Interactions. If you take any medicines regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using valerian supplements. Valerian could interact with some sedatives, narcotics , antidepressants, and anti-seizure medicines. Extreme caution should be used if combining valerian with any medications that have sedative effects.
Can you take valerian with SSRI?
Using sertraline together with valerian may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
What medications does valerian root interact with?
Taking valerian along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some of these sedative medications include alprazolam ( Xanax ), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others.
Does valerian interact with medications?
Drug interactions are possible.
It also increases the sedative effect of depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and narcotics. Valerian can interfere with some prescription medications . And it may interact with other dietary supplements, such as St. John's wort.
Is valerian root safe with antidepressants?
Don't combine valerian root with alcohol, other sleep aids, or antidepressants . Also avoid combining it with sedative drugs, such as barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital, secobarbital) and benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium, Ativan). Valerian root also has a sedative effect, and the effect can be addictive.
Does valerian affect serotonin?
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 ).
Can valerian root cause panic attacks?
Herbs or supplements that are possibly effective: Valerian —Note: Valerian can actually cause anxiety and confusion when used in high doses .
Does valerian cause heart problems?
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.
How long does valerian last in your body?
Various compounds present in valerian are metabolized through different mechanisms and at different rates, further complicating its use. However, it is apparent that clinical effects generally wear off after about 4–6 hours .
Does valerian cause weight gain?
We all know how important it is to get enough sleep.
The potential value for valerian in treating mood disorders is particularly intriguing, as side effects from standard mood-disorder medications, such as drowsiness, dizziness, weight gain , constipation, nausea and vomiting, can be very unpleasant.
Is valerian bad for your liver?
Hepatotoxicity. Valerian has been implicated in a small number of cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but usually in combination with other botanicals such as skullcap or black cohosh. In view of its wide scale use, valerian has to be considered a very rare cause of hepatic injury .
Is valerian root an anti inflammatory?
The extracts of valerian root and turnip had anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can be due to presence of flavonoid compounds in these plants, the influence of prostaglandins as well as cyclooxygenase enzyme and the decline in intracellular calcium.
What does valerian do to your body?
One is that valerian increases the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain . As a neurotransmitter, GABA inhibits unwanted nervous system activity. Studies have shown that increased levels of GABA in the brain lead to falling asleep faster and experiencing better sleep.
Does valerian affect BP?
These compounds include sesquiterpenes (valerenic acid) and iridoids triesters (valepotriates). Valerian may have a sedative effect. It may have a stimulant effect for extreme fatigue. Valerian root may lower blood pressure and relax muscles .
Does valerian root increase estrogen?
Valerian is also thought to have estrogenic activities ( 17 ) ( 28 ) , but this was not observed in vitro ( 29 ) . In vitro, valerian protects against lipid peroxidation, deoxyribose degradation, and ROS production ( 1 ) .
Does valerian root make you smell bad?
Unlike its delicately scented flowers, valerian root has a very strong, earthy odor due to the volatile oils and other compounds responsible for its sedative effects .
