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Corvalol poisoning: signs, what to do?
Last reviewed: 12.07.2025
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The drug Corvalol is used by many to relieve coronary spasms in vasospastic angina and to normalize the heartbeat and relieve pain in neurogenic cardiac arrhythmia. However, it is not a cardiological drug, but a psycholeptic (sedative) and hypnotic, which is a barbiturate in combination with other components (which is recorded in the ATX code - N05CB02). And poisoning with Corvalol according to ICD-10 is coded T42.7 - as poisoning with anticonvulsants, sedatives and hypnotics.
Barbiturate overdose may be intentional or unintentional. Intentional overdose is closely related to the epidemiology of depression and the presence of comorbidities such as anxiety and other mood disorders. Unintentional overdose often occurs when patients ingest substances such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, which have additive effects resulting in sedation and decreased respiration.
Causes corvalol poisoning
Doctors note that the main causes of poisoning with Corvalol are its frequent use without a doctor’s prescription (self-medication), as well as unintentional or intentional overdose (for example, by alcoholics – to achieve a state of intoxication).
Any improper use of sedatives based on barbiturates can lead to an overdose. And one of the components of Corvalol is a depressant of the barbiturate group - Phenobarbital, which suppresses many structures of the brain and central nervous system. Separately, it is used to stop convulsions in epilepsy, chorea and spastic paralysis.
This drug is included in List IV of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, meaning it can only be purchased with a prescription. While Corvalol is banned by the FDA.
As statistics on sales of over-the-counter drugs show, fourth place – after analgesics, antibiotics and cough medicines – is occupied by sedatives, including the most affordable ones (which contain Phenobarbital). These are Corvalol, Barboval, Bellaspon, Valocordin, Valordin, Corvaldin, Corvalcaps, Corvaltab, etc.
Risk factors
With too frequent use and exceeding the dose, the risk factors for poisoning with Corvalol are associated with the accumulation of bromides in the body, the formation of dependence, and old age (when the process of biotransformation of drugs by liver enzymes slows down).
Also, some people may take Corvalol if they have contraindications in the form of liver cirrhosis (including that associated with alcoholism), liver and/or kidney enzyme deficiency, chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary diseases, arterial hypotension, organic pathologies of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
Pathogenesis
The additive synergism of the effects of the components of Corvalol – Phenobarbital, ethyl bromisovalerate (2-bromo-2-methylbutyrate or synthetic ethyl ester of alpha-bromisovaleric acid), peppermint oil and ethanol (ethyl alcohol) – causes the pathogenesis of poisoning.
The direct action of these substances on the receptors of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), leading to inhibition of the functions of the brain stem, reticular zones of the cortex and subcortex, is enhanced, that is, the transmission of nerve impulses to the central nervous system and the reflex excitability of neurons is practically blocked. And this leads to inhibition and suppression of the vasomotor and respiratory centers of the brain.
At the same time, ethylbromisovalerate bromide and menthol of peppermint essential oil potentiate the action of Phenobarbital, which in principle cannot be combined with other sedatives to avoid pathological effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems - with the risk of respiratory arrest and contractions of the heart muscle.
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Symptoms corvalol poisoning
There are such types of Corvalol poisoning as acute and chronic, as well as three degrees of severity, depending on the amount of the drug taken.
In mild cases of poisoning, its first signs are dizziness, general weakness and drowsiness, and a reduction in the volume of urination; after a short period of time, the heartbeat increases, coordination of movements is impaired and they become spontaneous, and frequent involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) are observed.
Symptoms of moderate toxicity include psycholeptic disturbance of consciousness with weakening of muscle tone and tendon reflexes, disturbances in breathing rhythm, and blue skin (cyanosis). In severe cases, the patient (who is unconscious) has constricted pupils (not reacting to light), decreased blood pressure and body temperature, slowed heart rate (indicating collapse and stupor), and respiratory distress and pulmonary edema.
