Valerian: Toxicity. Adverse Reactions
Toxicity
According to one case report, a dose of valerian taken at approximately 20-fold the recommended therapeutic dose appears to be benign.
Adverse Reactions
As with numerous pharmaceutical sedatives, next morning somnolence is a possible side-effect of therapy; however, evidence from two human studies suggests this is not associated with valerian use.
Vivid dreams were reported in one study; however, this is considered rare by clinicians.
Paradoxical effects have been observed in clinical practice; however, this also appears to be rare.
Occasionally, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported.
Significant Interactions
PHARMACEUTICAL SEDATIVES
Theoretically, potentiation effects may occur at high doses; however, this has not been tested under clinical conditions — observe patients taking valerian concurrently with pharmaceutical sedatives.
ALCOHOL
RCTs have shown no potentiation effects with alcohol use.