It interacts with phenobarbital and secobarbital, which are rarely used anymore. It makes you more sleepy than usual with these agents. For the powder, take 1-2 gm per day. For the tincture use 2-4 cc per day. Valerian, 2-10 cc of the tincture every 2 hours in acute conditions.
Large doses can cause nausea, diarrhea, urination, and delirium.
Use daily no longer than 3 weeks. Don't take around the time of surgery because it can potentiate anesthetics. The capsules are usually 450 mg of valerian. The first report of its efficacy for the treatment of anxiety was a case series of 6 women with depression, aged 55-65, who were treated with hypericine complex, a derivative of St. John's wort. Significant improvement in anxiety levels occurred.