Cardiologist warned about the dangers of "corvalol cocktails"

A dangerous trend among teenagers is gaining popularity in Russia — the so-called "corvalol cocktails". Schoolchildren mix corvalol with soda, juices, energy drinks and various medications in an attempt to achieve a state of euphoria or hallucinations. However, such experiments can lead to severe poisoning, coma, and even death. Alexey Nikitin, a professor and cardiologist, told Izvestia about this on June 24.

According to the expert, the main danger is the phenobarbital contained in corvalol, a psychotropic substance from the barbiturate group that has a pronounced depressing effect on the central nervous system. For children and adolescents, this drug is contraindicated, and the use of a whole bottle is actually comparable to taking a potent psychoactive substance.

"Phenobarbital dramatically slows down brain function. The teenager's coordination is disrupted, confusion, disorientation occurs, and speech becomes slurred. In severe cases, vital reflexes, including breathing, are inhibited," Nikitin explained.

Doctors are particularly concerned about the combination of corvalol with energy drinks. According to the expert, caffeine and other stimulants make the body work more actively, while phenobarbital has the opposite effect. Such a load can lead to serious cardiac arrhythmias, sudden pressure surges, loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest.

Experts consider mixing corvalol with medications, in particular motion sickness products, to be no less dangerous. Such combinations significantly increase the toxic load on the body and can cause severe liver damage, psychosis, hallucinations and coma.

The cardiologist noted that such experiments often end with hospitalization. Adolescents develop repeated vomiting, severe intoxication, impaired functioning of the cardiovascular system and respiratory depression.

According to Nikitin, "corvalol cocktails" should not be perceived as a harmless hobby or a way of entertainment. This is an extremely dangerous practice that can lead to drug addiction, severe damage to internal organs and irreversible health consequences.

The expert urged parents to pay attention to sudden changes in children's behavior, increased drowsiness, coordination disorders and other disturbing symptoms, and reminded teenagers that there are no safe ways to achieve a narcotic effect with the help of pharmaceutical drugs. According to him, the price of such experiments may be too high, even to the point of life—threatening.

On May 7, the journal Nutrients reported on the ability of coffee to reduce the risk of cancer. According to the publication, the components in brewed coffee can suppress the proliferation of tumor cells and reduce inflammatory processes by acting on the specific nuclear receptor NR4A1.