Surely in each person’s medicine cabinet there are valerian tablets or its alcohol extract. This sedative helps to calm down in stressful situations, eliminates problems associated with falling asleep and removes the feeling of anxiety.
In addition, it is inexpensive, and you can buy it without a prescription in any pharmacy. But what many people don’t know for sure is that if the dose of the drug used is not respected, an overdose of valerian is possible, which will now be discussed.
Structure
First you need to briefly talk about him. Valerian, in whatever form it was released, contains the following substances:
- Essential oil. It is this, by the way, that determines the smell of the medicine. The composition of the oil, in turn, includes sesquiterpenes, boronyl valerianate, terpineol, borneol, isovalerianic acid and pinene.
- Free valerenic and valerianic acids.
- Triterpene glycosides.
- Organic acids (malic, formic, stearic, acetic, palmitic).
- Tannins.
- Valepotriates.
- Free amines.
The combination of all these components ensures the onset of a sedative effect after taking the drug. Interestingly, the highest concentration of substances is contained in the rhizomes of plants collected either in early spring or late autumn. They are used in the manufacture of medicines.
Drug action
Before you talk about an overdose of valerian, you should remember how this tool works. Its use leads to the following:
- Slow heart rate.
- Vasodilation
- Inhibition of the central nervous system. It is thanks to this that a person relaxes, calms down and quickly falls asleep.
- More intense production of gastric juice.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Elimination of muscle spasms of the digestive organs.
- Relaxation of the urinary system.
- Lowering blood pressure.
The effect is especially noticeable after prolonged use of the drug. It is shown, as you might guess, with migraines, vegetovascular dystonia, insomnia and nervous excitement.
Consumption rate
It is because of its non-compliance that an overdose of valerian can occur. In order to avoid this trouble, it is necessary to remember that the daily dose is 200 mg. This is a recommendation from medical professionals.
Although some manufacturers produce the drug in capsules, and each of them contains from 200 to 350 mg of the substance, which is a prohibitive dose. Yes, and many people are used to taking this remedy about three times a day, 30-40 drops or 3-4 tablets.
Doctors say: if you drink the drug in such quantities, there is a risk to experience for yourself what constitutes an overdose of valerian.
In tablets, in liquid form or in capsules - it does not matter in what form a person takes this drug. To achieve a good therapeutic effect, it is necessary not to increase its quantity, but to take it correctly. That is, according to the individual scheme developed by the doctor.
Advice
To avoid an overdose of valerian, you must remember the following information:
- The maximum number of tablets allowed for use per day is 10 pcs.
- If the drug is drunk in a course, in order to stabilize the condition, then it is worth drinking 35 drops diluted in a small amount of water three times a day. Or 2 tablets, also 3 times a day.
- If you need to calm down quickly, then 40 drops will be enough once. Or 5 tablets.
- The use of tincture is contraindicated for children. They need ½ tablet once a day (from 7 years).
- Children from 4 to 7 years old should not be given more than ¼ tablets per day. That is, they need only 5 mg.
Compliance with these recommendations will help to avoid health problems and eliminate the need to look for answers to the question of what will happen from an overdose of valerian in tablets or drops.
What about the duration of use? It is installed individually. Doctors say that the optimal time for taking the drug is 10 days. The maximum is 1 month.
Possible reaction to the drug
Continuing to talk about whether there is an overdose from valerian, it should be noted that the body of each person can respond differently to its reception.
Some people have a severe allergic reaction, poisoning with any component of the drug, which is fraught with swelling of the larynx and anaphylactic shock. And this, by the way, sometimes becomes the cause of death if help is not provided on time.
Even if such global proposals are excluded, there are still consequences, because the long-term use of this drug is addictive. You have to either increase the dose, or cancel its intake. None of the options can be called the best, as in both cases there will be consequences.
The consequences of an overdose of valerian
Many people ignore the above recommendations. Some significantly increase the dose of the drug, others do not stop taking it after the prescribed 10-30 days, but continue to drink it further.
The result is poisoning with this drug. Is it possible to die from an overdose of valerian? No, but there will be consequences. These include:
- Inhibition of nervous activity. A person will have to deal with constant lethargy, apathy, drowsiness, depression and a bad mood.
- Inhibition. It manifests itself in extended, lethargic speech, slow pondering of solutions and weakened reaction.
- Weakening of muscle tissue. Man literally cannot hold a spoon in his hands.
- Overexcitation. The effect is the opposite of the previous one, but it often arises. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Often an overdose of valerian (in drops or tablets - it doesn’t matter) leads to an over-excitation of the nervous system. Because of this, a person's hands begin to shake and become dizzy, coordination of movements is lost, the pupils expand.
- High blood pressure. With excessive consumption of the drug, the opposite effect on the cardiovascular system is possible.
- Indigestion. Heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea indicate it.
- Violation of the stool. Digestion problems with an overdose may not be, but constipation is quite.
If a person has been taking valerian for quite some time, and he has some of the symptoms listed above, he needs to urgently consult a therapist for advice and, of course, stop drinking the drug.
Overdose of infusion
This case must be considered separately. Drops act stronger and faster than tablets, and they are also made on the basis of alcohol, so the consequences are different.
It has already been said above what happens from an overdose of valerian taken systematically. But in the case of drops there is a danger of poisoning after the first dose.
Theoretically, even death is possible. True, if you drink 1-2 liters of infusion at a time, it is unlikely that someone in their right mind would come to mind.
So, having gone too far with drops, a person runs the risk of encountering such manifestations:
- Severe migraine-like headache.
- Something like confusion.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Decreased heart rate (bradycardia).
- Allergic reaction.
At home, a person can be helped within a few hours after drinking the drops. Then the drug is completely absorbed, absorbed into the blood, and you will have to call an ambulance. To avoid this, you need to drink 1-2 liters of clean water and induce vomiting. The drug will come out with the masses.
As a rule, such a gastric lavage helps. But if after some time the symptoms do not subside, you will need to call an ambulance.
First aid
An overdose of valerian has occurred - what should I do? First of all, as mentioned above, perform gastric lavage. But before that, call an ambulance crew.
It is possible to reduce the absorption of the components of the drug from the intestine by taking some sorbent. The most popular options are Smecta and Polysorb.
You can also do an enema. It is put on the basis of ordinary water at room temperature. To achieve greater efficiency, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several times.
Drinking is recommended to the poisoned. Simple water, mineral water, sweet tea are suitable . Liquid will help replenish water balance. This is important, because due to vomiting, reserves are depleted. Plus, the liquid will help speed up the elimination of the drug from the body by the kidneys.
In rare cases, people lose consciousness from taking valerian. If this happened, then it is necessary to moisten cotton wool in ammonia and let the poisoned woman smell it. This usually helps. If a person has not regained consciousness, it is necessary to lay him on a flat surface, and turn his head to one side. Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to control his breathing and pulse.
Treatment
If it turns out that a person has a severe form of drug poisoning, he will be hospitalized. Under stationary conditions, he will be washed and prescribed restoration therapy, which involves taking various medications (antihistamines, vitamins, etc.).
Of course, you have to refuse to take valerian. If its use is indicated to a person in connection with any disease or disorder, the therapist will select the appropriate harmless analogue.