Skip to content

Drug interactions

Promethazine + Valerian

Severity: Moderate

Promethazine 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 may add to the drowsiness caused by promethazine. This may reduce alertness and psychomotor performance.

What this interaction means in plain words

Promethazine 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.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Additive CNS depression, with valerian likely acting through GABAergic mechanisms.

What to do

Advise patients to avoid driving until the effect is known. Avoid combining unless the sedation is intended and monitored.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Promethazine and Valerian, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Promethazine with Valerian?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Promethazine 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 may add to the drowsiness caused by promethazine. This may reduce alertness and psychomotor performance.

How serious is the interaction between Promethazine 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 driving until the effect is known. Avoid combining unless the sedation is intended and monitored.

What other medicines interact with Promethazine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Promethazine with, for example, Ibutilide, Pimozide, Thioridazine. The full list is on the Promethazine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in