Withdrawal from Valerian

[V82]

Hi guys. I started taking Valerian to help me get off taking diphenhydramine to sleep. I've been taking 460 mg of Valerian capsules (3 capsules) for the last ten days.

Now I'm reading online that it can cause benzo like withdrawal symptoms. That seems truly fucked because it is sold in the natural supplement aisle.

Am I at risk for withdrawal if I stop taking Valerian now? Should I wean down?

 

[Swimmingdancer]

It's probably not going to cause any major issues. Valerian is very weak, I wouldn't be that worried about it. 460 mg doesn't sound like that much, I think withdrawal is generally reported in people taking very high doses for very long periods of time (like one case report where the guy took 10 g a day for many years). But I'm sure the potency of valerian capsules can vary a lot (and I'm assuming you're taking normal capsules, not some super concentrated extract?). If you are going to stop taking it I would gradually taper off though because you want to smooth out the possibility of your insomnia coming back full-force as soon as you stop. (Especially if you have never been addicted to GABA-ergic drugs before) I would be shocked if you had any withdrawal symptoms after just taking 460 mg of valerian a day for 10 days. If it's actually been helping your sleep your sleep could get worse again after stopping though.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

Yeah unless you've been taking>20g then you should only experience minor withdrawal.

 

[pasha]

^ This.

You have nothing to worry about. Exercise has greater effect on gaba than valerian.

 

[Serotonin101]

I've stopped Valerian at similar dosages. Mild insomnia but probably was placebo as I was thinking "oh shit no herbal sleep tonight" which probably kept me up.

 

[rhun]

Oh my. WD symptoms from valerian.
Yeah, not likely. And nothing you couldn't tough out.

 

[F1n1shed]

Valerian root, hard core bro.