Corvalol

Corvalol is a barbiturate-based heart medication and a mild tranquilizer, popular in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It is a transparent liquid with a characteristic strong aroma.

The composition of this medication may vary to some degree. In a typical preparation, a single dose of Corvalol ( 1 ml ) contains: as well as inactive ingredients:
 * Phenobarbital - 16 mg
 * Bromisovalum ( derivative of bromine and valeric acid ) - 20 mg or Ethylbromisovalerinate ( ethyl ester of α-Bromoisovaleric acid ) - 20 mg
 * Peppermint oil - 1.5 mg
 * Hop oil - 0.2 mg (not always present)
 * Sodium hydroxide ( to convert poorly soluble phenobarbital into phenobarbital sodium )
 * Ethanol and water as solutes

Corvalol is nearly identical in both composition and effects to Valocordin, main difference being that Corvalol is manufactured in Eastern Europe, whereas Valocordin is manufactured in Germany. The word "Valocordin" itself is a registered trademark of the German pharmaceutical company Krewel Meuselbach GmbH. Only in German: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krewel_Meuselbach

In Eastern Europe, Corvalol is believed to be safe enough to use in recommended doses without prescription. It is widely used to treat elevated blood pressure and as a general-purpose tranquilizer/sedative. Despite the -lol suffix, the drug is not a beta-blocker (though it shares many indications with beta blockers.) Corvalol is so common in Eastern Europe that, in 1996, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation included it in the list of mandatory items in all Russian passenger vehicle first aid kits, alongside such drugs as Aspirin, Analgin, Nitroglycerin, and activated charcoal. However, in 1998, it reversed its decision and put Corvalol on the list of controlled substances. It is illegal to sell Corvalol without medical prescription in the Russian Federation.

However, both primary ingredients of Corvalol may be considered controlled substances in other countries. For example, it is illegal to import this drug into United States ( see Health Hazard with Unapproved Imported Drug from Russia ).

Corvalol was produced by Kiev Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant in Kiev, Ukraine in 1960-1991, and by its successor, the Joint Stock Company "Farmak", from 1991 onwards. Farmak currently owns the exclusive trade mark to the drug name in Ukraine and a number of countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.