Calming agents for children of different age groups

For various reasons, the excitability of the central nervous system in children of different age groups may be increased, and sedatives for children are used to help the child get rid of excessive anxiety, stress, tension, irritability, panic attacks, and sleep difficulties. But a pediatric neurologist or psychoneurologist should determine the presence of a problem and prescribe a particular sedative.

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Indications sedatives for children

We emphasize once again: any decision on the use of medications and specific indications for the use of sedatives for children are determined by doctors after examining the child or teenager.

If serious mental disorders, personality disorders (including conversion disorders) and generalized hyperkinesis require the use of neuroleptics (antipsychotic drugs), then tranquilizers are used to reduce anxiety and nervous excitement, as well as reduce seizures and improve sleep. At the same time, tranquilizers inhibit all psychomotor reactions, relax muscles and reduce concentration. Such sedatives are suitable for children during dental treatment (a single dose before visiting a dentist or orthodontist), after severe stress; they are prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy, spastic cerebral palsy, enuresis.

Among tranquilizers there is a group of anxiolytics, which relieve tension, nervous excitement and spontaneously occurring increased motor activity without paralyzing the main motor and cognitive functions. And in some cases they are prescribed as sedatives for hyperactive children with attention deficit syndrome.

In modern pediatrics, there is a tendency to use psycholeptics – lighter sedatives. As a rule, these are herbal sedatives for children.

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Release form

The release form varies: tablets and capsules for oral administration, lozenges, sublingual tablets or granules, drops, herbal dry mixtures (for making a decoction) or filter bags for making herbal tea.

Names of sedatives for children

Here are the names of sedatives for children that are most often prescribed and used in clinical practice.

Sedatives for hyperactive children (with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ICD-10 code – F90.0): Strattera (Atomoxetine), Mebicar (Mebix, Adaptol), Pantocalcin (Calcium hopantenate, Pantogam) – help children calm down and concentrate by activating the areas of the brain responsible for concentration.

Sedatives for children under one year: chamomile flowers (decoction), Viburcol (rectal suppositories).

Sedatives for children over 3 years old: valerian root infusions, Nervoheel (sublingual tablets).

Folk sedatives for children: valerian (decoction of roots and rhizomes), chamomile (infusion of flowers), water infusions and decoctions of peppermint leaves, lemon balm (lemon mint) herb, motherwort.

Natural sedative for children: Soothing collection No. 3.

Herbal sedatives for children: Persen (Relaxil), Sedative collection No. 3.

Homeopathic sedatives for children: Kindinorm (granules), Dormikind (tablets for the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders in children under 6 years of age), Viburcol, Nervoheel.

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Sedatives for hyperactive children

The review includes the following sedatives for hyperactive children (whose increased nervous excitability is accompanied by problems with concentration and maintaining attention): Strattera (Atomoxetine) - capsules of 10, 18, 25, 40 and 60 mg for children over 6 years old; Mebicar (Adaptol) - tablets of 300 and 500 mg for children over 12 years old; Pantocalcin (Calcium hopantenate, Pantogam) - tablets of 0.25 g for any age. The pharmacological characteristics of these drugs are as follows.

Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of the drug Strattera is based on the binding of the active substance atomoxetine hydrochloride to proteins that carry norepinephrine to the central nervous system. By blocking the transport of this hormone through the presynaptic clefts of neurons, atomoxetine helps to increase its concentration, and the level of nervous excitability decreases.

The anxiolytic drug Mebikar stabilizes the membranes of nerve cells and acts adrenergically, stimulating the receptors of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

And the active substance of the neuro- and cerebroprotective agent Pantocalcin - calcium hopantenate - normalizes the metabolism of glucose and tricarboxylic acids in brain tissues, and inhibits the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in synapses. As a result, the processes of conducting nerve impulses in the central nervous system are normalized.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of these drugs are similar in terms of their ability to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract (after oral administration of tablets) and to bind to plasma proteins to varying degrees. Strattera and Mebicar begin to act within 20 minutes, and Pantocalcin - in about an hour. These drugs do not break down into metabolites, do not accumulate in the body and are excreted through the kidneys 36-48 hours after administration.

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Dosing and administration

The daily dose of Strattera is determined at 0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight for a child weighing up to 70 kg (divided into two doses).

Mebikar is taken one tablet twice a day, the maximum dose is 10 g per day, the maximum course of treatment is three months.

It is recommended to take Pantocalcin one tablet (0.25 g) three times a day; duration of administration is from 28 days to three months.

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Contraindications

Strattera – pheochromocytoma (neuroendocrine system tumor), Pantocalcin – intolerance to hopantenic acid compounds, Mebicar – individual sensitivity to the active substance (2,4,6,8-tetramethylglycoluril) and kidney problems.

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Side effects sedatives for children

Strattera - abdominal pain, intestinal disorders, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, increased heart rate;

Mebicar – dyspepsia, decreased blood pressure and body temperature;

Pantocalcin - urticaria, drowsiness, headache.

