Corvalol - 52 reviews, instructions for use

Corvalol is a popular medicine, especially among older people. Available in the form of drops and tablets. In the minds of many, it is used when “the heart is in pain.” In fact, this combination drug belongs to the group of sedatives and hypnotics. It is not easy to find out the whole truth about Corvalol. Despite the fact that the drug is decades old, even doctors have ambivalent attitudes towards it.

Professor Pavel Vorobyov, head of an organization engaged in research into cost-effectiveness in pharmacology, believes that Corvalol should be classified as a hard drug and sold only by prescription. Its use prevents patients from seeing a doctor on time and hides the symptoms of serious diseases.

Also, uncontrolled use of the drug can lead to the development of side effects, addiction and poisoning.

Pharmacological actions

Drops are classified as combination medications. “Corvalol” has a calming effect, which is explained by the components included in the medication.

Phenobarbital, a component that is part of the drug, has a sedative and hypnotic effect on the body. When used simultaneously with sedative medications, this substance can enhance their pharmacological effect.

According to the instructions for use of Corvalol, it is known that peppermint, which is part of the drug, has vasodilating and antispasmodic properties at the reflex level.

Under the influence of the main components of the drug on the body, the process of falling asleep and the activity of the nervous system return to normal.

Isovaleric acid is similar in its therapeutic effect to valerian and has a pronounced sedative effect on the nervous system.

Undesirable consequences

If you follow the dosage and other medical recommendations, the medicine is tolerated normally. In case of overdose or hypersensitivity to the components of the formula, unforeseen consequences may occur:

Hand tremors;
Dyspeptic disorders;
Decreased performance, slow reactions, loss of strength;
Drops in blood pressure to critical levels, changes in heart rate.

In most cases, all symptoms disappear spontaneously after stopping the medication.

Indications

Drops are recommended for patients over twelve years of age to eliminate the following conditions and diseases:

Pain behind the sternum.
Increased blood pressure readings.
Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat of 100 beats per minute).
Disruption of the process of falling asleep.
Feeling of fear.
Shortness of breath (lack of air).
Neurasthenia (a mental illness that manifests itself in increased irritability, as well as fatigue, loss of the ability for prolonged mental and physical stress).
Hypochondria (a human condition manifested in constant worry about the possibility of contracting one or more somatic diseases).
Depression (a mental disorder whose main symptoms are low mood and a decrease or loss of the ability to experience pleasure).
Unstable emotional background.
Flatulence (bloating).
Panic attacks with vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Contraindications

Before taking the medicine, the patient should thoroughly read the instructions for use, since Corvalol has certain prohibitions. These include:

Increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
Lactation (the process of formation, accumulation and periodic excretion of milk in humans and mammals).
Severe liver or kidney disease.
Age up to twelve years.

This drug should be used with extreme caution during pregnancy and severe bradycardia.

Who is the antispasmodic contraindicated for?

The medication is not prescribed for:

Gestation and lactation (it is recommended to transfer the child to artificial nutrition);
Dysfunctions of the liver and kidneys;
Chronic alcoholism;
Epileptic seizures and convulsions of other etiologies;
Individual intolerance to the ingredients of the formula;
Lactase deficiency, lactose sensitivity.

Tablets are also not prescribed for children, since studies have not been conducted for this category of people. Hypotensive patients should take the medicine with caution, as it lowers blood pressure.

How to take the drug correctly?

Drops are intended for oral administration. The medicine is first diluted with water. According to the instructions for use for Corvalol drops, it is known that a single dosage of the medicine varies from fifteen to twenty-five drops three times a day. If necessary, under the supervision of a medical specialist, the dose of the drug can be increased to fifty drops. How much Corvalol can be consumed per day by patients over the age of twelve? A single dose for them should not exceed fifteen drops.

The duration of therapy with Corvalol is determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Opinions

Reviews of Corvalol in tablets and drops are usually good, since the effectiveness of the drug has been tested by time. But along with positive responses, you can also find negative ones. In most situations, they note that the medication really calms, but at the same time dulls reactions and provokes lethargy. According to reviews, side effects of Corvalol occur quite often with long-term use.

Many people know about Corvalol as a drug to calm the heart and eliminate neuroses, but it turns out that it can also be used as a remedy for acne and herpes.

If acne occurs, cosmetologists recommend a “talk” based on “Corvalol” in drops. Shake the solution well before use. Then they wipe their face after washing, usually before going to bed. If you believe the responses, in order to eliminate the inflammatory process, four days of using the “talker” is enough.

