According to the Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, Valerian can produce benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms after long-term use.
From other sources:
"Valerian does effect the GABA system, although not as much as benzodiazepines. Valerian can potentiate (increase) the effect of benzodiazepines. Some individuals may experience a paradoxical reaction to this herb, associated with anxiety, tachycardia, and insomnia, and thus a gradual increase in dose should be recommended to first-time users."
Research Techniques
Note from Debra:
When researching these kind of things, don't just go
to places on the internet who might have a vested interest in convincing you of the harmlessness of something. For instance, I didn't
just look at herbal sites or places selling this stuff to find information.
It's like doing research on the benzos. I would
start with the medical literature which, by the way, still says withdrawal from benzos only lasts 2-3 weeks at the most. I would look at some anti-drug
type sites.
It seems that there are quite a few medical and non-medical sites saying Valerian helps with benzo w/d. I couldn't find any specific long-term studies but some short-term deals said 'needs further investigation'.
In my opinion, I would have to look at something not only as "Will it help me?" but also "Why is it helping me?" In other words, "What is it doing to my brain to help me and is it worth it to me if I have a side effect or adverse reaction to try it?"
For me, and this is me, putting something else into my brain, that even mildly works on the GABA system, when it is already screwed up from putting something up there is not what I want to do. I've tried all I am going to try and so far have only managed to make myself sicker.
Do your research and remember what us old-timers keep saying. Anything you add in can make you worse, but it is up to you what you do with your brain and your body."
Debra