Can a nursing mother take valerian: in tablets, tincture, etc.

Basic Information about Valerian Extract

Valerian is a herbal drug. Its active ingredient is isovaleric acid: it calms the central nervous system, relaxes smooth muscles and relieves spasms.

Indications for use

You can drink valerian if you have the following disorders:

• depression;
• increased irritability, nervousness, emotional instability;
• insomnia and other sleep disorders;
• stress;
• migraines and headaches;
• chronic fatigue, loss of strength, decreased vitality;
• heart rhythm disturbances – arrhythmia, tachycardia;
• intestinal dysfunction;
• spasms of the stomach, genitourinary tract.

Valerian extract is classified as a mild drug, but taking valerian during breastfeeding (BF) without consulting a therapist is extremely undesirable.

Release forms

For breastfeeding women, the form of the drug taken is of great importance. Valerian is available in several forms:

• pills;
• dragee;
• bags for brewing soothing tea;
• crushed roots for preparing decoctions and tinctures;
• alcohol tinctures;
• oil for aromatherapy, massage.

Many soothing herbal mixtures contain valerian.

Not all forms of the drug sold in the pharmacy chain are indicated for use by a nursing mother.

Is it possible to drink Valerian while breastfeeding?

Prolonged exposure to stress and sleep disturbances can negatively affect milk production and the emotional and physical state of a nursing woman. If you are breastfeeding, you can take Valerian extract as prescribed by a specialist. This is a safe, time-tested drug that rarely causes side effects.

Contraindications for use are kidney disease, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, mental disorders, hypertension, intolerance to fructose, lactose, galactose. If any of the listed conditions are detected in a baby, a nursing mother is prohibited from drinking Valerian. In pediatric practice, the medication is approved for use from 3 or 12 years of age (for different forms of the drug).

Valerian has a number of contraindications for use

Indications for use

A woman who is breastfeeding may be prescribed Valerian extract against:

• migraine;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• sleep disorders;
• nervous state;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system (as an adjuvant);
• gastrointestinal spasms.

Forms of release and dosage of medicine for hepatitis B

Valerian is available in the form of tablets, crushed root in bags (or in bulk) for making tea or decoction, and alcohol tincture. During lactation, it is advisable to use the tablet form. When preparing a decoction or tea with Valerian root, you can accidentally exceed the concentration of the active substance, but in tablets it is strictly measured (20 mg). Alcohol tincture is contraindicated for use during lactation due to its alcohol content.

The instructions indicate the use of 1-2 tablets 3 times a day after meals. It is permissible to increase the dose as prescribed by the attending physician. The duration of treatment is 2-4 weeks, repeated courses are possible. When breastfeeding, only a specialist can choose the correct dosage; usually 1 tablet is prescribed 2-3 times a day. The duration of use during lactation should not exceed 7-10 days.

Features of reception during breastfeeding - important recommendations

To avoid possible side effects on the baby’s body, a woman during breastfeeding while taking Valerian should follow the following recommendations:

• The drug, dosage, regimen and duration of treatment are prescribed only by a doctor.
• Consultation with a pediatrician will help identify possible contraindications for the baby.
• Valerian should be discontinued when the desired result is achieved or earlier as prescribed by a specialist.
• Monitor changes in the baby's well-being.
• If a negative reaction occurs on the part of the child’s body, the drug should be discontinued immediately.

Valerian during breastfeeding: is it possible or not?

There is a widespread misconception that herbal preparations are completely safe and cannot harm either the mother or her child during breastfeeding. However, it is not.

Expert opinion

Sokolova L. S.

Pediatrician of the highest category

Medicinal herbs, like medications, have contraindications for use and may have side effects. In addition to its positive effect on a nursing mother, valerian can have a negative effect on the baby.

There are no studies on the use of valerian during breastfeeding, especially when it comes to a newborn or premature baby [1]. In these cases, it may be wiser to choose a different drug to treat the mother.

Action of valerian

Many experts consider the medication safe and effective; it helps relieve nervous tension and also eliminates problems with falling asleep; it is often used during pregnancy. But is it possible to take valerian while breastfeeding? As experts say, a woman can use the remedy to normalize her condition, but it is worth remembering that valerian is a sedative and may have side effects when taken. It is recommended to use the medication with caution, since the main component penetrates into the blood and milk.

