✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Valerian evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ Patient expecting immediate sleep effect — valerian takes 2–4 weeks, not same-night [2]
⚠ Pre-surgical patient — discontinue valerian 2 weeks before anesthesia [1]
⚠ Pungent smell complaints — use capsules, not tea [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Inadequate safety data. Some valepotriates cytotoxic in vitro. Avoid [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Limited data. Some European products are marketed for children >6 years. Safety not well-established [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: 30–60 min before bedtime. Consistent nightly use [2].
💊 With food: Can be taken with or without food [1].
🚫 Avoid: CNS depressants without monitoring. Surgery within 2 weeks [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Standardized root extract', 'preferred', 'Standardized to 0.8% valerenic acid. 300–600 mg/dose. Most clinical trials use this form [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Dried root/capsule', 'common', '400–900 mg dried root per dose. Variable potency [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Tincture', '', 'Alcohol-based extract. Traditional preparation. Strong taste and smell [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Tea', '', '1–3 g dried root steeped 10–15 min. Mild sedative. Very strong taste [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Is valerian as effective as sleeping pills? ▼
No — valerian produces modest subjective sleep quality improvement but does not match the sleep latency reduction or total sleep time increase of Z-drugs (zolpidem) or benzodiazepines [2]. Its advantage is safety: no dependence, no next-day hangover, no respiratory depression.
Why does valerian smell so bad? ▼
The pungent odor is from isovaleric acid — the same compound responsible for the smell of sweaty feet. This is normal and unavoidable [1]. Capsules mask the smell better than tea or tincture.
How long until it works? ▼
Unlike Z-drugs, valerian may take 2–4 weeks of consistent nightly use for optimal effect [2]. It is not an acute sleep aid.
Is valerian addictive? ▼
No. There is no evidence of tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal syndrome with valerian, even with prolonged use [3].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
GABA-A receptor modulation: valerenic acid is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors, confirmed in multiple pharmacological studies [1]. General safety: non-habit-forming, no next-day impairment, no withdrawal syndrome [3]. HIGH
Moderate
Subjective sleep quality: meta-analysis of 16 RCTs found modest improvement in self-reported sleep quality [2]. The effect is real but small compared to pharmaceutical sleep aids. Anxiety: some evidence for mild anxiolytic effect (less studied than sleep) [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ Concurrent benzodiazepines or other sedatives — additive CNS depression
⚠ Concurrent anesthesia — discontinue 2 weeks before surgery
⚠ Hepatotoxicity — rare but reported; avoid in liver disease
⚠ Concurrent alcohol — additive sedation
🚩 Red flags
● Patient on multiple sedatives + valerian — monitor for excessive sedation [1]
● Patient expecting Z-drug-level efficacy — manage expectations [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, alcohol) Moderate
Mechanism: Additive GABA-ergic sedation. [1]
Effect: Increased sedation. Clinical significance at standard valerian doses is modest. [1]
Action: Use caution. Avoid concurrent high-dose benzodiazepines [1].
Supplement synergies
Passionflower · 300–500 mg passionflower
Both are GABA-ergic. Commonly combined in European 'sleep formula' products [1].
Both are GABA-ergic. Commonly combined in European 'sleep formula' products [1].
Hops (Humulus lupulus) · 120–500 mg hops
Valerian + hops is the most studied herbal sleep combination in Europe [1].
Valerian + hops is the most studied herbal sleep combination in Europe [1].
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): Dietary supplement. GRAS. No drug approval [1].
European Union: EMA: 'traditional use' registration for sleep disorders and mild anxiety [3].
Germany (Commission E): Approved for sleep disturbances and restlessness [3].
South Korea: Available as dietary supplement.
8 US supplement products
175
on-market products containing Valerian (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Valerian (107)
Click a brand to see its Valerian products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Valerian — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 07]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/valerian/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Valerian — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/valerian/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 3 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Valerian — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/valerian/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG