I took the Kalms Night One-A-Night sleep aid for a week in the hope that it would help tame the insomnia and anxiety that had crept back into my life.
If you’re interested in trying a herbal remedy to help you relax or sleep better, Kalms is a well-known brand in the United Kingdom. You can buy it over the counter in many shops and pharmacies, such as Boots and Holland & Barrett.
Kalms Night contains valerian root extract as the main ingredient, which is also used in several other sleep aids, such as Sominex Herbal and Nytol Herbal.
In this review, I’ll be discussing my experience of taking Kalms in two different years, and how I felt a mild sedative effect with no side effects both times. I’ll also look at the research evidence that it works and some other key information if you’re thinking of trying it yourself.
My experience
A single tablet that’s easy to swallow
A few months ago, I tried the original Kalms Night version. With that one, you have to take up to four tablets per night instead of just the single one that you take with the aptly named Kalms One-A-Night.
My first impression of the One-A-Night version was that I preferred only having to wash down one tablet. Admittedly, it’s twice the size as each of the Kalms Night tablets, but it’s coated with an artificial sweetener and easy enough to swallow.
Another benefit of it being sweet coated is that you don’t get such a strong valerian taste as you do with similar products, like Nytol Herbal.
Deciding how well it works
Just to be clear, my way of judging how well sleep aids work is very subjective. I don’t do any tests in a sleep lab, and just take them in my natural home setting. I write notes on how I feel after taking them, how I feel in the morning, and how I feel during the day.
I do use a sleep tracker (a Fitbit Versa in this case) to see how my total sleep time and sleep score look compared to previous weeks. However, I prefer to trust my own observations most of all. Experience has taught me that the way I feel the next day is the best way to judge how effective a sleep aid is in improving my well-being.
During the day
I decided to take the Kalms One-A-Night in two different situations to try to really gauge if I could feel any effects – in the middle of the day, and then at night later in the week.
I first tried one in the middle of the day while working on my laptop, for three days in a row. I didn’t notice any sedative effect and I didn’t suddenly become more relaxed after taking them. This doesn’t necessarily mean nothing is happening though as they aren’t meant to knock you out.
It did make me realise that it would be perhaps trickier to judge if they were helping me with anxiety more than sleep though. I’m pretty busy during the day (as is my mind!), so I’m not entirely sure if I’d notice a small effect.
That said, the reality is that I didn’t notice anything special happening. Things that stressed me out continued to stress me out. I know they are supposed to be taken at night, but I was curious to see if I would notice a sedative effect when taking them during the daytime. The answer was no.
How I slept when taking Kalms One-A-Night
On the fourth day, I didn’t take a tablet during the day, but waited until bedtime instead, which is when you’re supposed to take the Kalms One-A-Night really. The clue is in the name!
I took one tablet each night before bedtime for three nights in a row, and I do think I felt a mild sedative effect each night. Whether it was a real sedative effect, placebo effect, or tiredness due to not sleeping well lately is hard to say. I did, however, sleep a little better each night than I had done recently.
My thought in the morning was that it had taken me slightly less time to fall asleep, and that I’d slept throughout the night with less wakings on all three nights. My sleep tracker data also backed that up, though the overall sleep time was only better by a few minutes. Still, every minute counts.
I mentioned that I’ve been having sleep problems recently, which I believe has been caused by feeling under a lot of pressure for various life reasons. Maybe the calming effect of the valerian helped me drift off a little easier, even if I hadn’t noticed much of an effect in the daytime earlier in the week.
No side effects for me
I had no noticeable side effects during the week I took Kalms One-A-Night, which is great. I often get side effects with antihistamine sleep aids, such as a dry mouth, headaches, or groggy feelings in the morning. And melatonin also gives me vivid dreams sometimes.
So I was pleased to see that I could take the Kalms One-A-Night without worrying about needing strong coffee or a cold shower to wake myself up properly in the morning.
Do keep in mind that this was just my experience though; some people might have a reaction to the valerian. For example, Heathline.com discusses possible side effects like heart palpitations, dry mouth, upset stomach, vivid dreams, headaches, and mental fogginess.
My conclusion & would I take it again?
I don’t think the Kalms One-A-Night improved my daytime stress levels, but I do believe I slept slightly better on the nights I took it.
The problem is that it’s so hard to tell whether something which is only meant to have a light effect is actually working or not. As I said, it could be a placebo effect, which has been demonstrated in research studies as a real effect for various health concerns – even pain relief.
