Supplement Safety and Interactions
"Natural" does not mean free of side effects or interactions, and supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety before they are sold.[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements][U.S. FDA] Tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take.
Sedation, alcohol and surgery
Valerian should not be combined with alcohol or sedatives, passionflower can slow the nervous system around anesthesia, and lavender and chamomile might add to sedative drugs.[NCCIH][NCCIH][NCCIH][NCCIH] Stop calming herbs before surgery if your surgeon advises it.
| Supplement | Owner comments | Unwanted effects reported |
|---|---|---|
| Valerian root | 30 | 12% |
| Passionflower | 19 | 0% |
| Lavender oil capsules (Silexan / Lavela) | 11 | 13% |
| Chamomile | 44 | 7% |
| Magnolia bark (incl. Relora) | 9 | 0% |
| GABA | 40 | 16% |
| L-theanine | 330 | 14% |
Antidepressants
5-HTP, L-tryptophan, SAMe and St. John's wort can cause serotonin syndrome with antidepressants.[MedlinePlus][NCCIH][NCCIH] See serotonin supplements and antidepressants.
Magnesium and vitamins
Magnesium above 350 mg a day from supplements commonly causes diarrhea and can interfere with some antibiotics.[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements] Vitamin D above 4,000 IU a day and long-term vitamin B6 above 100 mg a day can cause harm.[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements][NIH Office of Dietary Supplements] Fish oil can interact with blood thinners.[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements]
Ashwagandha (not scored here)
- Ashwagandha (an adaptogen we do not score here) has been linked in rare cases to liver injury and is not recommended for people with thyroid or autoimmune disorders; it may interact with thyroid hormone medicines, sedatives, and diabetes and blood pressure drugs.[NCCIH]
Adaptogens will be covered on adaptogenic.ai (coming soon).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Safety in pregnancy is unknown for many of these supplements, and NCCIH advises against passionflower in pregnancy.[NCCIH] Ask your doctor before taking any of them.
You can also compare all rated mood supplements on one page. New to this? Start with how to choose a calm supplement. Our stress supplement shortlists group top-rated options by what people report.