Are Korodin drops only available on prescription?

Korodin drops are non-prescription but pharmacy-only. This means that they are available without a prescription, but only in pharmacies. Users should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking them, as they are by no means a harmless drug. Always take Korodin drops only according to the instructions of your doctor or pharmacist and study the package insert carefully.

Effect

The ingredients of Korodin cardiovascular drops are camphor and liquid extract of fresh hawthorn berries. It also contains the aroma substance levomenthol. The latter contains 60% alcohol by volume, so its use is not recommended for children.

Patients with liver diseases as well as patients suffering from alcoholism should also take this into account. Camphor is a synthetically produced medicine, which was originally extracted from the essential oil of the camphor tree. Camphor stimulates blood circulation, relieves pain and expectoration, which is why it is also used to treat colds.

Hawthorn extract (also called Crataegus), as contained in Korodin drops, is said to protect the cardiovascular system by stimulating protective mechanisms of the vascular walls. There is also evidence that hawthorn lowers blood pressure and has a positive effect on fat metabolism. In the guidelines for the treatment of heart failure it is pointed out that a relevant and reliable proof of efficacy has not yet been provided. The use of hawthorn is not considered to be appropriate. However, there are indications that patients with milder forms of heart failure (stage NYHA I and II) may benefit from additional therapy with sufficiently high doses of hawthorn extract.

Side effect

Hypersensitivity can lead to symptoms of allergy. Patients with bronchial asthma or other respiratory diseases must not take Korodin drops either, as they may experience shortness of breath or asthma attacks.Infants and toddlers under the age of two years may suffer from laryngospasm due to the camphor content when using Korodin drops. Unspecific side effects have been reported with the use of Korodin drops, including headache, dizziness, insomnia, restlessness, palpitations and gastrointestinal problems. The frequency of these side effects is not known. Patients should take Korodin drops only after medical advice and consult their doctor if the described or other side effects occur.