Valerian Thiopental

Valerian (Valerian officinalis). No drug interactions have been reported, but animal studies suggest that valerian, used as a sedative and sleep aid, might increase the effects of barbiturates such as pentobarbital, hexo-barbital, and thiopental. 

Two alcoholic valerian extracts were found to potentiate pentobarbital sleeping time in mice (37), and Valdispert, an aqueous extract prepared from V. officinalis (L.), increased the thiopental sleeping time in a dose-dependent manner in rats (16). Based on these animal studies, in vitro studies of valerian s effect on GAB Anergic transmission, as well as the case series reported by Chan and colleagues, valerian would be expected to have at least an additive effect with barbiturates, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other CNS depressants. 

An ethanol extract of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) was shown to modestly prolong thiopental anaesthesia in mice, possibly via its effects on the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor."... 

Coadministration of thiopental and 2 mg/kg of an aqueous alkaline extract of valerian to mice increased thiopental-induced sleeping time by a factor of 1.6. Administration of 200 mg/kg increased the thiopental-induced sleeping time by a factor of 7.6 (Leuschner et al. 1993). 

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