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Overdose

Strattera in high doses causes tachycardia, convulsions, dry mouth and dilated pupils. It is necessary to take sorbents and wash out the stomach. Mebikar has no symptoms of overdose, and exceeding the dose of Pantocalcin is expressed in the increase of side effects.

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Interactions with other drugs

The drug in question cannot be used simultaneously with beta-adrenergic agonists, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepine tranquilizers and any neuroleptics.

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Storage conditions

Storage conditions for these medicinal products are at room temperature.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of Strattera and Mebicar is 4 years, Pantocalcin – 3 years.

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Natural sedative for children

Agree that the best sedative for children is a natural one that gives an effect, but does not complicate the child's condition with unwanted side effects. Such means include medicinal plants: roots and rhizomes of valerian officinalis, flowers of chamomile, leaves and tops of stems of peppermint, lemon balm and motherwort.

Pharmacodynamics. The calming effect of valerian is promoted by the complex of active substances of the essential oil of its roots, which includes valerenic and isovaleric acids, sesquiterpenoids (borneol, pinene and camphene), bornyl isovalerate, as well as the alkaloid isovaltrate, the mechanism of action of which is similar to alpha-receptors of GABA in the midbrain and medulla oblongata.

Chamomile has a mild sedative effect due to niacin – nicotinic acid (vitamin PP), which activates serotonin synthesis and helps reduce excessive neuroreflex excitation. And the azulene compounds (chamazulene and matricin) contained in the flowers normalize bowel function in infants (problems with which in most cases cause anxiety and increased excitability). Pediatricians advise giving infants up to three months a teaspoon of decoction twice a day, after three months – a dessert spoon.

Menthol, which is the essential oil of peppermint leaves, as well as terpenoids and flavonoids (hesperidin, eriocitrin, 7-O-rutinoside) block the voltage-sensitive Na+ channels and reduce the activity of neurons that can stimulate muscles. Menthol can also act as a gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor modulator, providing an analgesic and sedative effect.

The sedative properties of lemon balm (lemon mint) are also hidden in its essential oil, which contains terpene compounds (citral, citronellal, etc.). But motherwort contains the alkaloid L-stachydrine and diterpenes leonurine, isoleunurine, etc. The pharmacodynamics of this plant as an effective sedative and hypotensive agent are associated with them. By acting on vascular endothelial receptors and inhibiting the release of intracellular Ca2+, motherwort alkaloids reduce increased vascular tone and heart rate.

Herbal sedatives for children such as Persen (Relaxil) contain valerian, peppermint and lemon balm, and Soothing Collection No. 3 – in addition to valerian root – includes motherwort, oregano, thyme and sweet clover.

Contraindications for the use of Persen are hypersensitivity to herbs, for the drug in tablet form - age up to three years, in capsule form - children under 12 years.

Soothing collection No. 3 is not used for children under 12 years of age, with increased stomach acidity, hypotension, inflammatory bowel diseases.

Side effects of herbal sedatives for children: decreased blood pressure, lethargy, drowsiness, gastrointestinal disorders (constipation).

Method of administration and dosage: Persena - two tablets up to three times a day; children under one year - one tablet. It is recommended to give children 50-100 ml of herbal infusion twice a day.

Overdose of Persen and herbal infusion can cause weakness, nausea, dizziness, hand tremors and dilated pupils.

Interactions with other drugs. Both Persen and Soothing Collection No. 3 are not combined with other sedatives. And the infusion of medicinal plants (due to the presence of motherwort) enhances the effect of cardiac glycosides.

Homeopathic sedatives for children

The pharmacodynamics of homeopathic sedatives are usually not explained in the instructions.

So, the drug Kindinorm contains Calcium hypophosphorosum, Kalium phosphoricum, Valeriana, Cuprum metallicum, Chamomilla, Staphisagria.

The components of Dormikind: Cypripedium parviflorum (small-flowered lady's slipper of the orchid family), magnesium sulfate and valerianic-zinc salt (zincum isovalerianicum).

Viburcol suppositories contain chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), belladonna (Atropa belladonna), soda and other substances.

The mechanism of action of the drug Nervoheel is provided by the plant Ignatia esculenta, cuttlefish ink, potassium bromide, phosphoric acid (diluted), and valerianic-zinc salt.

The pharmacokinetics of homeopathic remedies are not described in the instructions.

Contraindications for use: Kindinorm – age less than 12 months; Dormikind – lactase deficiency.

The most common side effects of homeopathic sedatives include dermatological allergic reactions.

Method of administration and dosage. Kindinorm - children under five years old are recommended to take 5 granules under the tongue (three times a day, half an hour before meals), children 5-12 years old - 10 granules. For babies, the granules should be dissolved in boiled water.

Also, before meals, give Dormikind tablets - one piece three times a day.

Viburcol suppositories can be used two or three times a day.

Nervoheel sublingual tablets are taken 60 minutes after meals, 0.5-1 tablet.

There is no information on overdose and interactions of these drugs.

Store homeopathic sedatives for children at room temperature, Viburcol suppositories - in a dark place.

Shelf life: Viburkol – 3 years, Kindinorm – 4 years, Dormikind and Nervoheel – 5 years.