relieves attacks of arrhythmia and tachycardia.”
Marina, Tolyatti “I always carry Validol with me in my bag in the summer heat. It helps me relieve attacks of lightheadedness and nausea during hot periods. I don’t advise anyone to self-medicate, but you can still have a tablet of this remedy with you. I also heard that this medicine helps with motion sickness. It is relatively harmless. It is even prescribed to pregnant women.”
Anastasia, Perm “I recently felt an unpleasant pulling sensation in the heart area. By evening the pain only grew, but there was no way to go to the hospital. I took Corvalol drops, but they didn’t help. I remembered that my grandmother often takes Validol for such symptoms. I found the pills in her medicine cabinet and put one under her tongue. After 10 minutes everything went away. The pain did not recur. Although the product is cheap, it works great.”
