Valerian for Insomnia User Reviews

• Tam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2019

"A doctor recommended trying valerian 400 mg to help with sleep. Normally, I fall asleep reasonably well but have trouble staying asleep. The first night I took this an hour before my normal bedtime, and it took me an extra 1 1/2 hours to fall asleep. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the valerian and just coincidental. I took it a second night and was awake for half the night. Fell asleep almost 5 hours after going to bed! So this may work for some people, but for me, it had the opposite effect. I think it’s worth mentioning in case someone else has a similar experience."

• Lon...
• September 30, 2019

"I suffer from insomnia. I took 500 mg of valerian at 8 PM before bedtime. I was laying in bed until 3 AM still awake, and from 9 PM to 3 AM my blood pressure rose very high, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Finally, at around 3 AM, this effect toned down, and I fell into a deep sleep where I had a vivid dream for about 40 minutes. I woke up feeling refreshed but was not able to get back to sleep. My blood pressure returned to normal after that. I was taking Vraylar at the time, so the pounding heart could have been an interaction. Overall, valerian did not seem to help with sleep onset or sleep duration. I stopped using it after that one night."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2021

"I have never been a great sleeper. A really good night would be six hours, but I regularly got less. Things got worse recently because of the current situation, and I was taking so long to finally get to sleep. It was horrible, then I’d waken early and couldn’t get back to sleep. It affected my whole life. I picked up Kalms Night a few days ago out of desperation. (I was a bit cynical.) Oh my goodness, this stuff works!! As long as you remember to take it about an hour before you want to sleep. Every night since I started it, I've got to sleep so easily and slept so, so well, last night, I slept 8 hours! And woke feeling so calm and rested.... This has been a Godsend."

• Car...
• November 13, 2017

"I have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. Valerian was recommended to me for insomnia, and so I took one. Because of my compromised autoimmune system, the pill had the opposite effect. I felt as if I had been given epinephrine and was in a 'run' mode all night long. By morning, I was exhausted, and my head felt like it was about to explode. People with autoimmune disorder should definitely stay away from this herbal pill."

• Ted...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2020

"I am being treated for severe depression. So far, the treatment has been successful. I was having trouble sleeping and 'decided' to get this OTC medication to help me sleep. Trust me, this stuff is powerful, it feels stronger than Valium. The problem is the severe hangover effects the next day, and it worsens your depression! Do not add this without your doctor's advice."

• Edd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2021

"For years, I have very occasionally used a low dose of a benzodiazepine, brotizolam, to sleep for many years. It worked fairly well without developing a tolerance; however, recently, I had a medical condition and began to take the medication nightly. Very soon, I was up to a full dose, and even that began to lose effect. Since I was worried about drug tolerance and addiction, I looked for an alternative that would help me wean off from brotizolam. After doing a lot of research on the internet, I decided to try a valerian/hops mixture but was fairly skeptical. I was happily surprised to find that the valerian/hops extract was very effective for me. After experimenting, I found that if I take a 650 mg dose about an hour before desired sleep time, I would fall asleep easily, sleep well, and wake up refreshed. In fact, if I didn't have to get up to pee, I am pretty sure that I would sleep the whole night. For me, it worked wonderfully; now I sleep well every night, and I am also completely off the benzodiazepine."

• Sto...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 5, 2017

"I have used valerian off and on for 26 years, no major side effects at low doses. Usually, I used this herb for insomnia, which it works well for. It can also be used for anxiety and stress; again, at a low dosage. I would recommend online information for your questions, plus herbal specialists in your community. Do not exclude your doctor, an MD or equally qualified professional. I am now adding valerian at night in conjunction with Zyprexa and Klonopin. Zyprexa at 15 mg, one pill, Klonopin at 0.50 or 1 mg dose. Do not recommend this combination yet to anybody. I am in the experimental phase."

• Que...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2021

"Took valerian for insomnia. Helps stay asleep, and you feel MUCH better rested. I sleep 6 hours with valerian or 10 hours without it. Only side effect is lucid dreams. I assume the other side effects (nausea, vomiting, etc.) will only happen if you overdose or are allergic. I weigh 150 lbs, and I take 650 mg of high-strength valerian extract, 2 pill capsules."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2025

"I have ADHD. I was diagnosed at age 7 and again at age 30. I am currently taking Adderall for my ADHD, and valerian root capsules 1200 mg help with the awful Adderall crash at the end of the day. I take one capsule a few hours before bed to wind me down and then another 30 min before bed. It also has helped me with my anxiety. It does make me drowsy, but it doesn't impair me in any way. It's a game changer for me because I used to avoid taking ADHD meds because of the crash, and now I can take the meds that I need to be functional. The only noticeable side effect was mild stomach discomfort if I take it on an empty stomach."