We all experience stress almost all the time. This is the inevitable result of our lifestyle. Stress leads to a large number chronic diseases, including mental ones. Because of it, mainly, the pressure rises, the head and heart hurt, sleep and appetite are disturbed. In conditions constant stress the nervous system is constantly in excited state, and this is abnormal for the body, so it begins to fight it in its own way, and this leads to other disorders. Chronic stress has long needed to be isolated as a separate disease and a sick leave should be issued for it.
Each of us struggles with such a situation in our own way. Someone uses "grandmother's" recipes, someone gets tranquilizers such as Nozepam and Diazepam, others relieve stress with alcohol. And some use the simplest of available funds- takes valerian. Moreover, it is very cheap and effective. depressant freely sold in pharmacies. Rarely does anyone have these yellow pills or tinctures at home, especially those who are suffering high blood pressure or heart disease.
Valerian is perennial... Its roots and rhizomes have a pronounced sedative - calming effect. Therefore, they are widely used in pharmaceuticals for the manufacture of tablets or tinctures. In addition to the sedative effect, valerian has an antispasmodic effect, therefore it can be used for spasms of the gastrointestinal organs - intestinal tract... Scope of application of valerian: various mental and neurotic disorders- nervous excitement, psychosis, neuroses, epilepsy; heart disease with spasms - angina pectoris, myocardial infarction; antiemetic effect is achieved by eliminating stomach cramps.
Each manufacturer uses different technologies, so the composition of the tablets may differ slightly. Each tablet may contain one hundred or two hundred milligrams of valerian root powder or their thick extract. Also widespread alcohol solution- Valerian tincture.
The usual doses that can be taken without harm to health are 1-2 tablets or 20-30 drops of tincture 3 times a day. Due to the accumulation in the body up to effective dose, best effect can be obtained if you use valerian in courses of 10 - 14 days. In the case of a single use, the effect is not so pronounced, but you can resort to it if necessary by drinking 3-4 tablets.
Like any medicine, valerian has a life-threatening and health-threatening effect in case of an overdose. Still, you need to remember that these are not sweets. Some people think that if these pills are made from grass, then you can eat them with spoons, because they are weak and there will be no harm. This is a big mistake.
Long-term use or a single dose that is too much can lead to trouble. An antispasmodic effect, for example, can lead to disruption of digestion processes - their slowdown, nausea, vomiting. The sedative effect can be so pronounced that the brain can fall into a stupor - it is noticeably slower to work, all reactions will decrease, and there is no need to talk about attentiveness and talk. Therefore, valerian should not be used for depression. Depression of the nervous system can even lead to even suicide attempts - suicide.
In addition, instead of a decrease in the excitation of the nervous system, its excitement may occur - an “opposite” action will occur. This will further aggravate what these pills were drinking against. And excessive excitement is rapid rise pressure, strong headache, pain in the heart, finally - anxiety, fear, insomnia ... There will be no poisoning, but it will be very - very bad. In case of an overdose, you will have to do a gastric lavage, and this procedure cannot be called pleasant.
Such is this valerian that everyone has. When used correctly, it saves our nerves, when used excessively, it hurts. But the same can be said about any other medicine. Read the instructions before use or ask your doctor
Happens in life different situations: we are nervous, worried, frustrated. How to avoid sleep problems and ensure normal health without loss of performance? Surely we resort to help sedatives... In this article, you will learn:
- what effect does it have;
- indications for its use and contraindications;
- possible side effects and much more.
To begin with, it is important to note that this medicine is available in two forms (tablets and tincture). Today we will talk about valerian tablets. Instructions, reviews, price and other issues will be covered in the article.
Composition
The preparation contains the following components:
- valerian extract;
- magnesium carbonate;
- croscarmellose sodium;
- potato starch;
- calcium stearate;
- gelatin.
The active ingredient is valerian extract. The rest of the components are auxiliary. Please note that this drug enhances the effect of:
- sedative pills;
- hypnotics;
- antispasmodics.
Be sure to tell your doctor what else you are taking.
Release form
Before we answer the question of how many valerian tablets can be taken at a time, you need to get acquainted with the release form. Buy pills only in specialized stores(pharmacies), avoid fakes.
