Statistics in neurology is impressive: according to its data, about 70% of the world's population of different ages suffers from symptoms of vegetoneurosis! In our country, this condition is also commonly called vegetovascular dystonia, which is characterized by a narrower series of symptoms. Abroad in neurology and psychiatry, the term vegetoneurosis is used, the symptoms and treatment of which are carried out under the supervision of several doctors. As a rule, for a quality comprehensive treatment, the patient must interact with a neurologist, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, and sometimes a phlebologist. Such an integrated approach to solving the problem will help a person conduct normal life activities and forget about an unpleasant disease.
Modern neurological pathologies
In the last decade, neurological pathologies are increasingly found not only in adults, but also in children and adolescents. These conditions are dangerous in that they can lead to problems with the cardiovascular system. Also, neurological pathologies often lead to problems with the psyche, provoking phantom (psychosomatic and neurological) pains, for which there seems to be no reason, but they are so strong that the patient’s life turns into hell.
Alas, in our country the level of neurology leaves much to be desired. For serious complaints of adults about severe pain, about the inability to concentrate, about constant migraine, the doctor may diagnose vegetovascular dystonia without proper examination, without prescribing adequate treatment. As a result, a person goes home unsatisfied, does not know what to do, continues to suffer from pain and associated symptoms. Of course, in our country there are quite a few sensitive neurologists, professionals in their field, who can really help the patient and choose drugs that can change a person’s life for the better.
The main symptoms of vegetoneurosis
Neurology distinguishes two types of vegetoneurosis:
- The hypertonic type develops due to the increased effect of sympathetic NS on the human body. Symptoms of this type of vegetoneurosis: arrhythmia, heart palpitations, angina pectoris, pain in the heart. During an attack, the patient is often covered with fear, suffocation. Patients often believe that this is a panic attack, however, the mechanisms of this condition are somewhat different, although they are very similar in symptoms.
- Hypotonic type vegetoneurosis develops due to disturbances in the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system. Patients complain of chronic fatigue, high fatigue when performing mental and physical work, frequent dizziness and fainting, and lowered body temperature.
Syndromes characteristic of autonomic neurosis
Psychosomatic pain can bother the patient with any type of autonomic neurosis. For this disease, the appearance of additional syndromes is also characteristic:
- Vasomotor syndrome is characterized by frequent headaches, the presence of migraine with aura, attacks of nausea on the background of outbreaks of headache. The patient may suffer joint pain, while the results of studies often do not show the presence of any particular pathology. Also, this syndrome is characterized by pain in the epigastric region, digestive disorders, problems with stool. At the same time, a biochemical blood test is in relative norm, and ultrasound and MRI of internal organs also do not indicate the presence of any serious chronic pathologies.
- Vegetative-skin syndrome with vegetoneurosis is manifested as follows: atopic dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, dryness and itching of the skin. As a rule, the condition worsens if the patient falls into a stressful situation or for one reason or another is forced to get nervous, worry too much about something.
- Vegetative-visceral syndrome, which is manifested by a state of suffocation, lack of air. At such moments, it seems to a person that he is suffocating. Sudden bouts of angina pectoris, arrhythmias may occur. severe skin itching may appear in parallel. As a result of which the patient can comb the skin to the blood.
Causes of the disease
In each patient, the disease proceeds differently. Symptoms of autonomoneurosis in adults can either intensify or disappear completely. It is very important for patients to stay in a calm environment, which does not imply the development of anxiety, fears or overwork. The main reason for the development of autonomic neurosis is a dysfunction in the functioning of certain parts of the brain, as a result of which the autonomic nervous system responds with certain disorders.
The causes of dysfunction can be:
- head injuries and bruises;
- experienced stroke;
- cerebrovascular accident;
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- some psychiatric pathologies in which a change in brain biochemistry is characteristic.
Which doctor should I go to?
Patients with vegetoneurosis are often in a difficult situation: official medicine does not detect any chronic pathologies of internal organs, brain MRI also often gives a normal picture. And the patient, meanwhile, suffers from pain, suffocation, itching and skin rashes. Often patients try to treat vegetoneurosis with folk remedies, which further aggravate their condition. As a rule, to achieve remission, you should take fairly serious drugs (they will be discussed below), as well as attend individual or group psychotherapy sessions. In most cases, therapy with folk remedies at home is completely useless.
Treatment of symptoms of vegetoneurosis should be carried out comprehensively, under the supervision of an endocrinologist, neurologist and psychiatrist. If the patient suffers from a vegetative-skin syndrome, then a dermatologist and an allergist should definitely visit. It is important to choose specialists so that they responsibly approach their role in treating the patient and do not consider his complaints far-fetched. Of the studies, laboratory tests, ECG, ultrasound, brain rhythm encephalogram, MRI are usually prescribed.
