Guide
Who should not take valerian root?
Valerian root lacks safety research in pregnancy, children, and most medication combinations. Rare case reports describe liver injury and, after abrupt discontinuation of long-term high-dose use, withdrawal delirium.
Valerian root hasn't been studied for safety in pregnancy, in children, or against most prescription medications, so the honest default for those groups is to ask a doctor rather than rely on a general guide. Rare case reports also raise specific concerns for anyone with liver problems or a surgery scheduled.
| Situation | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pregnant or breastfeeding | No published safety data exists in this population; some compounds have shown lab-level toxicity concerns |
| Children | No dosing research exists for children |
| Liver problems, or taking other medications processed by the liver | Rare case reports describe liver injury associated with valerian |
| Scheduled for surgery | Case reports describe withdrawal delirium after abruptly stopping long-term, high-dose use |
| Kidney disease | No dedicated research exists either way |
| Taking a sedative, sleep medication, or drinking alcohol regularly | Additive drowsiness is a mechanism-based concern |
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No dedicated safety data exists on valerian in pregnant or breastfeeding people or their infants (PMID 30000874). A multinational survey of 9,459 women across 23 countries found valerian among the most commonly used herbs during pregnancy, alongside ginger, cranberry, and raspberry (PMID 24330413) — common use isn't the same as established safety. For breastfeeding specifically, valerian is often not recommended, because some of its compounds — valepotriates and baldrinals — have shown cytotoxic and mutagenic activity in laboratory testing; an alternative therapy may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant (PMID 30000874). Ask a doctor before use in either situation.
Children
No dosing research exists for valerian in children, so there's no dose or use guidance to give for that age group. Ask a doctor or pediatrician before giving a child any valerian product.
Liver problems, or concern about liver health
Case reports describe liver injury in people taking valerian, though at a rate too rare to quantify from case reports alone (PMID 19138557, PMID 18431248). If you have existing liver disease, take other medications processed by the liver, or drink alcohol regularly, ask a doctor before adding valerian. More in valerian root side effects.
Before surgery
If valerian is part of your regular routine and you have surgery scheduled, tell your surgical team, and don't stop suddenly right before the procedure without asking first. Case reports describe withdrawal delirium — and in one case, cardiac complications — after people abruptly stopped long-term, high-dose valerian use (PMID 9820254, PMID 32576405), which is exactly the situation a pre-surgical instruction to stop supplements could create.
Kidney disease
No dedicated research has tested valerian specifically in people with kidney disease. That's an absence of evidence, not evidence of safety — ask a doctor before adding it if you have reduced kidney function.
Taking a sedative, sleep medication, or alcohol regularly
Combining valerian with anything else that causes drowsiness raises a general, mechanism-based concern about additive sedation. See valerian root and medications: what to check for the specific categories worth asking a doctor about.
Who this doesn't apply to
Outside the groups above, the research doesn't identify a documented reason for an otherwise healthy adult to avoid valerian root — though it also doesn't establish that it reliably does anything, covered in valerian root benefits: what the research does and doesn't show.
Questions people ask
Who should not take valerian root?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, anyone with liver problems, anyone with surgery scheduled, and anyone taking a sedating medication or alcohol regularly should check with a doctor first — none of those groups has dedicated research to rely on instead.
Can valerian root cause liver damage?
Rare case reports describe liver injury in people taking valerian. It appears uncommon based on how infrequently it's been reported, but it isn't zero risk — anyone with existing liver concerns should ask a doctor first.
Is valerian root safe for kidneys?
No dedicated research has tested that directly, in either direction. If you have kidney disease or any condition affecting how your body clears substances, ask a doctor before adding valerian.
What should you not take with valerian root?
See valerian root and medications: what to check for the specific categories — sedatives, alcohol, and medications processed by the liver are the main ones with a documented or mechanism-based reason for caution.
When should you not take valerian root?
Not right before driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you, not without telling a surgical team about regular use beforehand, and not during pregnancy or while nursing without a doctor's input.
Related reading: valerian root side effects, valerian root and medications: what to check, and valerian root benefits: what the research does and doesn't show.
Sources
- Valerian A national reference database on medications describes valerian as generally well tolerated, with occasional dizziness, hangover, or headache.
- Herbal medicine use in pregnancy: results of a multinational study A multinational survey of 9,459 pregnant women found valerian among the most commonly used herbs in pregnancy, without evaluating its safety.
- Valeriana hepatotoxicity A published case report describes liver injury in a person taking valerian.
- A case of valerian-associated hepatotoxicity A published case report describes liver injury attributed to valerian.
- Cardiac complications and delirium associated with valerian root withdrawal A published case report describes cardiac complications and delirium after a person abruptly stopped long-term, high-dose valerian use.
- Delirium After Withdrawal From Valerian Root: A Case Report A published case report describes delirium after a person stopped taking valerian root following prolonged use.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.