How many valerian tablets can you take at a time? Valerian tablets: instructions for the drug, dosage, reviews

The modern pace of life causes any person to experience stress to one degree or another. Problems in the family, at work, traffic jams, poor health - a cluster of problems sometimes takes on an uncontrollable direction. A person develops psychosomatic health problems, sleep disorders, irritability, suspiciousness, asthenia, anhedonia... Those with a weak psyche manage to escape from problems thanks to alcohol or drugs. But you can find a better way out - from time to time take a course of sedatives and mood-enhancing drugs. Valerian is a healing plant that has long been famous for its properties. Modern pharmacology offers valerian in tablets, instructions for which are presented in this article.

Description

Valerian Extract tablets are round in shape and covered with a yellow enteric coating. The internal contents of the tablets are white.

Pharmacological properties

Being a herbal preparation, “Valerian Extract” causes the following changes in the body only with constant cyclic use:

• The predominance of inhibition processes over excitation in the cerebral cortex;
• Slowing down the speed of responses to various stimuli;
• Disappearance of insomnia;
• Stimulation of bile secretion;
• Relieving pain;
• Regulation of neurohumoral processes;
• Slow heart rate;
• Dilatation of myocardial vessels;
• Decreased blood pressure.

Contraindications and precautions

When using valerian extract, do not forget that it has some contraindications:

• should not be taken by people who have health problems that depress the activity of the nervous system
• if there is increased sensitivity and individual intolerance to fructose, sucrose, lactose, which are contained in the medication
• not accepted under 3 years old
• should not be used at the initial stage of pregnancy in the first three months.

Cross-drug interactions

Before you start taking valerian extract in tablets, you should tell your doctor about what additional medications you are using. Based on the information provided, the doctor will be able to identify the need to cancel them or the safety of their combined use.

There is evidence that valerian extract induces the properties of drugs with sedative, hypnotic and antispasmodic effects.

Compound

General information about valerian and its chemical composition

Valerian officinalis (in Latin - Valeriána officinális) is a herbaceous perennial up to 1.5-1.8 meters high. The plant has a thick, but rather short (about 4 cm) rhizome, from which many thin and brittle adventitious roots arise. The root system has a yellowish-brown color, as well as a characteristic pronounced aroma and a bitter-sweet spicy taste. One bush can simultaneously develop several stems - erect and hollow, which branch near the inflorescence.

In the first year of growth, the leaves are petiolate rosettes, and in the second year they are pinnately dissected, the basal and middle ones are long-petioled, and the upper ones are sessile, sometimes alternate. The flowers are small, very fragrant, painted white, pinkish or light lilac and collected in large apical inflorescences. Flowering begins in the second year of the plant’s life and lasts throughout the summer. The fruit of valerian - the achene - ripens in late August - early September.

Valerian officinalis grows near water bodies, in lowland or swampy meadows, among shrubs, and on forest edges. The main habitat is subtropical or temperate climate zone.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizome and roots of valerian are used, which include:

Form of release, cost, conditions of sale and storage

• «Valerian extract" is produced in the form of liquid for oral administration and tablets.
• The price ranges from 12 rubles for a blister of 10 tablets to 55 rubles for 50.
• This drug has a herbal base, so it is sold without medical prescriptions in any pharmacy..

When storing Valerian Extract, several conditions must be observed:

• Dark place;
• Normal humidity level;
• Optimal temperature range 12-150C;
• In a place away from children;
• Use is prohibited after the expiration date of 5 years.

special instructions

You should clearly read the instructions before taking the product in order to compare the benefits and harms of taking the product in each specific case.

If the tablets are used over a long period of time, the effect on a person may lead to a decrease in psychomotor reactions. How long it takes for the drug to act in this way depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

When taking the medicine, you should take into account how valerian acts on a person, so you need to carefully drive vehicles, as well as perform other actions that require accurate reactions.

Another name for the plant is cat grass, as it is called because valerian causes a specific effect on animals. Many people are interested in whether valerian is harmful for cats.

