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Valerian root

Can you take valerian with alcohol or sleep medicine?

It is not advised. Valerian may add to the sedating effects of alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleep medicines and other CNS depressants.

Valerian plant with pale pink flower clusters
Sedating effects can add together across herbs, alcohol and medicines.

The short answer

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes possible additive sedation when valerian is combined with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, other central nervous system depressants and sedating herbs, and NCCIH advises against combining it with alcohol or sedatives. The EU monograph warns that valerian may impair driving and machine use. If you already take a prescribed sleep or anxiety medicine, ask the prescriber before adding valerian rather than layering the two.

Sources

  1. Valerian — Health Professional Fact SheetNIH Office of Dietary Supplements
  2. Valerian: Usefulness and SafetyNCCIH