Some patients apply the solution to the acne pointwise. Within three to four procedures, the acne rash noticeably dries out, and inflammation decreases.

From patient reviews, it became known that for herpes on the lips, the drug is best used as soon as unpleasant symptoms arise. The only negative aspect of this therapy is that Corvalol significantly dries out the skin, so when using the solution it is necessary to take additional care.

Can I take the medicine during pregnancy?

In the first three months of pregnancy, Corvalol is prohibited for pregnant women. Phenobarbital, which is part of the drug, passes through the placenta to the fetus, and the use of this medication can provoke intrauterine growth retardation in the baby.

The question of whether Corvalol can be used in subsequent trimesters is decided by a woman in an interesting position with her doctor, having carefully weighed the pros and cons.

Since phenobarbital and ethyl bromoisovalerate can be excreted in breast milk, the use of the drug by women during breastfeeding is prohibited. If therapy with this medication is necessary, you should consider canceling lactation.

What side effects does Corvalol have?

If the indicated dosages of the drug are observed, the drops are well tolerated by patients. In rare situations, people with increased individual sensitivity may experience the following side effects:

Dizziness (loss of balance, loss of ground from under your feet).
Weakness.
Lethargy.
Lethargy (a condition that occurs in the form of a decrease in a person’s reaction speed).
Nausea.
Vomiting (reflex eruption of stomach contents through the mouth).
Excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines.
Rhythmic, rapid contractions of the muscles of the trunk or limbs of an involuntary nature.
Slowing heart rate.
Low blood pressure.

As a rule, all these side effects of Corvalol immediately disappear on their own after stopping treatment.

Prices, composition, in what form they sell

The price for Corvalol is quite affordable: tablets can be bought for about 130 rubles, drops for an average of 30 rubles.
You can purchase the medicine without a prescription. If the conditions are met (storing the medicine out of the reach of the sun, children and animals), the manufacturer guarantees the shelf life of the drug for two years for tablets and one and a half years for the liquid form of the medicine. Temperature range for drops is up to 15 ºС, for tablets – 15-25 ºС.

The manufacturer offers the drug in the form of:

Round tablets with a beveled edge, white (blotches are allowed). The medicine is packaged in 10 pcs. into contour plates with cells. A box can contain from two to one hundred such blisters. There are packs of 10, 30 or 50 outline media.
Drops - a glass bottle with a dispenser with a capacity of 10 to 50 ml, as well as a jar (100 ml). In the box you can find one such jar or bottle.

The combined medication contains both natural and synthetic ingredients in its formulation. In liquid form it is phenobarbital, ethyl ester of α-bromoisovaleric acid (basic ingredients). The additional ingredients of the formula are: peppermint oil, 95% ethanol, prepared water and other components. The alcohol content in the liquid is about 47%.

In Corvalol, the composition of the tablets is not fundamentally different: phenobarbital, ethyl ester of α-bromoisovaleric acid and mint oil. Cellulose, starch, lactose and other ingredients are used as fillers.

Drug poisoning

With prolonged use of the medication in large dosages, a person becomes addicted and symptoms of bromine accumulation in the body appear. This may be expressed in the following signs:

Lethargy.
Apathy (a state that manifests itself in indifference, indifference, a detached attitude towards what is happening in the world around us, in the absence of desire for any activity).
Slowing down the reaction to what is happening.
Hemorrhagic diathesis (a disease characterized by an increased predisposition of the body to the accumulation of blood on the surface of the skin, which manifests itself independently, without any apparent reason, or after injury).
Rhinitis (inflammatory disease in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, which is manifested by swelling and congestion).
Conjunctivitis (inflammatory disease of the conjunctiva - the mucous membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids).
Depression (a mental disorder whose main symptoms are low mood and a decrease or loss of the ability to experience pleasure).
Severe pain in the stomach.
Loss of appetite.
An unpleasant sensation in the epigastric region, chest, mouth and pharynx often precedes vomiting.
Intestinal bloating (a strong increase in the size of the abdomen, which is accompanied by unpleasant feelings: seething, pain, cramping).
Constipation (slow, difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movements).
Nystagmus (a disease characterized by involuntary oscillatory eye movements).
Decrease in blood pressure readings.

If such signs appear, the patient should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

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.