It could also be a combination of the placebo effect and any other steps you’re taking to cope with anxiety or sleep problems.
So my belief is that if you think a sleep aid helps, then that’s arguably good enough. You just might never really know for sure exactly how much it’s helping directly, or how much the act of taking a sleep aid is contributing to your confidence that you’ll have less trouble sleeping.
Personally, I would take Kalms One-A-Night again if I needed to because of the (possibly) mild sedative effect, natural herbal ingredient, lack of side effects, low cost, and easy availability.
Eight years later – trying it again
I originally published this article way back in 2014, which is when I first took the Kalms Night One-A-Night. Eight years later, in April 2022, I saw it on a local supermarket shelf and decided to give it another go.
The packaging and information seemed pretty much the same as when I first took it, with the same ingredients. And the effect it had on me was very similar too. This time, I used the latest version of the Fitbit, the Fitbit Versa 3. The sleep tracking has improved, so it was interesting to see if it would show any objective improvement in my sleep.
I took it for a week again, and the effect was very similar (as far as I can remember). No discernible sedation during the day or reduction in stress levels that I could tell. Once again, I do think I felt slightly more relaxed when going to sleep, with both my mental observations and sleep tracker data suggesting a slight improvement in the time it took me to fall asleep, as well as the total sleep time.
Nothing miraculous, with no more than ten minutes more sleep on average each night. Still, that’s ten minutes I’ll gladly take.
Further information
Who makes it?
Kalms is a brand owned by the UK company Lanes Health, which has been operating for over 90 years. They also own several other health product brands, such as Pro Plus and Olbas. You can find out more about them on Laneshealth.com (not a sponsored link).
The five types of Kalms
There are five different types of Kalms. The first two are intended for anxiety during the day, the two night versions to help with sleep, and the latest one is for fatigue.
1. Kalms Day
Kalms Day are made to help with mild anxiety. The ingredients are valerian and hops, and you take two tablets, three times a day. They used to contain gentian as well, but that was removed.
2. Kalms Lavender
Kalms Lavender is a capsule containing lavender oil 80 mg, and is intended to help with anxiety. Lavender does have some research evidence for its sedative properties.
3. Kalms Night
As you’d imagine from the name, Kalms Night are intended to help you sleep. You take four tablets one hour before going to sleep. Each pill contains valerian root extract 96 mg, so you can take less than four if you prefer.
4. Kalms Night One-A-Night
Rather than having the option to take less tablets if needed, Kalms One-A-Night is a single pill at a stronger dosage of valerian root extract 385 mg.
5. Kalms Rhodiola
Kalms Rhodiola was created to help with stress-related symptoms, such as fatigue, exhaustion, and mild anxiety. It’s in tablet form, containing the root of the Rhodiola rosea plant. You take two tablets per day, one before breakfast and one before lunch.
You can find out more about the different products on the Kalmsrange.com website (not a sponsored link).
What evidence is there that Kalms One-A-Night work?
Because it’s classed as a herbal remedy/supplement, UK law doesn’t require Kalms to undergo the same rigorous clinical trials as prescription sleeping pills. The same applies in the United States, for example, where supplements don’t need to be passed as safe and effective in clinical trials either.
So, no scientific research on the effectiveness or safety of Kalms has been done.
However, the gov.uk website does show that Kalms One-A-Night has been granted a traditional herbal registration.
What evidence is there that valerian works?
An alternative avenue to explore is whether the ingredient valerian has been found in any other research to help with sleep. The answer, according to research, could be summarized as ‘sometimes’.
As I wrote in my article about valerian, it does have some research evidence showing a sedative effect, but it’s not consistent from one study to the next.
Interestingly, in 2020, a team of researchers in Japan and the UK conducted a meta-analysis of many previous studies of valerian’s effectiveness for sleep and anxiety to work out why the evidence is so inconsistent.
They suggested that the variable results could be explained by researchers using different quality valerian extracts in each study. They have one positive conclusion that gives some room for optimism:
In conclusion, valerian could be a safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders. However, due to the presence of multiple active constituents and relatively unstable nature of some of the active constituents, it may be necessary to revise the quality control processes, including standardization methods and shelf life.
Shinjyo et al.
What others say
It’s always interesting to see what other people have to say and to check websites that have large numbers of customer reviews.
When I checked Amazon.co.uk, there were over 700 ratings for Kalms One-A-Night, with an average score of 4.1 out of 5 stars. 57% of people gave it 5 stars and 6% gave it one star.
