Herb ·Moderate evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Traditional herbal sedative for sleep and anxiety relief.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: sleep support, anxiety relief, relaxation. 16 sources indexed (2000–2026), with 16 interaction records on file.
Core mechanism
Valerenic acid inhibits GABA transaminase, increasing GABA levels. Also acts as a partial agonist at 5-HT5a serotonin receptors and adenosine A1 receptors.8,7
30-60 minutes before bed11
Dosing protocol
Effect builds over 2-4 weeks of consistent use. Avoid with alcohol or sedatives.11
Ranked by evidence and value.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Standardized Valerian Extract.
Assumes 300-600 mg before bed. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Life Extension, and Amazon marketplace; standardized valerenic acid extracts price higher. Updated 2026-05-28.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Valerian is a medicinal root rather than a culinary food; potency and odor vary.
What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.
Valerian (300 to 900 mg root extract 30 to 60 minutes before bed) modestly reduces sleep onset latency in meta-analyses; effects build over 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use.3,5
Polysomnography is the gold standard; consumer trackers (Oura, Withings, EEG headbands) are reasonable proxies. Hepatotoxicity reports are rare but described.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Valerian may enhance GABA signaling to produce mild sedation, though trial results are inconsistent and any effect is modest.3,4
Has a strong odor and can cause grogginess; avoid combining with alcohol or other sedatives.
Valerian and THC-dominant cannabis both have sedative properties, so combining them can cause additive central nervous system depression and excessive drowsiness.
Recommendation: Best avoided together; the combination can produce stronger than expected sedation. Do not drive or operate machinery, and seek medical advice if combined with other CNS depressants.
Additive sedation and CNS depression, which can cause excessive drowsiness, especially if combined with alcohol or other sedatives.
Recommendation: Use the combination only at night, avoid driving or operating machinery afterward, and do not combine with alcohol or prescription sedatives without medical advice.
Valerian root has sedative-hypnotic activity that can add to ketamine's central depressant and dissociative effects, increasing drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired reaction time.
Recommendation: Do not combine valerian root with ketamine. If both are in use, avoid driving and other tasks requiring alertness and seek medical advice.
Both herbs are sedative and GABAergic, so combining them produces additive drowsiness and CNS depression, an effect used in some combination sleep products but a concern with driving or other sedatives.
Recommendation: If combined, start low, avoid driving or operating machinery, and do not add other sedatives or alcohol. Discuss with a clinician if taking prescription CNS depressants.
Valerian root and melatonin both promote sleep through different mechanisms, so combining them can produce additive sedation and next-morning grogginess, especially at higher doses.
Recommendation: If combined for sleep, start with low doses of each and take only at bedtime. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how the combination affects you, and do not add other sedatives.
Valerian root provides GABAergic sedation while L-theanine promotes calm without strong sedation, giving a complementary relaxation effect that is generally well tolerated.
Recommendation: Can be combined for relaxation or sleep support. Take valerian nearer bedtime given its more sedating profile.
Valerian root has GABAergic sedative properties that can potentiate alprazolam's CNS depressant effects. The combination may cause excessive sedation, impaired motor function, respiratory depression, and increased risk of falls, particularly in elderly patients.
Recommendation: Avoid combining valerian root with alprazolam. If you use valerian for sleep, discontinue it while taking benzodiazepines. Do not drive or operate machinery if using both.
Valerian root enhances GABAergic activity, which adds to lorazepam's CNS depressant effects. This combination can lead to excessive sedation, psychomotor impairment, and potentially dangerous respiratory depression.
Recommendation: Avoid combining valerian root with lorazepam. The additive sedative effects can be dangerous. If you need sleep support while on lorazepam, discuss alternatives with your prescriber.
Valerian root has GABAergic and sedative properties that can produce additive CNS depression when combined with quetiapine. The combination may cause excessive drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, impaired motor coordination, and difficulty concentrating. Elderly patients are at increased risk for falls and respiratory depression. The interaction is pharmacodynamic rather than pharmacokinetic.
Recommendation: Avoid combining valerian root with quetiapine unless approved by your prescriber. If using both, avoid hazardous activities requiring alertness. Start valerian at the lowest dose and monitor for excessive sedation. Elderly patients should be especially cautious. Report excessive drowsiness or confusion to your prescriber.
Both zolpidem and valerian act on GABA-A receptors. Combined use can cause excessive CNS depression, over-sedation, and next-day impairment.
Recommendation: Avoid combining zolpidem with valerian root. If sleep support is needed beyond zolpidem, discuss with your prescriber rather than adding herbal sedatives.
Both clonazepam and valerian act on GABA-A receptors. Combined use causes additive CNS depression, excessive sedation, and respiratory depression risk.
Recommendation: Avoid combining. If using valerian, do not take with clonazepam. Additive sedation can be dangerous.
Both diazepam and valerian enhance GABA-A receptor activity. Combined use creates additive CNS depression and excessive sedation.
Recommendation: Avoid combining valerian with diazepam. The additive sedative effect can impair breathing and cause excessive drowsiness.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Yang S, Zhang H, Chen L et al.. Valeriana species and insomnia: multi-organ mechanisms and translational perspectives. Pharmaceutical biology. 2026
Rabiei F, Delavar MA, Mirabi P et al.. Effect of Valeriana officinalis on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Reviews on recent clinical trials. 2025
Valerian showed a significant benefit for improved sleep (RR 1.8) but with evidence of publication bias; no severe adverse events in subjects aged 7-80.
Qualitative results suggest valerian effective for subjective improvement of insomnia, but effectiveness not demonstrated with quantitative/objective measurements.
Jenabi E, Khazaei S, Aghababaei S et al.. Effect of Fennel-Valerian Extract on Hot Flashes and Sleep Disorders in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Trial. Journal of menopausal medicine. 2023
Roh D, Jung JH, Yoon KH et al.. Valerian extract alters functional brain connectivity: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2019
Valerenic acid exerts anxiolytic activity via beta3-containing GABA-A receptors in vivo; these neurons are a major cellular substrate for valerian's anxiolytic action.
Valerenic acid and valerenol bind specific sites on GABA-A receptors, enhancing GABA response selectively through beta2 or beta3 subunit-containing channels.
Morin CM, Koetter U, Bastien C et al.. Valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sleep. 2005
Data suggest valerian has a good safety profile but no robust evidence of efficacy for insomnia treatment with current study designs; safe at 300-600 mg doses.
Valerian was among the most frequently studied complementary treatments for insomnia, with some evidence of benefit for subjective sleep parameters, though more rigorous trials are needed.
Afzal S, Zhou X, Or K et al.. Identification of Nrf2 Activators from the Roots of Valeriana officinalis. Planta medica. 2023
Zaienne D, Isigkeit L, Marschner JA et al.. Structural Modification of the Natural Product Valerenic Acid Tunes RXR Homodimer Agonism. ChemMedChem. 2023
Sudati JH, Vieira FA, Pavin SS et al.. Valeriana officinalis attenuates the rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurotoxicology. 2013
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