Regardless of the form of release of the medicine, you can notice the effect of taking it only after a certain period of time. The product has a cumulative effect, but the effect lasts longer than other products. Mommy may notice that the feeling of anxiety has gone away and her blood pressure has normalized. Valerian helps normalize heart function and dilates blood vessels.

Basic rules for taking valerian during lactation

When taking valerian-based medications, you must strictly follow the specialist’s instructions and not exceed the prescribed dosage and duration of treatment. You need to pay attention to the child’s well-being. This will help avoid adverse consequences for the newborn.

Which form of the drug is preferable for hepatitis B

Before you start taking the drug orally, you should try other methods - they can also relieve unpleasant symptoms.

For cramps in the abdomen and intestines, you can do a light massage using valerian essential oil. A calming effect can be caused by essential oil vapors when using an aroma lamp. A sedative effect during lactation can be obtained after taking a warm bath with a decoction of the roots - beneficial substances will penetrate not only through the skin, but also by inhaling the vapors.

You can sew a sachet pillow, fill it with valerian herb and keep it near you when you fall asleep or when signs of irritability appear. You can place valerian on the windowsill or on the floor under the bed.

If the above methods do not help, then you can turn to taking valerian preparations orally.

Preference for breastfeeding women should be given to valerian tablets: this dosage form is the most accurate and easier to dose.

Decoctions and tinctures act faster and stronger than tablets. But their use has a more intense effect on the child, so taking valerian in this form is undesirable. Is it possible to drink the fees? Collections of various herbs have a pronounced sedative effect. But if the baby has a negative reaction, it will be difficult to recognize which component caused it.

How can you replace valerian during breastfeeding?

During breastfeeding, in addition to valerian, you can use other sedatives to combat stress.

What can you drink during breastfeeding for nerves:

1. Glycine. The basis of the drug is a protein amino acid, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system and brain. The drug is slowly absorbed and needs to be taken for a long time. But it accumulates in the body, so the positive therapeutic effect lasts for at least six months.
2. Motherwort. A medicinal plant that has a relaxing effect on the organs of the cardiovascular system. The drug eliminates nervousness, hypertension, and tachycardia. The therapeutic effect occurs after approximately 14 days of treatment. There are no adverse reactions, but allergies are possible.
3. Novopassit . The medicine contains extracts of 7 medicinal herbs, including valerian. The instructions indicate that the drug should not be taken during lactation. But doctors often prescribe it to nursing mothers because of its natural composition, fast and long-lasting action.
4. Persen . Contains extracts of mint, motherwort and valerian. Take this remedy with extreme caution as mint may reduce breast milk production.
5. Dill and fennel . The safest remedy for calming nerves during breastfeeding is considered to be a decoction of dill or fennel seeds. These herbal teas not only have a mild sedative effect, but also eliminate colic and improve the functioning of the baby’s digestive system.
6. Herbal teas . Chamomile and lemon balm have a mild sedative effect. To prepare the drink 1 tbsp. l. herbs, brew 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Take no more than 1-2 times a day. You should not drink lemon balm if you have hypotension.
7. Children's soothing teas. “Hipp”, “Granny’s Basket”. Safe for mother and baby.

These medications are considered safe for nursing mothers. But this does not mean that you can prescribe them to yourself.

Alternative medicine: which is better

You can try to improve your condition without using medications:

• Daily walks with the baby give the mother the opportunity to breathe fresh air and read a book in a quiet place - a square or park. This will help you calm down if you want silence and solitude. If you want to talk out, then you can invite a friend for a walk or find new acquaintances among walking mothers.
• Warm bath with a decoction of soothing herbs (valerian, lavender, chamomile), with pine extract.
• Relaxing massage.
• Being overloaded with household chores is harmful for a nursing mother. There is no need to try to redo everything at once.
• Listening to calm classical music.
• Get enough sleep. You need to ask someone from your family to babysit the child. You can express milk first so that the mother is not woken up by a hungry baby. Sometimes, to improve a woman’s condition, it’s enough just to get some sleep.

Alternative methods of dealing with stress

It is better to try to deal with stress and fatigue using safer methods.