Signs of chronic toxic effects of the drug in cases of its long-term use are manifested by increased irritability; drowsiness and disturbances of sleep and wakefulness cycles; general weakness and dizziness; problems with balance and coordination of movements; disturbances of consciousness and speech. Convulsions, cardiac and intestinal spasms, hallucinations may occur.
Due to the effects of boron-containing ethyl ester of alpha-bromisovaleric acid, depression, motor and psychoneurological disorders (with memory loss and speech impairment), as well as skin rashes, irritation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva of the eyes may be observed. Doctors call this condition bromism.
Complications and consequences
Poisoning with Corvalol causes such complications and consequences
Such as instability of myocardial contractions, decreased blood supply to the brain with the development of hypoxia and ischemia, disruption of general metabolism, functioning of the cardiovascular system, lungs and kidneys.
The most severe consequences include collapse, coma, respiratory and cardiac arrest, resulting in death.
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Diagnostics corvalol poisoning
Methods of clinical diagnostics, including necessary analyses and hardware examinations (electrocardiography, electroencephalography, etc.), are discussed in detail in the publications:
Differential diagnosis
In case of poisoning with Corvalol, the stages of impaired consciousness are taken into account, and differential diagnostics should exclude all conditions with similar symptoms, including mental illnesses and neurological disorders, and also take into account the possibility of cholinolytic syndrome or acute alcohol (drug) intoxication.
The differential diagnosis should include intoxication with other sedatives such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants (carbamazepine), alcohols (ethanol, ethylene glycol, methanol), opioids, carbon monoxide, sleep aids, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB - known as the date of rape drug), including hypoglycemia and myxedema coma. Hypothermia should be excluded.
Who to contact?
Treatment corvalol poisoning
First, about what to do at home in case of poisoning with Corvalol, since emergency assistance is needed until the medical team arrives.
In case of mild poisoning, when the person is conscious, you need to wash out the stomach, that is, give water to drink (two or three glasses) and induce vomiting. Then take five tablets of crushed activated carbon (or another sorbent).
If a person is unconscious, you need to check the pulse and breathing, and if they are absent, begin performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation - artificial respiration and cardiac massage.
Further emergency assistance is provided by doctors.
The main treatment for Corvalol poisoning is symptomatic intensive therapy for poisoning, which is aimed at:
- to remove the components of Corvalol from the body, the stomach is emptied by rinsing through a tube, the intestines - with saline laxatives, the kidneys - by forcing diuresis with the help of diuretics (Mannitol, Trisamine, Lasix, etc.);
- to neutralize Phenobarbital bound to blood proteins (a glucose solution in combination with ascorbic acid and insulin are administered intravenously);
- to maintain and restore the functions of the respiratory system and heart (if necessary, using artificial ventilation);
- to combat toxic shock and metabolic disorders, in particular increased acidity of urine and blood, for which sodium bicarbonate (4% solution) is administered and hemodialysis is performed.
Monitoring of vital signs is essential.
For treatment, the following medications are used for intravenous infusions: Bemegride (other trade names: Glutamisole, Megibal, Malizol, Ethimid) - a stimulating respiration and blood circulation analeptic agent for poisoning with sleeping pills (0.5% solution); cardiotonic Dobutamine (Dobutrex, Inotrex), restoring cerebral circulation Piracetam (20% solution).
Infusion detoxification therapy uses the antihypoxic drug Reamberin (meglumine sodium succinate + sodium chloride + magnesium chloride + potassium chloride). Phenobarbitone poisoning can be treated with repeated oral administration of activated carbon.
Prevention
Compliance with the recommended dosage of Corvalol and safety measures when using it (in particular, avoiding long-term use of drops) is the basis for preventing poisoning with this drug.
It is also important to remember that Corvalol is incompatible with other sedatives and alcoholic beverages.
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Forecast
In acute intoxication, the prognosis depends on the severity of the condition and adequate medical care.