Valerian

[bbaggins]

I know there's probably been hundreds of posts regarding Valerian, but I thought I would post my thoughts on it as well. :)

As I had posted a few days ago, I tried Cymbalta and had really bad problems with the side effects of it.

So, since I was still feeling anxious, I decided to give an herbal remedy a try. I stopped by the store on my way home last night and picked up a bottle of Valerian.

The bottle recommended that I take three pills prior to bedtime. But since I had such a bad reaction with Cymbalta, I didn't want to push it, so I took two.

Needless to say, I woke up this morning at a normal time and woke up feeling like I actually got some sleep last night. Additionally, although I still feel a tiny bit of anxiety, I don't feel as much anxiety as I have recently. And I have more energy as well.

So, tonight I am going to try to take the recommended dose (3 pills, or around 1500mg) and see what happens.

[RubyWitch]

I don't think cj and I mean to be following each other around the forum, but sometimes we each feel strongly about a question and want to add our two cents.
What cj told you regarding discussing adding ANY herbal supplement to a prescription drug with your doctor, I can't agree with more.
In the past, we have all assumed that if something is "natural" it can't hurt us. That myth has now been debunked and we know that MANY "natural" remedies can have anything from mild reactions to lethal ones.
I looked up Cymbalta in my Nursing Drug Reference book and under the section titled "Interactions/Drug/Herb," it lists valerian as INCREASING the CNS (central nervous system) effects of Cymbalta. Please talk with your doctor or pharmacist BEFORE you take those three hits of valerian tonight..........I don't think you're philosophy of "see what happens" is in your best interest or safety.
Please be careful.
Peace
Greenlydia

[bbaggins]

Aside from the one Cymbalta I took the other day, I am currently not taking any medications. And after I took them last night, I didn't feel tired/sedated at all several hours after taking them. But I do feel like I got a good nights sleep.

I have taken other sedatives in the past (Ambien, Amitryptiline, etc.), but those have always left me feeling groggy the next day.

[cj29]

I am glad you are having benefits from this.  Just remember, since, it is a dietary supplement and can interact with medications, to ensure you talk to your doctor before using this especially if you are on any benzos because of its 'sedative' effects.