How to get rid of stress:

1. Full sleep. The best way to deal with nervousness.
2. Walk. Choose quiet squares and parks where you can be in silence, read a book while your baby sleeps in the fresh air.
3. Relaxing treatments. Go to the pool or sauna or get a massage. At home you can take a warm bath, arrange an aromatherapy session;
4. Play sports . Physical activity promotes the production of the happiness hormone, and it also has a good effect on your figure.
5. Meet your friends . Sometimes, to get rid of stress, it’s enough to just talk it out and take a break from caring for the baby for a while.
6. Eat right . Breastfeeding specialists urge nursing mothers not to go on diets - excessive food restrictions have a bad effect on their psycho-emotional state. Your diet should be varied, but no junk foods.
7. Don't deprive yourself of sweets . Sweets are a source of energy and good mood. But don’t get carried away, watch your baby’s reaction.
8. Listen to classical music. It has already been proven that classical music has a beneficial effect on the functioning of many internal organs and systems. This is good for you and the baby.

Do not hesitate to ask loved ones for help, shift some of the responsibilities to your dad, grandparents.

Remember, the baby needs a healthy, calm and rested mother.

Do the active ingredients of drugs pass into breast milk?

The active ingredients of medications enter the blood and are distributed throughout the body through the circulatory system. Accordingly, they also pass into breast milk. The drugs have different permeability, but on average about 1% of the active substances enter the milk. At first glance, this may seem like quite a bit, but for an infant, even this dose can be dangerous.

Valerian tends to accumulate in the body, so its content in breast milk increases after each dose of medication. If a doctor prescribes this drug to a nursing mother, it is very important to adhere to the recommended dosage and not exceed its daily dose and the duration of the course of treatment. Increasing the single dose or using valerian for too long can cause an overdose, which is dangerous for both mother and child.

Thomas Hale, Doctor of Pharmacology and Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Medical School, published the reference book “Medicines and Mother's Milk.” In it, the professor writes that during breastfeeding, valerian should be used very carefully and in the smallest dosages, and in cases where the use of the drug can be abandoned, the doctor recommends doing so. Hale emphasizes that the permeability of valerian into breast milk has not been studied in any study, therefore, how much medicine the baby receives during feeding and how it affects him is not known. In the absence of confirmed data, it is impossible to talk about the safety of the drug.

On a note

In Australia, valerian extract is classified as a category A drug. They are considered the safest and are approved for use during pregnancy.

Rules for taking valerian

Valerian will not harm a newborn baby while breastfeeding if the woman reads the instructions before using the medicine. It indicates when you can drink the product and what the course of treatment may be. The dosage of the medicine should be selected by the doctor, but you can use the minimum dose so as not to harm the baby. The woman should carefully monitor the child’s reaction; if side symptoms appear, stop taking the drug immediately.

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Which form of the drug is preferable for hepatitis B

Many women are interested in whether mothers who are breastfeeding can take valerian, and also which dosage form is preferable to choose. In fact, the question is very relevant, since it is recommended to use the drug for hepatitis B only in tablets. There are other forms of release of the product:

• tea bags;
• alcohol tincture;
• rhizomes;
• dragee;
• tablets supplemented with components.

Doctors strongly recommend paying attention to the tablets, as they contain a certain dosage of the substance, which practically eliminates an overdose. It is also allowed to use rhizomes, but they must be used with caution and in accordance with all the rules.

Valerian dosage regimens

Usually the medication is taken according to the instructions indicated. In addition, valerian in tablets during breastfeeding can be prescribed by a doctor; the doctor will be able to select an effective, but at the same time safe, dose of the drug. According to the recommendations, the product is taken twice a day, one tablet.

Although, to avoid harm to the child, you should start with a minimum dose, so it is better to take no more than one tablet per day. You are allowed to take no more than 400 mg of the substance per day; this amount is contained in two tablets. The dose should be taken one hour after meals, with plenty of water.

During guarding, you should not use the medication for a long time; it contains not only sedative components, but also alkaloids. According to the instructions, valerian is taken for 1-2 months. During pregnancy, it is generally not recommended to use the medication.

The rhizomes can be used to take relaxing baths. They can also be useful for aromatherapy; just put a bag of dry roots under your pillow before going to bed.

Overdose

When using valerian extract, decoction or tincture while breastfeeding, it is important to follow the dosage, otherwise the medicine will cause side symptoms:

• attacks of heartburn;
• decreased blood pressure;
• constant nausea;
• headache;
• decreased concentration;
• heart rate decreases;
• hand tremors occur;
• there is dilation of the pupils;
• agitation or drowsiness;
• flatulence.

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If signs of overdose appear, you should stop taking the medication or reduce its dosage.