Many people say they work really well and help them sleep better, while others say they don’t help, or only help a little bit. This is a common pattern with non-prescription sleep aids that I’ve seen with several others.
I read through 50 reviews of each star (which took a while!) and discovered some interesting points about side effects too. Most people didn’t mention any or said that there were none. The most common side effect I read was about strange dreams.
Since first writing this review, there have been many comments from readers describing their experience. Once again, some say it worked well, but others aren’t so convinced.
This raises a key point: it’s very hard to predict whether Kalms One-A-Night will work for you or not.
Your expectations and previous experience of sleeping or anxiety pills might also play a role. If you’ve taken strong prescription medication before, you might find the lighter effect of Kalms just isn’t enough, or takes some adapting to.
However, if you’ve never dabbled in the prescription heavyweights before, then the gentle calming effect might be enough.
Ingredients
As per the instruction leaflet, the active herbal ingredient is:
- Valerian root extract 385 mg (equivalent to 1.54-1.93 g of valerian root).
And the other ingredients are:
- Extraction solvent: Ethanol 60% v/v.
- Excipients: Maltodextrin, Colloidal Anhydrous Silica.
- Core: Croscarmellose Sodium, Magnesium Stearate, Silicified Microcrystalline Cellulose, Talc and Silicon Dioxide.
- Coating: Hypromellose, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Macrogol, Saccharine Sodium.
Warmings
The manufacturer has the following warnings on the patient leaflet:
- Don’t take it if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients.
- Don’t consume excessive amounts of alcohol when you take it.
- Avoid it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You should avoid driving, operating machinery or tools.
- You should consult your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including those that make you drowsy or any other non-prescription medicines.
Possible side effects of Kalms One-A-Night
The manufacturer only lists two possible side effects. If you experience these or any other adverse symptoms, stop taking them and consult your doctor:
- Nausea.
- Abdominal cramps.
The other versions have different possible side effects, so please make sure you read the label carefully before taking them.
To find out more about the potential side effects of valerian itself, take a look at the WebMD.com article on valerian or the Rxlist.com article.
Have you tried Kalms?
I’m interested to hear your thoughts about any of the Kalms range. Have you tried them, and if so, what effect did they have on you?
I’ve been changing my medication over the past 3 weeks to venlafaxine to try to help with neuropathic pain, other physical pain, migraines, severe fatigue and anxiety. It’s given me the worse insomnia. I think the first 3 nights I didn’t sleep at all. Since then I am only sleeping around 4 hours a night, max. Once I do get off, I seem to wake up at 3.30am on the dot, wired and raring to go (like I’ve had 4 gigantic pots of coffee) yet feeling utterly wrecked physically and mentally. I’ve tried taking diazepam to shut me down but surprisingly that hasn’t seemed to work. I’ve also been meditating at 3.30am every morning which I’m sure is doing me good BUT i’d much rather practice that a few hours later! On a plus it’s lovely to hear the birds wake up around 5am!
So today I’ve been necking loads of chamomile and valerian tea and I also bought some Kalms night tablets. To be honest I’m not expecting much given the diazepam hasn’t worked (and it has in past) BUT the tea has made me sleepy and chilled throughout the day so we’ll see. Fingers crossed!
I have been having insomnia for the past 2 years. I was told about Kalms by a friend and decided to try the Kalms one-a-night. The first time, i took one pill an hour before bedtime as suggested on the box. I did not feel any difference as i hardly got any sleep. Tried it twice after that and have still found no difference
I have taken them three nights in a row. I think they helped me sleep through the night. I did notice feeling very tired the following day. Although I didn’t get very much sleep for those three nights. I did take two tables each time. I was desperate. I think they work. They didn’t help me fall asleep. But they kept me asleep.
I am taking citralpram, amitrypline, propanalol is it safe to take kalms as well my anxiety is through the roof even taking the prescribed meds Michele
Hi Michele
My advice would be to check with your doctor to put your mind at ease. Have you also though about trying some self-help techniques for anxiety, such as mindfulness? If you find that meds aren’t helping enough, perhaps another avenue would be effective.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve weaned myself off my citalopram was taking 20mg daily for general anxiety disorder, I couldn’t switch my mind off after my mother died 15 months ago suddenly. I suffer with health anxiety and aswell as grieving for my mother I thought the same would happen to me. Having a fear of death was awful as it brought on sever panic attacks especially at night so I ended up in a and e more times thinking I was having a heart attack so my doctor put me on zopiclone 7.5mg a night. I’ve since weaned off the citalopram and zopiclone as I don’t want to depend on these medications. Instead I use kalms night one a night and so far so good. My anxiety is not as severe and the panic attacks are not as frequent. I do sleep a lot better I still wake some nights but I can get back to sleep. I hope this is the end of it and I will continue to use the kalms great product.. I was wore out mentally and physically with the torment it’s no way to live a life. So if it works :)
Hi Nicole
Thanks for your comment. I’m very sorry about your mother, I can only imagine how hard things must have been for you and it’s understandable you developed anxiety problems following this.
