Valocardine is available in various dosage forms, the most common drug being in the form of drops. Pharmaceutical companies also produce Valocardine in tablets, which are presented in the form of Doxylamine effervescent tablets. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of neurological diseases of various etiologies. However, taking the drug can cause side effects from many body systems, so treatment with tablet forms of the drug should be agreed with the attending physician.
Compound
Valocordin contains several active components:
- ethyl ether or ethyl bromoisovalerate. This substance has a sedative effect, a mild hypnotic effect, and relieves spasms;
- Phenobarbital – suppresses the activity of the central nervous system, which makes it possible to relieve emotional stress.
Among the auxiliary components are hop and mint oil, ethanol, purified water.
Valocordin drops are a clear liquid with a distinct odor.
Important! The product contains psychotropic substances in limited quantities. Considering this, the medicine should be used strictly as prescribed by the doctor.
Phenobarbital
The seemingly harmless, easily accessible “penny” drops contain a substance from the barbiturate group, which has a pronounced psychotropic effect. The main consumers of valocordin are elderly people who are accustomed to trusting familiar things and often do not know or do not take into account the fact of the presence of phenobarbital in a medicine known since childhood. Meanwhile, barbiturates can be addictive.
Another category of Valocordin “lovers” are drug addicts who want to enhance the effects of other drugs or to more easily endure withdrawal symptoms in the absence of the right drug. They are well aware of the composition of the drops, which is why they are purchased and taken in doses many times higher than therapeutic ones.
Effect of the drug
The use of Valocordin allows you to achieve several goals at once, thanks to the combined composition of the drug. Phenobarbital is used to dilate blood vessels and eliminate nervous tension. Provided the correct dosage is used, the drops have a mild hypnotic effect and promote rapid falling asleep and restful sleep.
Ethylbromoisovalerate regulates the state of the central nervous system, helps a person overcome attacks of panic, anxiety, fear, and helps relieve excessive emotional excitability.
Peppermint oil enhances the therapeutic effect of the above-described components and has a mild antispasmodic and analgesic effect.
Indications for use
The drug is used to relieve symptoms of various pathologies of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, including:
- cardialgia;
- sinus type tachycardia;
- regular problems falling asleep;
- excited states with a strong vegetative reaction;
- anxiety, increased anxiety;
- constant state of fear;
- neurosis;
- irritability.
Who is the medicine prescribed to?
Indications for the use of Valocordin are quite extensive. These include:
- neuroses of various etiologies;
- vegetative lability;
- attacks of angina pectoris against the background of coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular pathologies;
- spasms in the intestines not caused by intestinal obstruction;
- comprehensive treatment of excessive gas formation;
- the initial stage of hypertension. Valocordin reduces blood pressure during frequent increases;
- panic attacks due to heart disease, stress;
- the patient has a headache that occurs periodically or is constant (migraine);
- pain in the sternum caused by spasm of the coronary vessels;
- decreased quality of sleep, insomnia;
- severe emotional stress provoked by stressful situations.
The main indication for use is high blood pressure
For high blood pressure, Valocordin is prescribed as an auxiliary therapy. Its use as an independent remedy for stage 2 and 3 hypertension is inappropriate.
Directions for use and doses
To achieve an optimal therapeutic effect, it is important to know how to take Valocordin. The standard treatment regimen is from 15 to 30 drops of the product three times a day before meals. For a single dose, a dosage of 40 drops is allowed.
How many drops are given to a child? For children, the drug is prescribed strictly under the supervision of a specialist. The dosage for them is usually no more than 15 drops.
Important! The exact dosage and duration of treatment should be determined by the doctor individually.
Contraindications and side effects
In some cases, the use of Valocordin is contraindicated:
- individual intolerance to individual components;
- kidney disorders;
- liver disorders;
- all stages of pregnancy;
- feeding period;
- children up to 17 years old inclusive.
The drug can be used with caution in cases of diagnosed alcoholism, traumatic brain injury and other pathologies associated with the brain.
Side effects are rare, mainly due to long-term use. Main features:
- increased drowsiness;
- mild dizziness;
- decreased performance.
Due to constant violation of the dosage, symptoms of bromine poisoning may occur:
- depression, mood disorders;
- rhinitis;
- diathesis of hemorrhagic type;
- conjunctivitis;
- problems with coordination of movements;
- skin rashes and other allergic reactions.
