Valerian

Valerian root has been used for sleep problems (insomnia).Some herbal/dietary supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your pharmacist for more details about the brand you use.The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes (such as simvastatin, lovastatin, atorvastatin, drugs to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension including sildenafil/tadalafil, azole antifungals including ketoconazole).Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs/other products that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone), other herbal/dietary products (e.g., kava, melatonin).Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Not applicable.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use valerian, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a valerian capsule. Swallow it whole.

If you need surgery, stop taking valerian at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with valerian does not improve, or if it gets worse while using this product.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Since valerian is used when needed, you are not likely to miss a dose.

You should not use valerian if you are allergic to it.

Before using valerian, talk to your healthcare provider. You may not be able to use valerian if you have certain medical conditions.

It is not known whether valerian will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether valerian passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

Valerian may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid using valerian with other herbal/health supplements that can cause drowsiness. This includes 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), California poppy, catnip, chamomile, gotu kola, Jamaican dogwood, kava, melatonin, St. John's wort, skullcap (or scullcap), yerba mansa, and others.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase drowsiness caused by valerian.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although not all side effects are known, valerian is thought to be possibly safe when taken for a short period of time (4 to 8 weeks).

Stop using valerian and call your doctor at once if you have:

• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• headache;

• upset stomach;

• thinking problems;

• dry mouth;

• feeling excited or uneasy;

• strange dreams; or

• daytime drowsiness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Valerian has been classified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in the United States for food use; extracts and the root oil are used as flavorings in foods and beverages. The observed in vitro cytotoxicity of valepotriate compounds may not be relevant in vivo because of limited absorption.

A dose of a commercial preparations of valerian extract 600 mg in healthy subjects peaked at 30 minutes to 2 hours, with an elimination half-life of 1.1 ± 0.6 hours, and the marker valerenic acid was in the serum for at least 5 hours after dosing. 35

Anxiety

A clinical trial evaluating valerian as an anxiolytic used valeprotriates 150 mg in 3 divided doses for 4 weeks. 24 Other trials have used valerian dried herb 0.5 to 2 g, extract 0.5 to 2 mL, and tincture 2 to 4 mL. 14

Insomnia

Valerian extract 400 to 600 mg taken 1 hour before bedtime for 2 to 4 weeks has been used in clinical trials evaluating valerian in insomnia. 13 , 31 , 32 A study conducted in children with insomnia (mean age, 11 years) used valerian extract 20 mg/kg body weight at night for 2 weeks. No adverse reactions were noted at this dosage; however, results were inconclusive. 6 , 36 Studies have consistently found no effect for a single dose of valerian in improving sleep latency or quality. 27 , 28 , 29

Valerian extract up to 1,215 mg has been used as a sedative, but clinical trials have not established an optimal dose, and issues of standardization of content and preparation quality have been raised. 6 , 13 Many commercial preparations exist either as valerian alone or in combination with other compounds.

LactMed Record Number

902

Last Revision Date

20170411

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Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.