Herbal sleep aids - pharmaceutical interractions?

My new over the counter herbal sleep aid consisting of valerian, passionflower and hops, claims I should not take the medication if I am taking antidepressants or propranolol (a beta blocker).

Since I am taking both of the above, my first reaction was utter disgust - they were expensive! But then I thought about it, and surely, they are just being silly and over-cautious?

Can I take them regardless? Does anyone know of any interraction between these? I have researched online and can't even find any scientific papers to support these claims. It's not like it's morphine.

Homeopathic Treatment for Sleeplessness/Insomnia, due to different reason and with different set of symptoms (No side effects or interaction with conventional drugs):-


Sleeplessness during menopausal stage Senecio Aur 30X, 4 hourly

Cannot sleep in the early hours of night; utterly wide awake, mind active; sleeplessness due to excitement Coffea Cruda 30X 6, hourly

Cannot sleep after 3 A.M.; sleeplessness due to mental strain or sedentary habits; sleep dreamy and restless Nux Vomica 30X, at bed times for 7 days

Due to fear or panic; insomnia after shock or fright; restlessness and tossing in bed Aconite Nap 30X 4 hourly

Due to tiredness; either physical or mental; bed feels too hard; must keep moving in search of soft portion for relief in bed Arnica Montana 30X or 200X, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness after midnight from anxiety and restlessness; has to get up and walk Belladonna 30X, 4 hourly

Sleepy yet unable to sleep; child tosses, kicks clothes off, twitches; restless sleep with frightful dreams Arsenic Album 30X or 200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness and restlessness; specially in first part of night; gets up and walks on the floor, as soon as the bed time comes patient is wide awake Chamomilla 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

Sleeplessness due to old grief; after dreams of thieves or robbers Natrum Mur 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness due to sudden shock; disappointment Ignatia 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)

Feels sleepy but cannot sleep; clocks striking at a distance keep him awake; bed feels hot; moves about in vain to find a cool spot in bed Pulsatilla 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

Restlessness during early part of sleep; sound sleep when it is turns to rise; gets too hot in bed; throws off covers, gets chilly and puts them on again; puts arms above the head during sleep Opium 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms. No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine

Take Care and God Bless you.

oh yah just take some freaking opium like its no big deal, that stuff's illegal it's basically heroin. and oh yah id def like to take some belladonna, or rather have belladonna take me in. Report It

You might sleep 15 hours and be hung over the next day, if that sounds like fun. Since you are on two prescription downers already, why do you need more sedation? Other stuff not working?

No, it's not like it's morphine...but then again, morphine is "just" a derivative of poppies. How do you think people came up with some of the pharmaceuticals we have today? They started with herbs and other natural remedies that worked, and tweaked them. If the medication says do not take it with antidepressants or propranolol, then don't take it with those. From what I can see, valerian plus an antidepressant can dangerously sedate you. Valerian plus a beta blocker can cause problems with your heart. That's just one of the herbs....how lucky do you feel?

The danger lies in the pharmaceutical/drug reaction with the herbs. You are really supposed to ask the doctor who gives you the prescriptions for the medications and if he/she doesn't know, tell them to find out. Also, if you didn't open the sleep aid yet, return it for at least an exchange of something you can use. I have returned opened supplements before, even when the store policy said "no returns on opened supplements." If it was expensive, it doesn't hurt to try.

Well, herbal remedies sometimes work in the same way as medication, and it may be possible to have an adverse side effect or overdose due to one thing either blocking or enhancing the absorption of another. After all remember Ephedra - ine, (it's essentially the same thing) It's derived from an herb Ma-Huang used by oriental civilizations for decades. Well, people died from it a few years ago; Was it cause they took it with medications or other herbal supplements?? Don't really know do we. Do you want to take that chance???