Valerian extract can be purchased in packs of ten or fifty tablets, they are yellow or brown.
pharmachologic effect
How to drink valerian tablets? To begin with, valerian extract is made from medicinal plant... You can see it in the photo below. Another name for this plant is "cat grass", it is obtained due to the specific effect on the behavior of these domestic animals.
Valerian tablets are made from raw materials vegetable origin... The drug has a mild sedative effect on the body. This is due to the fact that the composition includes essential oil, valerin and khotenin. As a result, a prolonged sedative effect is observed.
Under the influence of the drug, the following processes occur:
- slowing down reactions in the cerebral cortex;
- increased synthesis and secretion of GABA.
This effect is achieved as a result of the combined action of the substances that make up the "Valerian".
Consequences of admission:
- facilitating the onset of natural sleep;
- antispasmodic effect;
- choleretic effect;
- activation of the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal mucosa;
- slowing down of the heart rate;
- expansion of the coronary vessels.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Currently, there is very little information on the pharmacokinetics of the drug. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to identify the onset of valerian action. Answering the question, how much valerian acts in tablets, one can only rely on observations of the concentration of valeric acid in human blood. Studies have shown that after oral administration 600 mg of dry extract of valerian, the highest concentration of acid is noted after an hour, maximum two.
It is also important to note here that the pharmacokinetics does not change with repeated administration of the drug.
Indications
In this section, we will note the indications for the use of valerian. These include:
- strong nervous excitement;
- insomnia;
- trouble falling asleep;
- migraine;
- disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- spasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
Please note that in the last two cases, taking only one valerian will not help. This drug is used in complex treatment... How many valerian tablets can you take at a time? It is recommended to take one or two tablets at a time. The number of receptions per day should not exceed three. Before using the drug, you must consult a doctor who will notify you about all the features of the intake and dosages.
What else should you pay attention to? "Valerian" is a fairly common sedative for people with normal pressure it is enough to take a couple of tablets before bedtime (for falling asleep quickly) and a couple of pills in the morning for wellness... With extreme caution, it is worth drinking pills for people suffering from low blood pressure.
Contraindications
In this section, we will get acquainted with the contraindications to the use of this medicinal product. Many women are interested in the question: is it possible for pregnant women to drink valerian in tablets? After all, anxiety, stress, bad dream are frequent companions in the life of pregnant women. So, you should avoid taking it in the first trimester of pregnancy. What other contraindications are there? These include:
- hypersensitivity to components;
- children's age (up to three years);
- intolerance to fructose;
- deficiency of lactose, sucrose, isomaltase.
As for the second and third trimester of pregnancy, before taking it, you need to consult a doctor who is leading the pregnancy.
Side effects
How many valerian tablets can be taken at a time, we mentioned earlier, focused on indications and contraindications. Now you need to focus on the possible side effects. Since this drug is made from natural ingredients, it is usually well tolerated. After application, the following changes are noticeable:
- head and heart pains pass;
- the person calms down;
- general well-being improves;
- sleep is normalized.
You should not wait for an immediate effect, it will become noticeable only after undergoing a course of treatment. But you should not take the drug for a long time and in large quantities, because this increases the chances of side effects or overdose. The first are:
- allergic reaction;
- lethargy;
- drowsiness;
- decreased performance;
- in some cases, constipation is possible.
An overdose of valerian tablets can lead to serious health problems. This issue will be considered in detail a little later.
Method of administration and dosage
In this section, you can learn how to drink valerian tablets. In the instructions for this drug it is indicated that the medicine should be taken no more than three times a day. How many valerian tablets can you take at a time? It is recommended to take no more than two tablets at a time. They should be drunk strictly after meals.
If necessary, the doctor can adjust the dosage, but this should not be done if the patient suffers from impaired liver and kidney function. The duration of the course of treatment should not exceed four weeks in order to avoid overdose. The course of treatment with this drug can be repeated after a short interval of time.
Please note that there are other types of valerian, for example, Bulgarian or brown. The dosage must be determined by the attending physician. Tell how and in what quantities this drug should be used for certain diseases and the attending physician should also suggest a scheme.
