What is Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is obtained from the dried rhizome and roots of the perennial herb Valeriana officinalis (family Valerianaceae).
Valerian has a long history of use in Europe, including ancient Greece, for the treatment of various internal and external ailments.
In the U.S., valerian was used as a tranquilizer through the time of World War 2, and was once listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) prior to 1945, but the USP later deemed the evidence for valerian’s use too limited.
Germany’s Commission E has approved valerian as an effective minor sedative and hypnotic.
Valerian’s purported efficacy for nervous anxiety and insomnia is supported primarily by subjective clinical data; most of the available randomized controlled trials have not shown a significant effect of the herb on sleep latency or anxiety symptoms.
Indications
- anxiety
- insomnia
For the occasional treatment of mild anxiety† due to restlessness or nervousness of non-psychotic origin
Side Effects
- agitation
- blurred vision
- confusion
- contact dermatitis
- delirium
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dyspepsia
- dysphagia
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- headache
- hepatitis
- hypertension
- insomnia
- lethargy
- physiological dependence
- pruritus
- sinus tachycardia
- withdrawal
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- abrupt discontinuation
- breast-feeding
- cardiac disease
- children
- depression
- driving or operating machinery
- geriatric
- hepatic disease
- infants
- insomnia
- neonates
- neurological disease
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- seizure disorder
- surgery
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Acetaminophen; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone
- Acetaminophen; Oxycodone
- Acetaminophen; Propoxyphene
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amitriptyline; Chlordiazepoxide
- Amobarbital
- Anxiolytics; Sedatives; and Hypnotics
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Oxycodone
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Baclofen
- Barbiturates
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Belladonna; Opium
- Benzodiazepines
- Brompheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Brompheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Butabarbital
- Cannabidiol
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Carisoprodol
- Cenobamate
- Cetirizine
- Cetirizine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlordiazepoxide; Clidinium
- Chlorpheniramine; Codeine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Clobazam
- Clonazepam
- Clorazepate
- Codeine
- Codeine; Guaifenesin
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Codeine; Promethazine
- COMT inhibitors
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Desvenlafaxine
- Deutetrabenazine
- Diazepam
- Dihydrocodeine; Guaifenesin; Pseudoephedrine
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Duloxetine
- Esketamine
- Estazolam
- Eszopiclone
- Ethanol
- Fentanyl
- Flurazepam
- Gabapentin
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Homatropine; Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydromorphone
- Ibuprofen; Oxycodone
- Isocarboxazid
- Lasmiditan
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levorphanol
- Linezolid
- Lofexidine
- Lorazepam
- Lumateperone
- Meperidine
- Meperidine; Promethazine
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Methadone
- Methohexital
- Midazolam
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Morphine
- Morphine; Naltrexone
- Opiate Agonists
- Oxazepam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Pentobarbital
- Phenelzine
- Phenobarbital
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Propoxyphene
- Quazepam
- Ramelteon
- Rasagiline
- Remifentanil
- Secobarbital
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Selegiline
- Sufentanil
- Suvorexant
- Tapentadol
- Temazepam
- Thiopental
- Tizanidine
- Tranylcypromine
- Trazodone
- Triazolam
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vortioxetine
- Zaleplon
- Zolpidem