Categories of Medicines for Treatment
How to treat vegetoneurosis? We emphasize once again that many of the drugs described below are strictly prescription, and the course of treatment with them should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of the attending physician. It is very good if, against the background of taking drugs, the patient will be able to attend sessions with a psychotherapist. This often helps to overcome the problem of the occurrence of psychosomatic pain.
Treatment of vegetoneurosis is carried out by the following groups of drugs:
- venotonics to improve the condition of blood vessels and veins;
- medicines that restore cerebral circulation;
- the use of antidepressants and tranquilizers;
- the use of normotimics, in more rare cases, light antipsychotics;
- for pains of a psychosomatic nature, painkillers can be prescribed, but the main key to getting rid of pain is psychotherapy.
Reception of venotonics and means to improve the condition of blood vessels
The most popular venotonics to date:
- Venus
- "Phlebodia".
- "Troxevasin" in the form of capsules.
These drugs with regular preoral administration improve the condition of veins and blood vessels, effectively strengthening their walls. As a result, the severity of pain in the region of the heart decreases, the risk of developing a heart attack and strokes decreases.
Reception of antidepressants at a vegetoneurosis
In the medical world, there is still debate about how to cure vegetoneurosis with the help of psychotropic drugs and whether such therapy is appropriate at all. However, the fact remains that regular intake of modern antidepressants makes a person’s life in a vegetative neurosis better, and in some cases it is possible to achieve a stable remission.
The problem is that finding the right antidepressant can take many years. Almost all drugs of this pharmacological class help only with prolonged use - sometimes the treatment should be continuous throughout the year. In the first weeks of taking antidepressants, the patient experiences many side effects - drowsiness, irritation, tearfulness, lack of libido. However, as a result, these torments are justified: if the antidepressant is suitable for the patient, then all the symptoms recede. A person can live fully, enjoy every day and forget about the symptoms of vegetoneurosis as a nightmare.
The most popular antidepressants to date:
- "Rexetin", "Paxil" (the main active ingredient is paroxetine).
- "Prozac" (the main active ingredient is fluoxetine).
- "Zoloft" (the main active ingredient is sertraline).
Any of these drugs cannot be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription from a doctor certified by two seals. Self-administration is not possible, since an experienced doctor should monitor the patient's condition and, if necessary, prescribe drugs to correct side effects.
Other psychoactive drugs in vegetoneurosis
Some neurologists prescribe mild tranquilizers to patients to eliminate sleep problems. In addition, tranquilizers and normotimics ("Atarax", "Lamotrigine") make the patient a little lethargic, reduce nervous tension, as a result of which psychosomatic pains can completely disappear.
It should be noted that if vegetoneurosis is provoked by a real violation of cerebral circulation or problems with blood vessels, then taking antidepressants, normotimics or tranquilizers becomes useless. An experienced doctor will always try to identify the exact cause of the pathology and, based on this, make a plan for the treatment of vegetoneurosis.
Is it possible to take painkillers with vegetoneurosis
Many doctors are arguing about whether it is advisable to take painkillers. On the one hand, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of pain - for this it is necessary to establish cerebral blood circulation, improve the condition of blood vessels, solve mental problems and difficulties of the patient, and reduce his anxiety.
But if the pain is unbearable (migraine with an aura and without or an ordinary headache), then you can not do without taking painkillers. If Citramon or Analgin helps, then these inexpensive remedies can be used. If their reception does not help get rid of the pain, then more powerful painkillers should be considered.
Features of the treatment of the condition in young children and adolescents
Vegetoneurosis in children - what is it? Since the condition of the vessels in children and even adolescents is still normal, the symptoms of vegetoneurosis appear due to the following events:
- head injury;
- intracranial pressure;
- the presence of brain cysts;
- cerebrovascular accident;
- experienced severe stress, anxiety, which provoke the development of pain of a psychosomatic nature.
The treatment of the child should be under the guidance of an experienced specialist. You can not go to the "grandmother" or try to independently treat the child with folk remedies. Treatment of symptoms of vegetoneurosis in children can be lengthy, but most parents still manage to help the child achieve long-term remission.
In children and adolescents, vegetoneurosis can be complicated by problems with the speech apparatus. Children may “shut up”, not make contact, stuttering may develop.
Alternative methods of treatment: is it worth spending time on them?
Specialists from official medicine do not recommend spending time on the use of folk remedies. Meditation, visiting psychics and other dubious events can only worsen the patient's condition.
The faster the patient finds good experienced specialists and resort to their help, the faster a full-fledged lifestyle will be restored.
Prevention of neurosis: easier to prevent than to cure!
Methods for the prevention of vegetoneurosis:
- complete cessation of smoking and drinking alcohol (these habits are extremely destructive for blood vessels);
- a change of scenery if it provokes the development of anxiety, fears;
- mode: go to bed and wake up at the same time, perform light exercises;
- exclude physical overwork;
- monitor nutrition, do not starve or diet;
- Do not start your psychoemotional state, if necessary, attend psychotherapy sessions.