Has anyone ever used valerian root for anxiety or pain? does it work or a waste of money?

It’s not for everyone and I personally don’t think that if it’s not FDA approved. A manufacturer does not have to prove if it’s safe or effective. So, that brings up the issue of how safe Velarían supplements are for long term usage. Supplements are not always the same with each bottle, even if it is the same brand. It’s worth looking this supplement up on the NIH website for more information on this product as well as speaking with your Dr. before you take this supplement. Melatonin is supposedly safer, but it is not without its own list of side effects either. Our bodies make melatonin, but it should be monitored by a medical physician. I can’t take it because it my Psychiatrist warned that it can have a dangerous interaction for me personally when mixed with my ADHD medication.

I absolutely trust my Psychiatrist 100%, he has been voted as one of the top Psychaitrist in Austin. I actually trust him even more than my Primary Care Dr. with the medications I take. I take 4 mgs of Xanax for panic attacks and Hyperhidrosis (severe and uncontrollable sweating) and 20mgs of Valium at night for sleep. I was exposed to a pesticide in 2008 that screwed up my adrenal glands and it caused me to have severe sweating attacks for no reason and I would be completely soaked in a room that was 65 degrees. After other people starting asking me if I was sick, I started to become very self conscious and I carried extra shirts everywhere I went. The Xanax was the only thing that stopped the sweating. Also, my ADHD returned in my life 10Xs worse. I had not been on any medication until I was exposed to Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid that is suppose to be a safer alternative. It was discontinued for indoor use a year or two later, but it’s still widely used outdoors on grass and shrubs. I absolutely hate that I have to take these medications in order to function as close to possible to normal. It’s expensive, even with insurance and it has probably shortened my life expectancy.

My Primary Care Dr. tried 8 different SSRI medications to control the Panic Attacks and Hyperhidrosis. The last one landed me in the Hospital ER for anaphylaxis. Everyone of them caused me to have a severe rash on my chest and arms. I don’t think that Primary Care Physicians should even be prescribing these medications as Psychiatrists have more experience and training in this area than a PCP. These meds are not without their own set of issues as they originally claimed to be either.

I was told at 16 I had ADHD and after a week on Ritilan, my mother flushed it down the toilet, which now we know shouldn’t be done. I managed life just fine until I was exposed to this pesticide and I noticed that I was always very tired. Then after 2 car accidents in less than 3 weeks I sought help from a Psychiatrist. I just happened to be home when the pest control came out and sprayed this in our house and I couldn’t breathe when the heater started to circulate the fumes. That’s how I figured out what was causing my health problems.

My mother took “nerve pills”, which we later discovered was Valium for 30yrs and some days she took one , others none, and when she got extremely anxious, she would take 3. I take mine this way as well. Some nights I take only one tablet, others I take both, but their are nights that I don’t have to take it at all. My Psychiatrist said that this was fine but to watch out for any issues related to withdrawal issues. Apparently some people can take these for years and not have the extreme withdrawal symptoms that most people have. It’s extremely dangerous to quit any of these medications cold turkey! You have to slowly reduce the amount you are taking gradually to the point where you are melting the smallest dosage in water and removing a teaspoon over several weeks. You will still have some issues that can take years to get over. My Psychiatrist told me I would probably have to take the Valium for the rest of my life before we agreed on using it.

My husband has said “Stick with the Devil you know”, and I have never had to increase my dosage of medication for any of my issues with the Adderall, Valium, or the Xanax. I’ve often wondered if anxiety isn’t a genetic issue that is passed down to children from their parents. But that’s another issue. Just be careful with this supplement!

Try to use the Valerian as perhaps a substitute for a dose of what you normally take, see if it has the same or similar effect. However, don't combine the two together... _) I honestly thought I was going to be incredibly sick while withdrawing from Klonopin, but the Valarian root has made it far more tolerable. Give it a try.

Hope that helps! I'm wondering how long the effects last because I have a stressful day coming and I didn't know if I should bring some with me?