Often a person may experience an attack of fear, anxiety, insomnia and psychomotor agitation. All these symptoms are the result of neuroses or indicate the development of disorders of the cardiovascular system. To eliminate them, most people use improvised medicines that they have in their medicine cabinets. As a rule, such drugs are valocordin or corvalol. They can eliminate negative phenomena in a short time, which is suitable for providing first aid at home. However, these medications have differences. There are also some application features. Let's try to find out which is better - Valocordin or Corvalol?
Characteristics of drugs
Corvalol or Valocordin is a group of drugs that have a sedative and antispasmodic effect, thanks to the active substance - phenobarbital.
Medicines are available in tablet form and in the form of drops
Initially, Valocordin was produced in Germany using a specially developed formula. After some time, its formula was introduced in the CIS countries, as a result of which its analogue appeared - Corvalol. Currently, the drugs are banned in Europe due to their toxic effects on the brain and liver. However, they continue to be in demand among the elderly population in the countries of the former USSR due to their low cost and sale without a prescription.
The therapeutic effect of both drugs is aimed at eliminating vascular spasm, as a result of which normal blood circulation is restored. The duration of the therapeutic effect of such drugs is determined by the concentration and rate of elimination of the active substances from the body. So, if the medicine is removed, negative symptoms may resume, but in the presence of concomitant diseases.
What is the difference between Validol and Valocordin?
The history of Valocordin begins in the middle of the twentieth century, when the German drug Corvalol appeared, the chemical composition of which was adapted for production in the USSR.
This is probably the main difference between Corvalol and Valocordin. By the way, it is no longer prescribed in Europe, and it is produced “exclusively” for the countries of the post-Soviet space. The action of Corvalol has something in common with the action of some components of Valocordin, but Valocordin is a complex medicine, and Corvalol is a single drug (with one active ingredient).
Composition of medications
Most patients are wondering which is better - Valocordin or Corvalol? To answer this question, you must first become familiar with the active ingredients of medications and the effects they have on the human body.
Medicines have almost identical components, but they differ in their mechanism of action
The common active ingredients of both drugs are:
- Phenobarbital. The drug, which belongs to the group of barbiturates, is the main active ingredient. It has a sedative effect on the central nervous system.
- Alpha-bromoisovaleric acid. Has minor sedative, hypnotic and analgesic effects.
- Peppermint oil. It has a sedative effect on the emotional and mental spheres.
- Ethanol. In preparations it acts as a solvent for active components. A depressant that depresses mental activity.
Consequently, these are drugs that are almost identical in composition. The only way they differ is the presence of a small amount of hop essential oil in Valocordin. Its action is to eliminate anxiety attacks, sudden mood swings and insomnia. It helps to stabilize the emotional background of patients without worsening their general condition.
Harm of Corvalol.
With a single dose, the harm of Corvalol can only consist of possible allergic reactions, increased inhibitory effects of other medications taken, and overdose when taken in large doses. The main danger lies in cases of long-term and constant use of Corvalol. In such cases, the nervous system suffers: toxic encephalopathy develops with sleep disturbances, memory loss (even dementia), polyneuropathy; when Corvalol is withdrawn, convulsions and a withdrawal state with psychosis may develop. Long-term use of Corvalol is harmful with a high risk of developing mental and physical dependence, because, as written above, it contains two strong psychoactive substances: ethyl alcohol and phenobarbital. Treatment of encephalopathy and addiction caused by Corvalol may require hospitalization.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous!
Corvalol contains two strong psychotropic components: ethyl alcohol and phenobarbital. With constant use, it causes dependence and the need to take larger and larger doses, and after stopping its use or reducing the dose, withdrawal syndrome develops. Be careful with Corvalol and you will be healthier!
Indications for use
Valocordin or Corvalol is widely used to treat diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Taking medications helps patients delay an angina attack for a short time
Valocordin helps eliminate the following symptoms:
- relief of a pain attack in the left side of the chest;
- disturbance of rhythmic contraction of the myocardium;
- insomnia;
- causeless attacks of fear;
- neurotic disorders.
The drug reduces tension in the nervous system and eliminates vascular spasms.
The action of Corvalol is aimed at eliminating the following symptoms:
- Increased excitability of the nervous system.
- Narrowing of the coronary vessels.
- Decrease in blood pressure readings.
- Functional disorders in the cardiovascular system.
- Spasm of the walls of the digestive tract.
Corvalol, Valocordin or Valoserdin are a group of drugs whose action is aimed at lowering blood pressure, so the opinion that these drugs increase blood pressure is erroneous. As a result, patients experience drowsiness and a feeling of peace after a decrease in blood pressure. Such medications should be taken with caution by patients diagnosed with hypertension, as well as by persons prone to lower blood pressure disorders.
