Is Valerian Safe with Zolpidem?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Do not take valerian root with zolpidem. Valerian has GABAergic activity that may dangerously amplify zolpidem's sedative effects. Consult your pharmacist or physician before use.
Why this interaction occurs
Valerian root constituents (valerenic acid, isovaleric acid) modulate GABA-A receptors similarly to benzodiazepine-like drugs. Combined use with zolpidem may cause excessive CNS depression, respiratory depression risk, and severe next-day cognitive impairment.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 79,134 reports mentioning Zolpidem. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Zolpidem + 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 Zolpidem interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.