Interaction with other medications

According to the instructions for use of Corvalol drops, it is known that when the medicine is taken together with drugs from the group of sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines, an increased suppressive effect on the nervous system is observed.

The phenobarbital contained in the drops may reduce the effectiveness of coumarin, glucocorticosteroids, and drugs from the group of oral contraceptives, which patients should be warned about.

Under the influence of the components included in Corvalol, the pharmacological effect of painkillers and analgesics for oral administration may increase. The drug increases the toxicity of Methotrexate when used together.

Alcohol compatibility

Alcohol enhances the effects of Corvalol. The medication is contraindicated for alcohol dependent people. Their interaction primarily provokes damage to hepatocytes and the occurrence of a disulfiram-ethanol reaction. Alcohol is a contraindication! Side effects of Corvalol drops and tablets can be fatal.

Penetrating into the blood, alcohol increases heart rate, increases blood pressure and excites the central nervous system. Corvalol is used to lower high blood pressure and calm the heart. This combination causes disruption and overload of the body.

Peppermint oil has a vasodilating effect and reduces blood viscosity. Since alcoholic drinks enhance the effect of the medicine, taking it in large quantities after consuming the drug can cause side effects from Corvalol, such as internal bleeding and cerebral hemorrhage.

Another possible result of the combination is cardiac arrest. Frequently mixing Corvalol with alcoholic beverages can cause addiction that is stronger than just alcohol.

This is due to the fact that one of the substances in the drug is phenobarbital, which, with prolonged use, causes addiction and drug dependence.

Peculiarities

The medicine is not recommended for people under the age of twelve due to the lack of clinical experience and information regarding the effects of the active components of the medicine on the child’s body. It is also necessary to remember that Corvalol and alcohol are incompatible things. They cannot be used together. When treating with Corvalol, you should abstain from alcohol, since alcohol enhances the therapeutic effect of the drug, which can lead to the development of serious negative effects.

Since Corvalol has a direct effect on the activity of the central nervous system, the patient should refrain from driving and activities that require increased attention during therapy with this medicine.

The presence of phenobarbital in the composition can cause the development of Lyell's syndrome or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. This is most likely in the first weeks of using Corvalol.

special instructions

In severe attacks of angina, the use of the drug is not justified.

Due to the fact that Corvalol contains ethanol and phenobarbital, patients during therapy are not recommended to engage in potentially hazardous activities that require increased attention and speed of psychomotor reactions.

If any side effects occur, you should report them to your doctor.

Analogues of Corvalol

The following drugs are considered similar in their therapeutic effects to medicine:

"Barboval."
"Valocordin".
"Validol".
"Corvalment".
"Valoserdin."
“Dobrokam.”
"Valerian".
"Phytosedan".
"Corvaltab".
"Sedoflor".

Harm and benefits of Corvalol

Increasingly, disputes arise about how harmful the drug is and what benefits it can have for the body. Not long ago, information was spread that they wanted to stop selling the medicine in Russia, but this remained only rumors; the drug is still sold in pharmacies. The harm and benefits of Corvalol are still being discussed.

But in foreign countries these sedative drops remain banned. Our habit of using the drug is so high that removing it from pharmacies will cause a storm of negative emotions.

At the same time, the medicine will gradually be replaced by more modern medicines with increased efficiency and a minimum of side effects. The active substances have a detrimental effect on the psyche and provoke instant addiction.

Does Corvalol bring harm or benefit? Over the years, Corvalol has been used by millions of patients, and for the most part there were no negative results. When used in small recommended dosages, the medicine quickly eliminates feelings of anxiety and normalizes heart rate. When used correctly, the drops are safe; with constant uncontrolled use, it becomes necessary to increase the dosage each time.

Video on the topic

Does Corvalol lower blood pressure? And if so, when using Corvalol for high blood pressure, how many drops should you take? Answers in the video:

Over its century-long history, Corvalol has helped improve the well-being of millions of people around the world. Today this drug is still in demand. This is evidenced by the positive reviews of a huge army of patients. Of course, some people complain of drowsiness, apathy, and dizziness. But these consequences are mainly associated with an incorrectly selected dosage.

After all, Corvalol provides real help for headaches and high blood pressure only when taken correctly. In addition, consumers are pleased with the affordable cost of the drug. Stress and nervous breakdowns await the modern person both in everyday life and during leisure. Often, the well-proven Corvalol helps restore good spirits and calmness.