Side effects and overdose
In many Western countries, taking Valocordin is prohibited due to the presence of phenobarbital, which is a narcotic drug. Both medications often cause drug dependence, both physical and psychological.
To relieve attacks of neurotic overstrain, new medications have been developed without the use of phenobarbital, which are safe for the body, but their cost is much higher than Valocordin. If you use medications Valoserdin or Valocordin for a long period of time, the development of quite severe negative reactions of the body is possible:
| System | Negative reactions |
| Centers of the nervous system |
|
| Respiratory system |
|
| Blood circulation system and heart |
|
| Digestive tract |
|
| Hematopoietic system |
|
| Allergic reactions |
|
An overdose of a medication is manifested by the following symptoms:
- dizziness;
- deep and long sleep;
- body fatigue.
In case of severe drug intoxication, the following signs appear:
- rapid heartbeat that slows down;
- breathing is frequent and shallow, then slows down;
- severely reduced blood pressure;
- lack of reflexes;
- a coma state in which organ hypoxia begins to develop;
- pulmonary edema.
To treat intoxication, the patient is urgently taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit, where doctors will ensure the supply of oxygen to the organs using an artificial respiration apparatus.
It is also necessary to restore blood flow with the help of an infusion of blood plasma, or with the help of medications that increase the volume of plasma blood. If an overdose occurs accidentally, then you must immediately rinse the stomach (induce vomiting) and drink sorbents. And be sure to go to the hospital for further treatment of symptoms of barbiturate overdose.
What is the difference between the drugs?
There is no particular difference between the drugs, since they both contain barbituric acid, which has antispasmodic and sedative effects. Medicines are used to treat neurogenic diseases, as well as to eliminate the symptoms of disorders in the cardiovascular system.
Before starting barbiturate therapy, it is necessary to consult with a specialist so that he can select the optimal treatment regimen and help take into account all contraindications
However, there are some differences between the drugs:
- The presence of essential oils of hop cones and mint in Valocordin.
- The cost of Corvalol is lower than its foreign counterpart.
- The release form of the domestic drug also includes tablets.
What should you pay attention to when choosing between these drugs?
First of all, you need to pay attention to the need to take the drug with phenobarbital in general. If you expect only a sedative effect from the drug, it is better to replace it with something safer, for example, motherwort tincture.
The difference between Corvalol and Valocordin is obvious: these are two drugs with different complex compositions that must be taken if indicated. But in any case, they cannot act as first-line drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and their use as symptomatic therapy sometimes also raises questions about the appropriateness, since in 2007 these drugs were declared obsolete, with unproven effectiveness, although In 2009, Validol regained its title as a medicinal product.
Drug compatibility and analogues
The described drugs actively interact with others. Their influence is quite significant; this information should not be neglected.
Corvalol and Valocordin when taken in combination with other medications:
- enhance the effect of central nervous system depressants, which can lead to breathing problems;
increase the strength of sleeping pills, analgesics, and local painkillers;- reduce the effectiveness of drugs that regulate metabolism in the liver, for example, oral contraceptives, glucocorticosteroids;
- suppress the effect of central nervous system stimulants, since they are opposite in essence;
- reduce the effect of antibiotics;
- with gold preparations increase the risk of kidney damage;
- with non-steroidal drugs increase the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding.
- with alcohol they significantly increase its toxicity and lead to severe alcohol poisoning, and sometimes even to cardiac arrest.
Similar drugs are selected according to their composition and therapeutic effects. In modern pharmacology, there is a list of drugs that can replace Valocordin and Corvalol:
- Valoserdin is an almost similar composition, which additionally contains oregano oil - an effective substance for relieving pain, it is even equated to Morphine.
- Barboval - has a sedative effect, and also suppresses flatulence and slows down intestinal motility.
- Corvalol Phyto - manufactured at the same plant as regular Corvalol, it is distinguished by a safe herbal composition and the absence of phenobarbital.
- Persen is a herbal medicine with a mild effect.
For those who are wary of phenobarbital, you can opt for the last two medications on this list - Corvalol Phyto and Persen, because they have a completely safe herbal composition and good consumer reviews.
Give me medicine for arrhythmia!
The concept of “arivitamin for the heart.” This is complete nonsense; such “vitamins” do not exist in nature. The heart is not a strawberry patch, and medicine is not manure. So in most cases it is a waste of money.
Beta blockers (anaprilin, obzidan, atenolol, concor). These drugs slow down the pulse and can actually be effective for certain types of arrhythmia (tachycardia, extrasystole). But they can also be ineffective, and they can also be harmful.