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You can find out why cats like this medicine by studying its composition. Why the medicine acts this way is explained by the presence of the substance actinidin in its composition.

As a rule, cats behave in a special way after valerian. But, answering the question whether it is possible to give a dog or whether it is possible to give a cat valerian, it should be noted that sometimes veterinarians even prescribe this drug to cats in small doses in order to increase vitality.

Unlike people, cats are not sedated by this remedy. There have been cases where an overdose led to the death of an animal. Sometimes the lethal dose for a cat is a relatively small amount of the drug, so it is advisable not to keep the tablets in places where animals have access.

If valerian is given in tablets to dogs, the product can provoke allergic reactions in the animal.

Valerian tablets, administration and dosage

The use of Valerian Extract depends on the patient’s age and the manifestation of diseases:

• Adults are recommended to take the drug after meals three times a day, 1-2 tablets.
• Sometimes this drug is prescribed to children to treat neurological disorders . The dosage of the drug is prescribed only by a doctor and is 0.5 tablets per dose for children under 4 years of age and 1 tablet for children 4-7 years of age.

The course of treatment for adults and children over 12 years of age is no more than 30 days.

Drug interactions

Valerian plant extract can enhance the effect of other relaxants to improve sleep, antispasmodics and antihistamines. It is better to stop taking them during treatment.

Before you start taking a medicine of natural origin, you should inform the specialist about all medications that the patient is taking in parallel. While taking the drug, you should refrain from drinking energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, coffee or tea, as they eliminate the effect of the natural sedative.

Analogs

Action of valerian

Essential oils and other chemical compounds present in parts of the plant have medicinal properties. These components overcome the barrier of blood and brain, acting on the central nervous system. A slight calming effect develops. The activity of the central nervous system is slightly inhibited, resulting in an anti-anxiety effect.

Another important effect of the herbal remedy is the ability to reduce the tone of the smooth muscle fibers of internal organs. These tissue components are primarily present in the digestive tract and are responsible for motility. Increased tone is manifested by abdominal discomfort, stool retention, bloating and other unpleasant symptoms. Tincture or tablets with this active ingredient eliminate spasms.

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Signs of valerian overdose

If the maximum dose is slightly exceeded, the first symptoms of poisoning are mild. Patients often mistake them for symptoms of fatigue, intestinal infections or colds. The clinical picture of an overdose includes:

• nausea and vomiting;
• heartburn;
• increased gas formation;
• loose stool;
• nervous overexcitation (in some cases, on the contrary, drowsiness is observed);
• increase in pupil size;
• general weakness, decreased performance;
• dizziness;
• trembling of limbs;
• decreased blood pressure;
• change in heart rate;
• headaches similar to those that occur with migraines;
• decreased concentration;
• inhibition of reactions.

Stress and hypertension: is there a connection?

At a moment of strong nervous tension, a person’s blood pressure sometimes rises sharply. However, it will return to normal as soon as the body calms down. Stress, by itself, cannot cause hypertension. However, the changes and consequences that occur in the body during and after stress can actually contribute to the development of the disease.

During nervous tension, the body produces so-called stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline. The constant synthesis of these hormones contributes to damage to the coronary arteries, which in turn leads to coronary heart disease, which increases blood pressure. Stressful situations often lead to insomnia, overeating, and excessive consumption of alcohol and cigarettes. These bad habits are one of the main reasons for the development of hypertension.

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What do they do in the hospital in case of intoxication?

In the clinic, a patient with intoxication can undergo gastric and intestinal lavage, and in difficult cases, hemodialysis or hemofiltration. If necessary, resuscitation and other medical procedures are carried out to stabilize the patient's condition.

When the victim’s life is not in danger, he is prescribed droppers or special drugs in drinking form to restore the water and electrolyte balance in the body. The patient also undergoes laboratory and instrumental tests, the results of which determine the need for further treatment.

Alcohol extract or tablets of valerian are available in any home medicine cabinet. The drug has a sedative, i.e. calming effect, helps well in stressful situations, improves sleep, reduces nervous tension and anxiety. Any dosage form of valerian can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription, which is why many people have the impression that the use of a traditional and widely popular remedy is completely safe and cannot harm their health. However, if the dosage is not observed, an overdose of valerian may develop.

