Valerian Root in the potenating of GABA modulators

[Lightning-Nl]

Happened to come across this study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/7979830/

Which suggests that one of Valerian Root's pharmacodynamic actions on GABA is by indirect agonization and reuptake inhibition of GABA. If you read through the study it explains that Valerian Root appears to stimulate the GABA uptake transporters and cause them to reverse their inflow of GABA, which in turn, causes GABA release as well as GABA reuptake inhibition. This effect is very similar (and may be identical) to the effects that Amphetamine has on dopamine, norepinephrine and (to a lesser extent) serotonin uptake transporters.

Due to the fact that GABAa modulators rely on GABA being present in order to induce a response from the neuron, it would appear that Valerian Root would significantly potenate benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and nonbenzodiazepine's (Z-Drugs) due to this heightened GABA release.

What do you guys think of this? I'm sure this would potenate GABA modulators significantly, but I'm just asking to make sure I didn't mid interpret something.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Yes sir, you are right.

But that serotonin 5HT5a partial agonism makes it a very groggy experience in my book.

 

[PerekurPro]

If you need an anecdotal expierenece here the one from me - I was using and abusing benzos for about a year in a different dosages and manner, I had an access to any benzo in russian pharmacys, so it was diazepam, clonazepam, nitrazepam, phenazepam, alprazolam. I mainly used them for sleeping(which is stupid, i know and i don't do this anymore) and anti-anxiety issues. And there was a one and half month period where I was in need to hide it from others and keep doses low, so I bought Valerian Root tea from pharmacy along with an Leonoris, and drinked it every goddamn evening - and only if I would put 2-3 bags of valerian in tea i would notice that from others point of view I would look like I'm sedated, but subjective expierence was totaly the same if i would not do it, no any beneficial effect of benzo were magnified. I never did any other valerian extract or product, so it may be poor quality of valerian were having here, and after all I had an elevated tolerance to gabaergics that time(thank 1,4-BDO for this), so we need more expierences to draw a conclusion.

 

[dooble]

I use valerian root extract to potentiate codeine and hydrocodeine, as it should induce CYP2D6 according to some study. I think I've noticed slight potentiation, but nothing strong. Also valerian does not make me sleepy at all, although I don't know if the stuff I'm using is of good quality. I take 1500mg of this extract bought from a regular drug store.

I also tested it with Etifoxine, but then again that is a quite useless benzo. Didn't notice any potentiating effect.

 

[Lightning-Nl]

Thought I'd post an update.

I've taken Ambien many times before, but it was officially prescribed to me a little over a month ago. I had hallucinations from Ambien for the first couple of days, but they went away pretty quickly. However, past night I took almost 7 grams (6840 MG's - 15 capsules) of Valarian Root with my normal, 10MG's of Ambien.

The Ambien was definitely potenated. I felt a tons more groggy. But the most interesting aspect of it was the fact that it brought back the Ambian hallucinations, full force. And they were actually way stronger than when I first started the medication. I was seeing people everywhere, the walls were breathing, posters were looking at me - no anxiety though, like this would usually cause. Just pure hallucinations. Oh near the height of the experience, the room was changing colors and it was quite an experience.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Thought I'd post an update.

I've taken Ambien many times before, but it was officially prescribed to me a little over a month ago. I had hallucinations from Ambien for the first couple of days, but they went away pretty quickly. However, past night I took almost 7 grams (6840 MG's - 15 capsules) of Valarian Root with my normal, 10MG's of Ambien.

The Ambien was definitely potenated. I felt a tons more groggy. But the most interesting aspect of it was the fact that it brought back the Ambian hallucinations, full force. And they were actually way stronger than when I first started the medication. I was seeing people everywhere, the walls were breathing, posters were looking at me - no anxiety though, like this would usually cause. Just pure hallucinations. Oh near the height of the experience, the room was changing colors and it was quite an experience.

Ambien just make sound really flat to me.

Takes all the dynamics right out of the sound processing in your head.

It’s rather dull without weed, then it’s really vibrant and makes the crown of my head tingle when combined...

 

[Achten]

Sorry for chiming in here. I don't regularly post in ADD but stumbled upon this thread anyway.

Could the described effect of Valerian here account for my somewhat a-typical trip I had with 30mg's of aMT recently ?
Normally I feel energized, euphoric, stimulated, and so much more. Last time I took the prescribed dosage of valerian extract (in the morning) and 2hours later dropped 30mg aMT.
The first few hours of the trip were really "heavy". Groggy is a word that perfectly describes the state. At T+6h I began feeling the unique aMT stimulation and empathogenesis, and it lasted until T+13h. Anything to do with this GABA-business ?
I have a basic understanding of how aMT and other psychedelics work but not so on other things.

 

[crazycatman]

Only felt a little gabaergic effect from huge doses of valerian. Little as in less than 1 beer.
Maybe product was bad.

 

[DJHENRU]

I noticed phenibut supplement which contained valerian & other similarly acting gabaergics was more dreamy, creating docile feelings. Effective to a certain non-nootropic but anxiolytic sense.