Valerian
Herbal products and dietary supplements
Herbal products and dietary supplements
Root of Valeriana officinalis, promoted for sleep. Evidence is inconsistent, and sleep guidelines advise against it for chronic insomnia.
Also called: Valeriana officinalis, Valerianae radix
Quick facts
- Group
- Herbal products and dietary supplements
- Target
- Central nervous system (mechanism not established)
- Used for
- Promoted for insomnia
- Key effects
- Headache and stomach upset · Mental dullness
- Monitor
- Daytime sleepiness
- ATC
- N05CM09
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
Preparations of the root and rhizome are taken for their possible sleep-inducing effect, which has not been proven. How valerian acts is not established. After long use, stopping suddenly may cause withdrawal-like symptoms.
- Root extract is taken in the evening
- Possible sedative effect (not proven)
- Inconsistent effect on sleep in trials
Indications
- Promoted for insomnia: inconsistent evidence; guidelines recommend against it for chronic insomnia in adults Insomnia disorder →
Adverse effects
Common
- Headache and stomach upset
- Mental dullness
- Excitability, uneasiness and vivid dreams
Contraindications
- Use with alcohol or sedatives
Key interactions
- Alcohol
- Possible additive sedation
- Benzodiazepines and other sedatives
- Possible additive sedation
What is monitored
- Daytime sleepiness
- Liver symptoms with combination products
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Nursing care
- Ask every patient about herbal products and supplements and record them with the medicine list
- Ask about sedatives and alcohol taken at the same time
- Explain that stopping after long use is best done gradually
- Teach that «natural» does not mean safe and that supplements are not approved as medicines before sale
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Taken by mouth as root or rhizome preparations; long-term safety is unknown
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Do sleep guidelines recommend valerian for chronic insomnia?
No; they recommend against it because the evidence is inconsistent.
What can happen if valerian is stopped abruptly after long use?
Anxiety, irritability, insomnia and heart disturbances, rarely hallucinations.
With what should valerian not be combined?
Alcohol or sedatives.
Connections
← Back to the class: Herbal products and dietary supplements
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Valerian: Usefulness and Safety (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2025); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.