Indications for use

Valerian tablets are recommended for use in the presence of the following abnormalities in the body:

• insomnia, light sleep, prolonged process of falling asleep;
• nervous overload or overexcitement, aggression;
• hysteria or depression;
• disturbances in the functioning of the urinary and digestive systems;
• the presence of muscle spasms caused by nervous overload or stress;
• headache;
• asthma and epilepsy. Relaxing the nervous system reduces the likelihood of an attack;
• increased heart rate;
• increased blood pressure.

The drug is also prescribed to dilate blood vessels and is used for pathological narrowing of the coronary vessels.

Valerian has the following restrictions and contraindications for use:

• allergy to the components of the medication or intolerance to them;
• in childhood, during lactation and pregnancy, it is used only with the permission of a doctor. The dose and duration of administration are selected by the treating specialist;
• during exacerbation of mental illness;
• presence of increased lethargy;
• diabetes;
• lactase/sucrase deficiency;
• low blood pressure.

The tablets do not have a negative effect on the kidneys and liver, but in case of exacerbation of pathologies of these organs, the use of the drug is not recommended.

The use of valerian tablets is indicated in the following cases:

• high degree of nervous excitement;
• insomnia and problems falling asleep;
• migraine;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• functional disorders of the cardiovascular system (as part of complex treatment);
• spasms of the gastrointestinal tract (as part of complex treatment).

Before taking valerian tablets for blood pressure or stress (before an exam, etc.), you must consult a doctor who will tell you how to take the tablets, how much to drink, and whether you should do it.

Before you start taking this remedy, you should know its medicinal properties and contraindications. You should not take the drug if you have the following conditions and diseases:

• high sensitivity to the components of the drug;
• fructose intolerance;
• lactase deficiency;
• sucrase/isomaltase deficiency;
• glucose-galactose malabsorption;
• first trimester of pregnancy;
• age up to 3 years.

Pregnant women should take into account the beneficial properties and contraindications and consult a doctor.

Results of studies on the effectiveness of valerian

The effect of the drug in question has been studied for a very long time - interesting experiments are being carried out, the consequences of long-term use of valerian for the body are being studied. Relatively recently, another interesting experiment was conducted by Norwegian scientists.

The purpose of the experiment was to find out how intensely valerian has a hypnotic effect. For this purpose... television viewers were involved in the process - they simply responded to an advertisement for the recruitment of volunteers. All people were divided into two groups - one was given valerian tablets with a dosage of 200 mg (in one tablet), and the other was given a harmless supplement, a placebo. It was prescribed to take 2 tablets in the evening before bed and keep a diary of monitoring the quality of your night's sleep. The volunteers were not told which tablets were given or what the purpose of the experiment was.

The results were amazing! Only 5% improved sleep in people in the group taking valerian tablets. And this indicator only indicated the speed of falling asleep, but the general qualitative characteristics between the two groups of volunteers did not differ at all - the number of night awakenings, the duration of sleep, and the state of health during the subsequent working day were the same.

Thus, we can conclude that valerian does not have a pronounced effect on the quality of night sleep and should not be taken as a sleeping pill. BUT! This experiment was not carried out by official medicine; there is no confirmation from scientists about the results obtained. It may be worth trying to take a placebo instead of valerian - the main thing is to believe in the power of the drug, but if the drug is prescribed by a doctor and is part of complex therapy, then you should not experiment.

Valerian is not such a harmless drug, so it is advisable to consult a specialist before using it. This is not required if a person takes valerian occasionally, not systemically, but it is still necessary to exclude hypersensitivity and possible contraindications.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category.

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Directions for use and dosage

In this section you can learn how to take valerian tablets. The instructions for this drug indicate 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. You should drink them 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 treatment should not exceed four weeks 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 should be determined by the attending physician. The attending physician should also tell you how and in what quantities this drug should be used for certain diseases and suggest a regimen.