Corvalol overdose
Corvalol is a medication with sedative and hypnotic effects. The indications for its use are:
- intestinal cramps;
- the initial stages of hypertension;
- insomnia;
- tachycardia;
- angina pectoris (in combination with nitrates);
- neuroses with increased irritability.
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Corvalol helps to relieve nervous tension, eliminate the effects of stress, and improve sleep. That is why it is often taken by many people, and often without a doctor's prescription. But the composition of this drug includes phenobarbital and long-term uncontrolled treatment with it leads to the formation of drug dependence, causes an overdose that is quite life-threatening. Therefore, in the EU and the USA, this remedy is sold in pharmacies exclusively with a doctor's prescription. Unfortunately, in Russia and the CIS countries, Corvalol can be purchased by anyone and therefore cases of overdose are quite common.
What dose of Corvalol is needed for an overdose?
For adults, Corvalol is usually prescribed 15-20 drops three times a day. And only in the case of severe tachycardia, up to 40 drops can be taken once.
Over time, patients develop addiction to Corvalol and the usual doses of the drug no longer have the desired effect. As a result, they start taking it in high dosages and much more often. If, within a short time interval, 10 ml of Corvalol is taken, which corresponds to half the bottle, then this will lead to the appearance of symptoms of an overdose.
An overdose of Corvalol can also develop when taking low doses of the drug. This is observed when it is combined with alcohol, tranquilizers, antidepressants or sedatives, as they potentiate, that is, increase the depressing effect of the drug on the central nervous system.
Long-term treatment with Corvalol can cause not only the formation of drug dependence, but a chronic overdose of the body with ethyl bromisovalerianate, which also leads to the appearance of a number of pathological changes.
Signs of overdose
Acute overdose with Corvalol occurs when a person accidentally or intentionally takes a very high dose of the drug for a short period of time, significantly exceeding the therapeutic dose.
Acute overdose of mild Corvalol is usually manifested by:
- drowsiness;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- decreased concentration of attention and performance;
- violations of coordination of movements.
For an overdose of corvalol of moderate severity, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- deep sleep, in which it is possible to wake up a person with rather great difficulty;
- increased heart rate (tachycardia).
With a severe overdose with Corvalol, the condition of patients deteriorates significantly. They have:
- violations of the correct heart rhythm;
- rapid shallow breathing;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- muscle twitching, turning into generalized seizures.
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A pronounced hypotension becomes the cause of the development of a collaptoid state in the patient, which later, against the background of an increase in hypoxia of organs and tissues, goes into a coma. If the patient is not provided with urgent medical care, then death may occur.
Chronic overdose of Corvalol, or rather the ethyl bromisovalerian included in its composition, manifests itself:
- indifference to the surrounding reality;
- depressive state;
- confusion of consciousness;
- conjunctivitis;
- rhinitis;
- the appearance of acne.
Long-term treatment with Corvalol leads to the formation of drug dependence, which is associated with phenobarbital contained in the drug. Its presence can be assumed based on the following signs:
- depressed mood;
- tired look;
- lack of confidence in their abilities;
- violation of concentration of attention;
- inadequate reaction to loved ones.
The intensity of the severity of these signs is significantly weakened after taking the next dose of Corvalol.
First aid for overdose
In case of an acute overdose of Corvalol, it is necessary first of all to perform a gastric lavage. The patient is offered to drink about one liter of clean water, and then by pressing the fingers on the root of the tongue they induce vomiting. This simple procedure should be performed at least 3-4 times in order to well cleanse the stomach of the remnants of the taken Corvalol.
After washing the stomach, the patient is given one of the sorbing drugs. It can be Smecta, Enterogel, Filtrum STI or Activated carbon. They absorb corvalol contained in the digestive tract and retain it, preventing it from being absorbed and entering the bloodstream.
In case of an overdose of Corvalol, it is necessary to try to maintain contact with the patient, preventing him from falling asleep. If there is no strong vomiting, then it is necessary to often water the poisoned person, as this will increase the amount of urine separated and thereby accelerate the removal of Corvalol from the body.
In case of chronic overdose of Corvalol or the development of drug dependence, the first first aid is to stop further use of this drug.
Antidote
There is no specific antidote to Corvalol.
When is medical attention needed?
Even with mild degrees of overdose with Corvalol, you should definitely seek medical help, since at any time the victim's condition may suddenly and dramatically worsen. Moreover, a visit to a doctor is necessary in case of an overdose of moderate and severe Corvalol.
In a hospital, patients with an overdose of Corvalol undergo gastric lavage with a gastric tube and begin symptomatic therapy aimed at preventing the development or restoration of existing disorders of the cardiovascular system and respiratory failure.
For the fastest elimination of Corvalol from the body, forced diuresis is performed with alkalization of the blood with sodium bicarbonate solution, hemosorption and / or extracorporeal hemodialysis.
In severe respiratory failure, tracheal intubation is performed and the patient is transferred to artificial ventilation.
For the treatment of chronic overdose of Corvalol, an abundant salted drink and the use of diuretics (Lasix, Veroshpiron, Hypothiazid) are indicated.
Therapy of drug dependence on Corvalol requires long-term therapy, which is carried out jointly by toxicologists, narcologists and psychotherapists.
Possible complications
Severe degrees of Corvalol overdose are quite dangerous. They can be fatal, even with timely medical attention.
Corvalol overdose is often complicated by pneumonia, impaired renal function. In the long term, neurological disorders (depression, unsteady gait) can be observed, which are caused by toxic and hypoxic encephalopathy.
In older people, chronic overdose can cause:
- decrease in the reaction rate;
- memory impairment;
- difficult thinking;
- impaired coordination of movements.
All of the above often leads to falls in older people, which can lead to fractures.
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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