Overdose
This section will be completely devoted to the issue of overdose of valerian tablets. What symptoms can play in a person:
- drowsiness;
- muscle weakness;
- lethargy;
- other dysfunctions of the central nervous system;
- bradycardia;
- arrhythmia;
- nausea;
- heartburn;
- dilated pupils;
- tremors in the hands;
- dizziness.
Please note that such serious disorders as bradycardia and arrhythmia can only be observed with serious overdoses (20 times higher than the norm prescribed in the instructions for use). The lethal dose is not indicated in the instructions, as it depends entirely on general condition human health.
When these symptoms appear, you need to do the following actions: completely refuse to take the drug, within three hours do a gastric lavage (drink a liter pure water and induce vomiting), take a drug with a sorbing effect. The latter include "Smecta" and "Polysorb". Please note that the stomach should not be flushed for people who have taken the drug more than three hours ago. If a child under three years of age is poisoned, this manipulation is contraindicated.
Valerian (Valerian) is the most commonly used herb for sleeping and sedation and is considered the safest natural remedy... However, it can also cause side effects if used incorrectly and overdose. Even valerian poisoning is possible.
Valerian (Valerian officinalis), a well-known remedy that is used as a root in folk medicine and traditional. First of all, it has a sedative (sedative) effect, and therefore found application as a "sedative" in lung conditions nervous tension and difficulty falling asleep. However, valerian has other healing properties, among others, relaxing, so you can use it for stomach cramps or during painful periods.
It should be noted, however, that valerian medications have different health values depending on whether they are alcoholic or aqueous extracts, since the main active ingredients are primarily essential oil, as well as valepotrites (although the latter are very unstable and are found in raw materials in small quantities), they dissolve better in alcohol than in water. In addition, the drying method also has great importance- the roots and rhizomes of valerian are properly dried in drying machines heated to a temperature of 35 ° C. If drying occurs at more high temperature, active substances contained in them lose their health-improving properties.
Mechanism of action
Valerian contains several active connections, which are gamma neuroreceptors aminobutyric acid... This herbal extract increases the release of GABA from nerve cells and prevents the reabsorption of this chemical when it is released. As a result, the signal about the effect of GABA in the brain is amplified. GABA is a neurotransmitter mainly responsible for the calming effects of the central nervous system. It is released into the brain to prevent anxiety and regulate mood, promote relaxation and allow you to sleep in the evening.
GABA is a neurotransmitter that is mimicked by alcohol; stimulates a subset of GABA receptors in the brain, causing the characteristic effects of limited inhibition, increased feelings of well-being and drowsiness. Increasing the level of GABA activity in the brain can be beneficial for those who feel anxious, stressed, or sleepless. Taking Valerian is one way to calm agitation, improve mood and help users achieve deeper sleep.
The use of valerian in medicine
Valerian root reduces the activity of the central nervous system and, thus, reduces tension and anxiety, induces a state of mental relaxation. Therefore, it is usually used in conditions of nervousness, tension and nervous excitement. Valerian is also effective remedy for the treatment of moderate insomnia - especially with difficulty falling asleep caused by stress and nerve stimulation. It improves sleep quality by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep, increasing sleep time, and decreasing the number of awakenings during the night.
It is worth knowing that in natural medicine, valerian preparations are also used for such ailments as: accelerated heartbeat on a nervous background, headache, throbbing in the temples, and even slight dizziness. In folk medicine, valerian has also been used to treat epilepsy.
Valerian is also used in folk medicine as a remedy for digestive and urinary tract problems. It has a relaxing effect, so it can be used to relieve stomach cramps. In addition, the root has an antimicrobial effect, stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and the secretion of saliva.
Because valerian has a relaxing effect on smooth muscle, it can be used to reduce menstrual pain... Because of sedative effect- may be useful for women struggling with premenstrual syndrome. In addition, it is used during menopause in women.
Modern herbal medicine recommends using herbal tinctures to be applied to the scalp to combat dandruff and seborrhea, and even for some dermatoses.
Dosage
Valerian is considered relatively safe grass provided that it is used in recommended doses for a limited period of time, that is, no more than a month. After 30 days of use, take a two-week break, after which you can return to using it.
