Side Effects and Risks of Taking Valerian (2024)

FAQs

Does valerian have negative side effects? ›

Side effects may occur.

Although valerian is thought to be fairly safe, side effects such as headache, dizziness, stomach problems or sleeplessness may occur. Valerian may not be safe if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. And it has not been evaluated to determine if it's safe for children under 3 years old.

Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) Drugs to treat insomnia, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and ramelteon (Rozerem) Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) Alcohol.

There have also been cases reported in the literature that suggest Valeriana officinalis can cause liver injury, as well as a number of cases reported to regulators in other countries. Based on the evidence to date, it appears that liver injury associated with Valeriana officinalis is very rare.

Valerian has been used as a traditional medicine dating back to ancient Greek and Roman times. People commonly use valerian for sleep disorders, especially insomnia. Valerian is also used for anxiety, stress, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

In the comparison of melatonin supplements and valerian root as natural sleep aids, it's evident that valerian root emerges as a more effective and safer option for maintaining a healthy sleep-wake cycle and ensuring sleep quality.

Valerian may have a sedative effect. It may have a stimulant effect for extreme fatigue. Valerian root may lower blood pressure and relax muscles.

While the effects of valerian in people with heart rhythm disorders hasn't been evaluated, the supplement has been shown to slow the heart rate in some people and may cause certain abnormal rhythms. For this reason, you should be very cautious about taking valerian if you have an abnormal heart rhythm.

More than 800 compounds have been isolated or identified from Valeriana, including iridoids, lignans, flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, and essential oils. Constituents with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and sedative activities were also identified.

Nutritional supplements - Certain dietary supplements such as bitter orange, ephedra, ginseng, hawthorn, and valerian can cause an irregular heartbeat or an increase in heart rate, possibly resulting in heart palpitations.

Valerian is generally considered fairly safe with few adverse effects reported. Daytime sedation and gastrointestinal disturbances have been reported to occur after use of valerian. There have also been a few reports of withdrawal symptoms in people who stopped taking valerian abruptly after long-term use.

Does valerian make you groggy the next day? ›

Some people also report feeling more sluggish the morning after taking valerian root, especially at high doses — even if it helped them sleep better. As such, if you experience any of these symptoms, you may want to lower your dosage.

Is Valerian Root Safe? Many studies have found valerian root to be a safe natural sleep aid. Researchers have found taking valerian root regularly for up to 28 days doesn't cause problems for most adults. People taking sedatives or other anti-anxiety or sleep medications should avoid valerian root.

Studies have indicated that valerian is effective in treating anxiety and depression in menopausal women. Valerian is a safe herbal remedy in HD. Valerian has also shown efficacy with few or no adverse effects when used correctly and following expert recommendations.

Side effects of valerian include headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, heart disturbances, and even insomnia in some people. A few people feel drowsy in the morning after taking valerian, especially at higher doses. Some people experience dry mouth or vivid dreams.

Valerian may cause vivid dreams because it contains essential oil and compounds called iridoid glycosides. These compounds stimulate opioid receptors and serotonin production in your brain, producing relaxing and anti-depressive effects ( 6 ).

This herbal product should not be used for more than 4 weeks. To reduce the chance of possible side effects when stopping extended use of valerian, do not suddenly stop taking it. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased over 1 to 2 weeks before stopping completely.

Studies have indicated that valerian is effective in treating anxiety and depression in menopausal women. Valerian is a safe herbal remedy in HD. Valerian has also shown efficacy with few or no adverse effects when used correctly and following expert recommendations.