Is Valerian Safe with Lorazepam?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Avoid concurrent use. If valerian cannot be stopped immediately, taper slowly to prevent withdrawal and inform your prescriber.
Why this interaction occurs
Valerian root contains valerenic acid, which inhibits GABA-T enzyme and potentiates GABA-A receptor activity, mirroring benzodiazepine mechanisms. Combined use with lorazepam increases sedation, psychomotor impairment, and fall risk, particularly in elderly patients.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 139,367 reports mentioning Lorazepam. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Lorazepam + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Valerian interactions → · All Lorazepam interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.