The usual dose of valerian tablets is from 200 to 600 mg (i.e. 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day). Valerian tincture is taken 20-25 drops 2-3 times a day.
An infusion of valerian is prepared by pouring 1 teaspoon of valerian root (about 2.5 g) with 1 glass of boiling water (150 ml). Infuse covered for 10-15 minutes, then strain. The infusion can be drunk 1 cup 3 times a day.
Valerian tincture in drops (alcohol solution) - adults can take 20-60 drops of tincture in a glass of water after meals several times a day in the form of an antispasmodic and sedative.
You can also make a soothing valerian drink by adding 60 drops (about 1/3 teaspoon) of valerian tincture to a glass of hot milk sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Drinking an hour before bedtime, it will restore a quiet and deep sleep.
Symptoms of a valerian overdose
Long-term use of valerian (more than one month) or excessive consumption can cause side effects such as headaches, visual impairment, heart palpitations, and nausea or poor digestion. Other side effects can be hyperactivity or insomnia. Liver damage is rare. Allergic reactions are also possible.
At correct use it is almost completely devoid of adverse side effects.
Meet following symptoms in case of an overdose of valerian:
- headache;
- disorientation;
- deterioration in the function of the digestive tract;
- nausea;
- irregular heart rate;
- sleep disorders;
- lethargy and depression.
Symptoms of an overdose of valerian tablets appear as:
- drowsiness
- muscle weakness
- and other symptoms of central nervous system depression
- in severe overdose, bradycardia and arrhythmia may occur.
As a rule, these symptoms occur when using large doses of herbal tablets (doses are 20 or more times higher than usual).
How many valerian tablets can cause an overdose is unclear - the dose is different for each person. Is it possible for a person to die after a severe overdose of valerian? Fatalities from overdose in medicine is not described. An overdose of Valerian is extremely rare. In one case, in 1995, it was reported that a user deliberately took more than 20 times the recommended dose. User recovered from negative effects within 24 hours without health effects.
First aid and treatment
You should immediately stop using the drug, rinse the stomach, give the patient Activated carbon and magnesium sulfate to prevent intestinal absorption of the substance and cause a laxative effect. There is no specific antidote. Treatment and hospitalization may be required if a child or elderly person is taking a large number of pills.
Contraindications
Valerian must not be consumed in following cases:
- - during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- - liver disease;
- - with excessive sleepiness;
- - with chronic intolerance;
- - in patients with enterocolitis disease.
Before using valerian products, read contraindications carefully and do not exceed the daily dose.
Valerian cannot be combined with:
- antihistamines,
- muscle relaxants,
- sedatives,
- sleeping pills,
- drugs,
- alcohol or
- any medications used to treat mental illness(including antidepressants, anxiolytics).
If the patient has cancer if he is taking antifungal or cholesterol-lowering medications, a doctor should be consulted before use. These guidelines also apply to people with kidney and liver problems.
Valerian can interact with medications used by anesthesiologists, so it should not be used before surgery under general anesthesia.
Valerian is contraindicated for pregnant or lactating women, as well as children under 12 years of age.
In addition, people who drive vehicles or operate mechanical moving devices (machine tools) should not use valerian.
Products containing valerian should be used with caution in the elderly, as they may cause dizziness upon awakening, fainting, or even impaired consciousness.
An overdose of valerian tablets can occur when a person drinks too many of them at a time, hoping to get a sedative or hypnotic effect, but, without feeling any improvement, drinks the drug again. As a result, valerian still does not work, since it is effective only with prolonged use, and due to an overdose, the state of health worsens.
Despite the fact that such yellow valerian tablets are considered very safe, if the rules for their use are violated, they can cause undesirable consequences.
An overdose can also occur when valerian is consumed at the recommended dose for a long time. In this case, to normalize the state of health, it is enough to cancel the medication, while in case of an overdose caused by taking a large number of pills at a time, urgent measures are needed.
Valerian refers to low-toxic drugs, but a large dose can cause poisoning, intoxication of the body and dysfunction of internal organs. Overdose is most dangerous for young children and pregnant women.
When does an overdose of valerian occur?
