Valerian Pills?

writes4me · Post by **writes4me** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:12 pm

Hi all,
I've been trying Valerian (an herbal suppliment) to help me get to sleep. The stuff smells horrible but at least it doesn't have a taste in pill form. Thus far, I haven't noticed much. I wondered if any of you had tried this? I was on ambien but it is so difficult for me to start and stop using it.

When I'm on Ambien for the 1st week or so, it seems to work very well. But soon I find it doesn't seem to do as well. I don't up the doseage though.

I've been not been taking Ambien for this last week. It just takes so very long to get to sleep and I wake up so many times a night. I'm getting a new mask. My last mask was horrible.

Thanks for anyone who can help.

Writes4me

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:10 am

Valerian root is good for that calming effect which may help you turn off daily thoughts so you can get to sleep more easily. Drinking green decaf tea before be is probably just as effective.

I take 3mg melatonin, it works for me.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:10 am

You can buy Valerian tea (any herbal display should have it) which may be nicer and easier to take - but if you have a cat, don't let it anywhere near the stuff because it makes them crazy (for it!).

Niteair · Post by **Niteair** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:06 am

I have used these for years, and yes they do have quite an unusual odor, but work quite well for me with no added morning tiredness, and no interaction with any medication that I have ever taken. Added plus is that they are very inexpensive and do not require any prescription.

Suz-E-Q · Post by **Suz-E-Q** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:13 pm

The regular Ambian will stop working as well after taking it for awhile. That is why they made Ambian CR (Controlled Release)...this way you get 6 mgs at the start of the night and then another 6 mgs about 3 or 4 hours in. This will get you through the night much better. But when I have taken it, I don't wake-up with a hang-over, but i do wake up wobbly. I hate that. But it might be good.... if they would only put Tryptophan back on the market. It is an amino acid and works great to get you to sleep without any hang-over in the morning. But a few folks died when using a source from Japan. It wasn't the Tryptophan...it was that there was residual solvent used in the manufacturing that was left in the pills and they pulled it completely from the market in the US (about 15+ years ago now) and haven't brought it back.