Different situations happen in life: we are nervous, worried, frustrated. How to avoid sleep problems and ensure normal health without loss of performance? Of course, we resort to the help of sedatives. In this article you will learn:
- how many valerian tablets can you drink at a time;
- what effect does it have;
- indications for its use and contraindications;
- possible side effects and more.
To begin with, it is important to note that this drug is available in two forms (tablets and tincture). Today we’ll talk about valerian tablets. Instructions, reviews, price and other issues will be covered in the article.
Structure
The composition of the drug includes the following components:
- valerian extract;
- magnesium carbonate;
- croscarmellose sodium;
- potato starch;
- calcium stearate;
- gelatin.
The active ingredient is valerian extract. The remaining components are auxiliary. Please note that this drug enhances the effect of:
- sedative tablets;
- sleeping pills;
- antispasmodics.
Be sure to tell your doctor what else you are taking.
Release form
Before we answer the question of how much you can drink valerian tablets at a time, you need to get acquainted with the form of release. Buy tablets 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 a 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 of plant 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 hotenin. 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 joint action of the substances that make up the “Valerianka”.
Consequences of taking:
- relieving the onset of natural sleep;
- antispasmodic effect;
- choleretic effect;
- activation of the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal mucosa;
- slow heart rate;
- dilatation of coronary vessels.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Currently, there is very little information about the pharmacokinetics of the drug. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to identify the beginning of the action of valerian. Answering the question of how long valerian acts in tablets, one can only rely on observations of the concentration of valerianic acid in human blood. Studies have shown that after oral administration of 600 mg of dry valerian extract, the highest acid concentration is observed after an hour, a maximum of two.
It is important to note here that pharmacokinetics does not change with repeated administration of the drug.
Indications
In this section, we note the indications for the use of valerian. These include:
- severe nervous agitation;
- insomnia;
- trouble falling asleep;
- migraine;
- disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- gastrointestinal spasms.
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 I drink at a time? It is recommended to take one or two tablets. 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 dose and dosage.
What else is worth paying attention to? "Valerianka" is a fairly common sedative, for people with normal pressure it is enough to take a couple of tablets before bedtime (for quick falling asleep) and a couple of tablets in the morning for good health. With extreme caution, it is worth drinking pills for people suffering from low blood pressure.
Contraindications
In this section, we will introduce contraindications to the use of this drug. Many women are interested in the question: is it possible for pregnant women to drink valerian in tablets? After all, anxiety, stress, poor sleep are frequent companions of pregnant women. So, to avoid taking is in the first trimester of pregnancy. What other contraindications are there? These include:
- hypersensitivity to components;
- children's age (up to three years);
- fructose intolerance;
- deficiency of lactose, sucrose, isomaltase.
As for the second and third trimester of pregnancy, before admission, you need to consult with a doctor who is pregnant.
Side effects
How many tablets of valerian can you drink at a time, we mentioned earlier, emphasized the indications and contraindications. Now you need to focus on possible side effects. Since this drug is made from natural ingredients, it is usually well tolerated. After application, the following changes are noticeable:
- headaches and heartaches go away;
- the person calms down;
- overall health improves;
- sleep is normal.
Do not wait for the instant effect, it will become noticeable only after passing the course of treatment. But you should not take the drug for a long time and in large quantities, because the chances of side effects or overdose increase this way. The first include:
- allergic reaction;
- retardation;
- drowsiness;
- decreased performance;
- in some cases constipation is possible.
An overdose of valerian in tablets threatens serious health problems. This issue will be considered in detail a little later.
Dosage and administration
In this section you can learn how to drink valerian in 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 I drink at a time? It is recommended to take no more than two tablets at a time. Drinking them is strictly after a meal.
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. To tell how and in what quantities it is necessary to use this drug for certain diseases and the attending physician should also suggest a scheme.
Overdose
This section will be fully devoted to the issue of overdose of valerian in tablets. What symptoms can dance in a person:
- drowsiness;
- muscle weakness;
- retardation;
- other dysfunctions of the central nervous system;
- bradycardia;
- arrhythmia;
- nausea;
- heartburn;
- dilated pupils;
- tremor in the hands;
- dizziness.
Please note that serious disorders such as bradycardia and arrhythmia can be observed only with serious overdoses (20 times higher than the norm prescribed in the instructions for use). The lethal dose is not indicated in the instructions, since it completely depends on the general state of human health.
When these symptoms appear, the following actions must be done: completely refuse to take the drug, do gastric lavage for three hours (drink a liter of clean water and induce vomiting), take the drug with a sorbing effect. The latter include Smecta and Polysorb. Please note that gastric lavage should not be given to people who took the drug more than three hours ago. If a child under three years of age has been poisoned, this manipulation is contraindicated.