Maximum daily dose the drug for an adult is 200 mg of valerian extract. Take 1-2 tablets 3-4 times a day. It should be borne in mind that the amount of active ingredients in one tablet different drugs valerian can be very different. Some contain only 20 mg, others - 40 mg, and still others - all 200 mg. Therefore, if one drug is prescribed 2 tablets 3 times a day, then in the case of using another in such an amount, an overdose may occur. To prevent this, it is imperative to read the instructions before starting treatment.
Some valerian preparations are prohibited for children.
The most common valerian preparations are available in the following dosages:
- 1 Arterium Valerian Extract Tablet contains 20 mg active substance... They are drunk 1-2 times 3-4 times a day;
- Sopharma's Valerian tablet contains 30 mg active ingredients... The recommended dose is 1-2 tablets 3-4 times a day;
- Valerian Forte (Arterium) tablet contains 40 mg of active ingredients. They are drunk 1-2 tablets 3 times a day;
- The Valerian tablet of the Belmed company contains 200 mg of powder of the roots and rhizomes of the plant. This drug is prescribed 1 tablet one to three times a day, but it is not recommended to drink the medicine without a doctor's prescription.
In rare cases, the doctor may prescribe a sick valerian at a dosage of up to 3 grams per day. However, you cannot take such large doses on your own. When using how much of the drug, an overdose occurs depends on the individual sensitivity of the person.
Valerian is a low-toxic drug, and its lethal dose not established, that is, it is not known whether a person can die from drunk valerian pills. To date, there are no documented deaths caused by an overdose of valerian tablets. However, its consequences can be serious violations in the work of internal organs, in which the patient will need hospitalization and qualified medical care.
On a note
There is a known case of an overdose when a young man at the age of 18 deliberately took 50 valerian tablets. They corresponded to 23 grams of active ingredient. Half an hour after taking the medicine, the teenager had severe weakness, trembling hands and feet, nausea and chest pain. After the provided medical care, the patient's condition returned to normal, and after 24 hours all the symptoms disappeared. The diagnostic results showed that the drug overdose did not provoke serious violations in the work of the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs.
An overdose of valerian is possible with prolonged use at the recommended dose. In most cases, the course of treatment lasts from 10 days to a month. It is undesirable to take the drug for a longer time, since side effects may occur when a large amount of active substances accumulates in the body. If valerian needs to be drunk longer, after a month of admission, they take a week break, and then continue the treatment.
Since valerian enhances the effect of sedatives, hypnotics and antispasmodic drugs, you cannot take it with them. In these cases, there is also a risk of overdose.
What are the symptoms of an overdose
In case of an overdose of valerian, its main actions may increase, side or opposite effects may appear.
The most common symptoms are:
If any of these symptoms appear, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Why is an overdose of valerian dangerous?
Taking too many valerian tablets at one time may cause severe poisoning and intoxication of the body. In difficult cases, the victim may fall asleep soundly, while his blood pressure and pulse may be greatly reduced, and his breathing may become shallow and weak. This condition is life-threatening, so the patient needs urgent hospitalization.
With less severe intoxication, the drug can also provoke a decrease blood pressure to critical values. This is especially dangerous for people with hypotension. In some cases, the effect of valerian may be the opposite, and the pressure, on the contrary, will increase. In addition, there is a risk of heart rhythm disturbances.
Provide substantial negative impact on internal organs Valerian can only be used with constant use in extremely high doses. Numerous studies have proven the low toxicity of the drug. During tests carried out on animals, it was found that regular intake of valerian at a dose of 4 grams per 1 kilogram of body weight leads to toxic damage to liver cells and the development of diseases. Also in this case, damage occurs bone marrow... V medicinal purposes such doses of the drug are not used.
How to help the victim at home
If, with prolonged use of valerian, symptoms of an overdose appear, it is recommended to stop the treatment. In this case, you should consult a doctor who, if necessary, will replace the drug with another.
In case of overdose caused by a single admission a large number tablets (more than 200 mg of active ingredients) in the first half hour, it makes sense to induce vomiting. This is relevant only when the drug was taken no more than 10-15 minutes ago and has not yet had time to assimilate. Children under 5 years old, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular diseases should not deliberately induce vomiting.