If such symptoms occur, you should immediately stop taking it and consult a doctor. In case of bromine poisoning or allergic reactions, symptomatic treatment is indicated.
How does the drug affect blood pressure?
Patients often ask: “Does Valocordin increase or decrease blood pressure?” As already mentioned, the drug has a vasodilating effect. Increasing the lumen in the veins and capillaries leads to a decrease in blood pressure. This is what allows Valocordin to be used in the initial stages of hypertension.
It follows that the drug should not be used by patients with low blood pressure. Even a small dose of medication can cause undesirable consequences and greatly reduce the mercury level.
Main contraindications
Contraindications for the drug are as follows:
- acute and chronic pathologies of the kidneys and liver;
- Valocordin should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- patient age under 18 years;
- personal intolerance to the main or auxiliary substances of the drug;
- Quincke's edema;
- vascular collapse.
The medicine is strictly contraindicated for people with vegetative-vascular dystonia and hypotension. It is not prescribed for other conditions characterized by low blood pressure.
Valocordin is prohibited in childhood
Signs of addiction
The following symptoms indicate the development of pathological addiction:
- constant use of drops under any pretext and even in minor stressful situations;
- ritual behavior: a sense of the importance of the action, careful preparation for the reception, priority over other matters;
- a person's inability to sleep or calm down without medication;
- gradual increase in dose, noticeable by the number of bubbles in the first aid kit and in the trash;
- the tendency to create a stock by buying several pieces at once;
- restlessness, depression and irritability when the drug runs out or is unavailable.
What is the danger of Valocordin
Many patients take Valocordin to lower blood pressure or normalize sleep without a doctor's prescription. Is it really that safe? The drug can bring not only benefits to the body, but also harm. More often, the side effects of Valocordin are caused by improper use of the drug or the individual characteristics of the patient.
Once in the body, phenobarbital promotes the synthesis of microsomal enzymes in the liver. Against this background, other medications taken that are metabolized in the liver do not have the desired therapeutic effect.
Phenobarbital, which is part of the medication, is a narcotic substance and is prohibited in some countries. If the dosage is strictly observed, this component does not cause negative consequences. If you violate the doctor’s recommendations or take the drug for too long, there is a risk of addiction, disruption of the functioning of the central nervous system or the development of withdrawal syndrome.
In addition, the drug can affect concentration and memory. After taking it, driving vehicles and operating potentially dangerous machinery is prohibited.
A combination such as Valocordin and alcohol poses a serious threat to human life and health. Ethyl alcohol enhances the narcotic effect of phenobarbital, so when taking alcoholic beverages, the use of Valocordin becomes extremely dangerous.
The dangers of addiction
If a patient constantly uses Valocordin, the consequences may include:
- Decreased cognitive function. The intellect suffers, memory deteriorates, the person becomes distracted and unable to concentrate.
- Mental disorders. The development of depressive and anxiety disorders, panic attacks and paranoid moods is possible. People suffer from increased drowsiness or, on the contrary, insomnia.
- Overdose. The accumulation of phenobarbital in the body, combined with the habit of choosing a dose “by eye,” can cause an unexpected overdose, which in older people is often complicated by respiratory disorders and can cause death.
- Accidents. Lethargy, drowsiness, slow reactions and inattention lead to unpleasant and sometimes tragic incidents. People forget to turn off the water, gas or electric stove, do not lock the door, fall or get hit by a car.
Absent-mindedness and forgetfulness should not be attributed to age or fatigue. If you or a loved one taking Valocordin have similar symptoms, you should see a doctor to understand the reasons.
Side effects
The instructions for use of the drug indicate the possibility of developing the following side effects of the drug:
- nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis;
- the appearance of irritability, drowsiness, nervousness;
- development of the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
- deterioration of orientation in space;
- allergic manifestations on the skin, urticaria, itching.
In the absence of a response to these signs or with a single dose of the drug in an amount significantly exceeding the dose, an overdose of Valocordin occurs. Doctors distinguish between mild, moderate and severe stages of the severity of this condition. With a mild overdose, the patient notes drowsiness, apathy, and decreased blood pressure. The average degree is accompanied by a deterioration of the condition; it happens that it is difficult to wake a person, breathing and heart rate are impaired. The severe stage carries the threat of lethargic sleep, precoma and coma.
Important! If symptoms of overdose are detected, immediate action must be taken. The patient needs to rinse his stomach, and if his condition worsens, take him to the hospital.
