How to Reduce Valerian Dose

Many people take the herb valerian to help them cope with insomnia or anxiety. Valerian is a supplement that isn't regulated by the FDA. There is no standard dosage; however, the American Cancer Society suggests that as a sleep aid, valerian may be taken in doses ranging from 300 to 900 mg. For anxiety, patients may take it up to three times daily, in doses ranging from 50 to 100 mg. Keep track of how much you take and for how long. This will help you determine when it's time for you to stop taking it.

Things You'll Need

• Valerian root
• Benzodiazepine

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop taking valerian root if you've only been using it for a couple of weeks. If you've been using it longer than a couple of weeks, you'll need to decrease your dose gradually. Abruptly discontinuing valerian root after your body has become acclimated to it may result in withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms might include dizziness, lightheadedness, unsteadiness, stomach upset, headache and excitability.

• 2

  Read the label on your bottle of valerian root carefully. Different brands contain different strengths of the herb. If you've been taking a pill three times daily, try cutting back to just twice daily for about a week. Then reduce it to once daily.

• 3

  Talk to your doctor about taking a benzodiazepine prescription if you've been using valerian root in high doses for a few months. Benzodiazepines mimic the effects of valerian root on conditions such as insomnia and anxiety. Switching to this medication may help you with withdrawal symptoms for valerian root. However, benzodiazepines do have the potential to become addictive, so this is a short-term solution only.

• 4

  Find ways of treating your insomnia or anxiety that do not involve either prescription drugs or herbal supplements. If you're coping with a great deal of stress, talking to a counselor may help. Exercise may also help with both stress and insomnia. Taking a pill or supplement should be a short-term solution only. You need to determine the underlying cause of your condition so that you can take steps to treat it.