Can valerian improve the sleep of insomniacs after benzodiazepine withdrawal?

Poyares et al., 2002 | Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry | Rct

Citation

Poyares Dalva R, Guilleminault Christian, ... Tufik Sergio. Can valerian improve the sleep of insomniacs after benzodiazepine withdrawal?. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2002-Apr;26(3):539-45

Abstract

PURPOSE: The authors studied the sleep of patients with insomnia who complained of poor sleep despite chronic use of benzodiazepines (BZDs). The sample consisted of 19 patients (mean age 43.3+/-10.6 years) with primary insomnia (DSM-IV), who had taken BZDs nightly, for 7.1+/-5.4 years. The control group was composed of 18 healthy individuals (mean age 37+/-8 years). Sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) of the patients was analyzed with period amplitude analysis (PAA) and associated algorithms, during chronic BZD use (Night 1), and after 15 days of a valerian placebo trial (initiated after washout of BZD, Night 2). Sleep of control subjects was monitored in parallel. RESULTS: Valerian subjects reported significantly better subjective sleep quality than placebo ones, after BZD withdrawal, despite the presence of a few side effects. However, some of the differences found in sleep structure between Night 1 and Night 2 in both the valerian and placebo groups may be due to the sleep recovery process after BZD washout. Example of this are: the decrease in Sleep Stage 2 and in sigma count; the increase in slow-wave sleep (SWS), and delta count, which were found to be altered by BZD ingestion. There was a significant decrease in wake time after sleep onset (WASO) in valerian subjects when compared to placebo subjects; results were similar to normal controls. Nonetheless, valerian-treated patients also presented longer sleep latency and increased alpha count in SWS than control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in WASO associated with the mild anxiolytic effect of valerian appeared to be the major contributor to subjective sleep quality improvement found after 2-week of treatment in insomniacs who had withdrawn from BDZs. Despite subjective improvement, sleep data showed that valerian did not produce faster sleep onset; the increase in alpha count compared with normal controls may point to residual hyperarousabilty, which is known to play a role in insomnia. Nonetheless, we lack data on the extent to which a sedative drug can improve alpha sleep EEG. Thus, the authors suggest that valerian had a positive effect on withdrawal from BDZ use.

Key Findings

Valerian subjects reported significantly better subjective sleep quality than placebo ones, after BZD withdrawal, despite the presence of a few side effects. However, some of the differences found in sleep structure between Night 1 and Night 2 in both the valerian and placebo groups may be due to the sleep recovery process after BZD washout. Example of this are: the decrease in Sleep Stage 2 and in sigma count; the increase in slow-wave sleep (SWS), and delta count, which were found to be altere

Outcomes Measured

• sleep quality

Population

MeSH Terms

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Benzodiazepines
• Double-Blind Method
• Electroencephalography
• Female
• Humans
• Iridoids
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Roots
• Sleep
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
• Valerian

Evidence Classification

• Level: Rct
• Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Vertical: valerian

Provenance

• PMID: 11999905
• DOI: (not available)
• PMCID: Not in PMC
• Verified: 2026-04-10 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-10