Headache and malaise are considered side effects of the drug
special instructions
If there is a need to use the drug during lactation, breastfeeding should be abandoned.
Valocordin is not prescribed to patients with alcohol dependence, as it contains ethanol.
The product has a relaxing sedative effect. It is dangerous for people whose work requires special care to take the medicine. This applies to drivers, pilots, workers operating complex mechanisms.
Taking the drug for too long can cause addiction, accumulation of bromine in body tissues, and toxic poisoning.
Pharmacological properties
The active substance of the drug blocks ethanolamine receptors, due to which its sedative and hypnotic effects are revealed. The drug reduces the time it takes to fall asleep, which helps to increase the duration and quality of sleep. Taking the drug does not cause changes in sleep phases. Valocardin tablets also exhibit an antiallergic effect by blocking cholinergic receptors. The sedative effect of taking the medication is equal to the effect of using barbiturates. The therapeutic effect is observed for 6–8 hours.
Analogs
There are a large number of drugs similar in their composition and therapeutic effect to the drug in question. Analogs of Valocordin can be as follows:
- homeopathic Nott's drops - used for insomnia and excessive excitability of the central nervous system. The product has a relaxing effect and normalizes heart rate;
- Cavinton tablets are used as a vasodilator, help improve oxygen supply to the brain, and help utilize excess glucose. The drug is prescribed to patients with neuralgic and mental disorders caused by cerebral circulatory disorders;
- Sibazon tablets - eliminate spasms, have a relaxing effect, help get rid of seizures, and restore heart rhythm. Sibazon belongs to a number of psychotropic drugs;
- Corvalcaps capsules are prescribed to overcome excessive nervous excitability, normalize sleep, and lower blood pressure. Indications for use include insomnia, neuroses, conditions accompanied by spasm of the coronary vessels, and intestinal spasms.
Valoserdin is a popular analogue of Valocordin
Special attention should be paid to such an analogue as Valoserdin. Patients often compare these two drugs, asking which is better and what is the difference between these drugs? Valoserdin is a Russian medicine, Valocordin is a German drug. In terms of their therapeutic effect, both drugs are identical. Their difference is in composition and cost. Valoserdin contains oregano oil, Valocordin does not. Valoserdin costs almost half as much as the German drug.
Story
Valocordin is a medicine that was created in Germany. Widespread sales began in 1934. After some time, the drug became available in the USSR, and then domestic specialists, based on it, created a medicine with a similar composition and almost similar effect - Corvalol. Currently, the medicine is no longer produced abroad, but is still popular in Russia due to its availability, low price and rapid onset of effects. It can be bought at any pharmacy without a prescription.
Patient reviews
Further in the article you can read reviews about Valocordin. Patient responses are predominantly positive and are of the following nature.
Anastasia, Irkutsk “I myself am a nervous and irritable person, I try with all my might to fight these qualities, but sometimes my nerves give in. Six months ago, I encountered a symptom such as panic attacks. People who have encountered this will understand me, the condition is simply terrible. Valocordin helped me cope with this. The drug acts quickly, literally after 3 - 5 minutes it becomes easier. I have only positive impressions about the product.”
Veronica, Moscow “Valocordin is always on our pharmacy shelf. My mother and grandmother take this product. One day I had to take it, because I was very worried before the upcoming interview, I was shaking, it was even difficult to speak. After 5 minutes of taking the drops, she calmed down and her heart stopped beating wildly. The only negative is that I didn’t dare get behind the wheel, because I read that the medicine reduces concentration.”
Ekaterina, Ufa “I always took Valocordin during times of severe anxiety or insomnia. This continued until I learned about the possible negative consequences and addiction to the product. Now I take it much less often and with caution. Pros: fast action, affordable price. Disadvantages: strong, repulsive smell, unpleasant taste.”
conclusions
Valocordin brings calm and has the ability to relieve vasospasm. The main active ingredients (phenobarbital and ethyl ester of bromoisovaleric acid) are toxic. However, when following the instructions, the risk of overdose is minimized.
There are such analogues of the drug Valocordin: Valordin, Valoserdin, Valoferin, Corvalol, Lavocordin, Pangluferal. In some of them, phenobarbital is replaced by diazepam.
Valocordin and its substitutes are poorly compatible with a good reaction, so they should not be taken by people in professions that require constant concentration (drivers).