In case of a slight overdose, when there is no bright severe symptoms, it is recommended to drink plenty of water to cleanse the body. Also, sometimes they take activated charcoal or other sorbing drugs. Milk and carbonated drinks should not be consumed.
Mild poisoning usually causes nausea. With him, it is useful to go outside, breathe fresh air and drink a few glasses of water.
When taking tablets, the amount of active substance in which significantly exceeds the recommended daily dose, you must immediately call ambulance... It is especially important to do this if a child or a pregnant woman drank valerian.
What do they do in the hospital with intoxication
In the clinic, a patient with intoxication can undergo gastric and intestinal lavage, and in difficult cases, hemodialysis or hemofiltration. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures other healing procedures to stabilize the patient's condition.
When the life of the victim is not in danger, he is prescribed droppers or special drugs in a drinking form to restore the water and electrolyte balance in the body. Also, the patient undergoes laboratory and instrumental research, according to the results of which the need for further treatment is determined.
Useful video: what to do at the first sign of poisoning
Alcohol extract or valerian tablets are available in any home first aid kit... The drug has a sedative, i.e. sedative effect, helps well with stressful situations, improves sleep, reduces nervous tension, anxiety. Any dosage forms Valerian is available over the counter without a prescription, which gives many the impression that the use of the traditional and widespread popular remedy completely safe and cannot harm their health. However, if the dosage is not observed, an overdose of valerian may develop.
Source: depositphotos.com
The average daily dose of valerian is 200 mg, that is, an adult can safely take 1-2 tablets 3 times a day. Alcohol tincture of valerian roots can be taken 20-30 drops 3-4 times a day.
If the doses recommended by doctors are exceeded or the course of treatment is too long, an overdose may occur. It is impossible to name the exact doses that can cause it, for each person they will be different, depending on age, general health, characteristics of the activity of the central nervous system.
Signs of overdose
Signs of a valerian overdose are usually not very pronounced, often patients do not attach importance to them, perceiving them as manifestations of fatigue, colds or intestinal diseases... You can suspect an overdose while taking valerian drugs by the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- heartburn;
- flatulence;
- loosening of the chair;
- drowsiness (in some cases, on the contrary, agitation);
- dilated pupils;
- hand tremor;
- dizziness;
- general weakness;
- decreased ability to work;
- lowering, and with a significant overdose, an increase in blood pressure;
- decrease in heart rate;
- decreased concentration of attention;
- headaches resembling a migraine attack.
Source: depositphotos.com
First aid for valerian overdose
Most often, an overdose of valerian develops with long-term use medicinal product, due to its cumulation (accumulation) in the human body. In this case, it is enough to stop taking further pills or alcohol infusion.
If an overdose of valerian happened as a result of a single dose of too large a dose, and no more than 2-3 hours have passed since its intake, first aid should begin with gastric lavage. The patient needs to drink about 1 liter of water and induce vomiting.
If the last dose of valerian was taken more than three hours ago or an overdose happened in a child in the first years of life, the stomach should not be washed, and in the latter case it is contraindicated!
To reduce the absorption of valerian from the intestines, the victim should take a drug with a sorbing effect, for example Smecta or Polysorb.
Antidote
There is no specific antidote to valerian.
When is medical attention needed?
An overdose of valerian occurs almost always in mild... Measures first first aid usually enough to eliminate symptoms, the health condition of the victims quickly returns to normal and after medical help they don't apply. Health care necessary if:
- signs of an overdose (or at least one sign) are pronounced;
- a large dose of the drug was taken by the child.
Treatment is aimed at the earliest possible elimination of the drug from the body and elimination of overdose symptoms.
Possible complications
An overdose of valerian does not lead to any negative long-term consequences. However, due to the fact that valerian has a pronounced inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, an overdose of its drugs in people whose work requires a quick and clear reaction, for example, in motor vehicle drivers, can lead to emergency situations.
Quite dangerous to take alcohol tincture valerian for a long time and in large doses, especially for the elderly and adolescents. The tincture contains ethanol strength of 70 °, and therefore its uncontrolled use often leads to the formation of a special form alcohol addiction called pharmacy alcoholism.
YouTube video related to the article:
Loading ...