In order for a doctor to prescribe such drugs, he needs to carefully analyze at least a cardiogram. Blindly, without monitoring the heart rate, without knowing the mechanism of arrhythmia, these drugs can be dangerous, especially in older people.
Indications and contraindications
Like any other drug, the drugs in question have certain indications for use, as well as restrictions on use. Only the attending physician can assess the patient’s condition and choose a drug for the following symptoms:
- cardiopalmus;
- sleep disorders;
- stress;
- excitement;
- chest pain;
- increased blood pressure;
- intestinal spasms.
Indications for use of Corvalol
The restrictions for both drugs are the same:
- period of breastfeeding and pregnancy;
- renal and liver failure;
- sensitivity to drug components;
- recent TBI and brain diseases;
- heart attack;
- diabetes;
- alcoholism and drug addiction.
Children are sometimes also prescribed Valocordin and Corvalol. Indications for use in pediatrics:
- pain in the heart area;
- short-term tachycardia;
- restless sleep;
- emotional overexcitation;
- anxiety;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- intestinal colic;
- elevated temperature due to a viral disease or as a reaction to a vaccine.
In pediatric practice, both drugs should be used with great caution, taking into account problems with the liver and kidneys, low blood pressure, and compatibility with other drugs that suppress the central nervous system. Only a doctor can prescribe the drug, otherwise you can seriously harm the growing body. Often such appointments are made to children after 12 years of age, but sometimes starting from the third year of life.
In pharmacology, there is an analogue for children - Corvalol Kid. Its fundamental difference is the absence of phenobarbital in its composition, which makes it safer, since only herbal components remain there. Used in a course of two to four weeks.
What can replace them?
Valocordin and Corvalol are popular exclusively in the post-Soviet space.
Many countries around the world have abandoned their use, citing the lack of a proven effect and the harmfulness of phenobarbital to the body, but a more likely reason is the struggle of pharmaceutical companies for a market niche in the field of sedatives.
Currently, there are many drugs that have a similar effect.
The most commonly used:
| № | Name of the drug | Release form | Price |
| 1 | Adonis-bromine | Tab. (pack of 20 pcs.) | From 50 rub. |
| 2 | Arboval | Cap. (25 ml.) | From 75 rub. |
| 3 | Corvaldin | Cap. (25 ml.) | From 60 rub. |
| 4 | Valeriana Forte | Tab. 0.04 No. 50 | From 140 rub. |
| 5 | Carniland | Cap. (25 ml.) | From 100 rub. |
| 6 | Valoserdin | Cap. (50 ml.) | From 105 rub. |
| 7 | Valeodicramen | Cap. (25 ml.) | From 115 rub. |
| 8 | Bellataminal | Tab. (pack of 30 pcs.) | From 160 rub. |
| 9 | Cliophyte | Elixir (250 ml.) | From 180 rub. |
| 10 | Valemidin | Cap. (50 ml.) | From 195 rub. |
| 11 | Persen | Tab. (20 pcs.) | From 180 rub. |
Sometimes Valocordin and Corvalol are replaced with Validol tablets or drops. This drug relieves an alarming symptom and normalizes the pulse during arrhythmia.
Along with these drugs, Corvalol can be replaced with medicinal preparations (Sedative No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and other natural-based products containing motherwort, lemon balm, mint, etc. This group includes Novo-Passit, liquid hop extract, Fito Novo-Sed, Fitorelax, Soothing, etc.
It should be borne in mind that all of the listed products have different compositions, but have properties similar to Valocordin and Corvalol. With complex therapy, they improve the patient’s general condition, but each of them has contraindications, so before using them you need to consult a doctor.
Aspirin for blood thinning
The idea of taking aspirin just like that, for prevention, “to thin the blood,” because “all friends over 45 already take it,” was very popular just recently. It was believed that aspirin's ability to prevent platelet aggregation could significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and other vascular accidents.
However, it turned out that if a healthy or almost healthy person takes aspirin, the number of heart attacks prevented is very small, but the risk of bleeding increases. Therefore, cardiologists around the world are gradually reconsidering the idea of the preventive role of aspirin in healthy people, prescribing it only to patients with coronary heart disease (including after myocardial infarction and bypass surgery/stenting), patients after a stroke, as well as with severe atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the legs.
In other words, you should not take aspirin on your own, without a doctor’s recommendation.
It is bad when the patient does not have one attending physician who would completely control the therapy. In this case, the patient independently goes from doctor to doctor, collecting prescriptions for the treatment of various diseases. For some reason, every doctor considers it his duty to prescribe at least four or five drugs, which seems to be frivolous otherwise. If the patient decides to take all of this, 15–20 items will appear in his medicine cabinet at the same time. Sometimes patients come to me with a specific task: “Doctor, the clinic prescribed me a total of 20 medications. Help me reduce their number..."
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