Valerian
Valerian is commonly dosed at 300–600 mg before sleep, but high doses or long-term use may cause liver toxicity and excessive sedation. Learn safe dosing and drug interactions to watch for.
Valerian root is commonly used for sleep at roughly 300–600 mg before bed depending on extract standardization; side effects include sedation, headache, and GI upset, while rare liver injury reports exist in the broader herbal safety literature. Valerian stacks additively with melatonin, magnesium, and prescription sedatives—raising falls risk especially in older adults. Alcohol co-use is particularly unsafe.
| Topic | Typical use | Risk | Audit note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Single herb bedtime | Morning grogginess | Avoid driving if sedated |
| Alcohol | Co-use | Respiratory depression risk | Avoid combination |
| Liver | Rare injury reports | Polyherbal stacks | Stop if jaundice |
| Surgery | Hold if instructed | Anesthesia interactions | Follow team guidance |
Source: NIH ODS (valerian); herb–drug interactions are clinically meaningful.
One sleep stack policy. Choose a coherent plan with a clinician rather than layering sedatives.
Older adult falls risk. Nighttime sedation plus anticholinergics is dangerous.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid unless OB explicitly approves.
Do not operate machinery. Sedation is real—even from “natural” products.
Sleep gummies often combine valerian, melatonin, L-theanine, and chamomile.
NutriAudit helps reveal total sedating ingredients across multiple OTC products.
Valerian adds to alcohol, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, antihistamines, and melatonin. Older adults face fall risk from combined sedation even when individual doses look modest.
Onset is slower than pharmaceutical sleep aids—impatience leads some users to double products the same night.
Liver injury case reports exist in multi-herb sleep blends where causality is unclear. New jaundice after any new sleep stack should trigger stopping supplements and urgent labs.
Driving and machinery safety matter the morning after; track subjective grogginess honestly.
Sleep architecture changes happen—stop if intolerable.
Not classic addiction, but dependence-like patterns can occur psychologically.
Rare cases warrant stopping supplements and medical evaluation.
Sedation stacks are risky—ask a pharmacist or clinician.
Use NutriAudit to audit your full stack for hidden overlaps.
Audit your supplement stackDisclaimer: NutriAudit is a decision-support tool designed to help you review your supplement stack for potential duplicate, conflicting, or excessive ingredients. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Based on reference standards from FDA, EFSA, TGA, and MHLW.
Last updated: 2026-04-07 · Data sourced from FDA Dietary Reference Intakes, EFSA Scientific Opinions, and NIH Office of Dietary Supplements where applicable.