Drug interactions
Gabapentin + Valerian
Severity: Moderate
Gabapentin and Valerian: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Valerian has mild sedative properties, and gabapentin causes drowsiness and dizziness. Taken together, they may increase sedation and impair alertness.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gabapentin and Valerian can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with valerian acting partly on GABAergic pathways.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid valerian, or use it cautiously, while taking gabapentin. Counsel about driving and other hazardous tasks if both are used.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Gabapentin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gabapentin with Valerian?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gabapentin and Valerian can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Valerian has mild sedative properties, and gabapentin causes drowsiness and dizziness. Taken together, they may increase sedation and impair alertness.
How serious is the interaction between Gabapentin and Valerian?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid valerian, or use it cautiously, while taking gabapentin. Counsel about driving and other hazardous tasks if both are used.
What other medicines interact with Gabapentin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gabapentin with, for example, Alprazolam, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Gabapentin page.
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