Well done for getting yourself off the stronger meds and onto something more manageable. It’s not always easy to do, so it’s great that you’ve got the strength of mind to not want to depend on them. If you can do that, then I’m sure in time that same strength of mind will help you deal with the anxiety once and for all.
Regards
Ethan
Hi I have just bought my first kalms night. I find the melatonin no longer work. I have auto immune hepatitis but I ask the pharmacist in boots if they would be safe to take. She said they would be okay. I will let you know how I get on.
Hi Lesley
Thanks for your comment, and I hope they do work out for you. It would be great to hear back from you in a few days.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve taken the Kalms one a night and they definitely work for me, thankfully! I’ve gone weeks at this stage without sleep/enough sleep so I tried these again and they really did help. The first time I tried Kalms was when I had jet lag and they helped then too.
Hi Niamh
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you’ve found something which helps you!
Regards
Ethan
I’ve used Kalms now for over a year. I don’t use them daily but take them when I’m in stressful situations. I can feel them relaxing me and they tend to give me a ”I’m not bothered” attitude which really helps as I’m a born worrier. This is a fantastic product and I’m so glad I can buy them off the shelf with no need for a prescription. I expect they don’t work for everyone as we’re all very individual. I wouldn’t want to be without them as I don’t get any unwanted side effects.
Hi Yvette
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from someone who finds them helpful, especially for dealing with worry and stress.
Regards
Ethan
Hi, I am used to taking valium and zopiclone to help me sleep. I am bipolar and have severe panic attacks, usually at night. I also wake every couple of hours. For a while I went without my prescribed medication and Kalms one a night really helped me get more than blocks of just 2 hours sleep at a time. I do take three each night but will try less. They relaxed me and took the edge off my anxiety enough to stop the panic attacks. I was very surprised as the medication I am used to is so strong. They did give me heartburn though so I took them with food after the first time.
Hi Lucy
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you’ve found these help you as well as the stronger meds. That’s always a good thing if you can take something lighter and more natural, especially in the longer run.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve been taken day kalms now for 4 weeks. 2 three times a day for anxiety.i think they work brilliant.feel more relaxed and not bothered to get stressed.i would recommend them to anyone to try.are they safe to take in the long term?.as they work so well
Hi Andy
Thanks for your comment. It’s great to hear that you found they help you. In terms of long-term safety, the best thing is to do some research about the long-term effects of taking valerian long-term. I’ve seen some reports that it can result in some problems, but it’s best you either do some research yourself or speak to your doctor about it, who can also tell you based on your own medical history and condition.
Regards
Ethan
It says in my kalms take 2 tablets three times a day. Is this right then?? It’s the 200 bottle. Just saw replies earlier saying that sounded too many
Hi Sara
There are different versions of Kalms, and I’ve also taken on which you take 3 times a day. I think if that’s what the information leaflet advises, then you’ll be fine with it. You can always take a little less to start with if you feel like and see if you notice any effect.
Regards
Ethan
I wondered if anyone feels that whilst taking Kalms their weight has increased? Would be grateful to hear confirmation on this??
took kalms for 2 weeks felt fine in day and sleep at night but my anxiety is back should i take them again
Hi t
It’s a personal choice you have there, really. I guess you could try them a bit longer and see if they get the anxiety under control. If after another week it’s not helping, then perhaps try something else.
Regards
Ethan
Have taken Kalms for the past few weeks for anxiety, I do feel they give me a calm feeling and stop the tense feeling in the stomach. Was worried of the effects of when you stop taking them or possible side effects? or are they too light of a tablet to cause any?
Thanks
Callum
Hi Callum
Thanks for your comment, and it’s great to hear you’ve found the Kalms helpful. There are some side effects associated with Valerian, but it’s generally thought to be safe and well tolerated by most people. In terms of withdrawal, there have been some documented cases of people having withdrawal symptoms similar to benzodiazepines, but only in long term use to my knowledge. I think if you plan on using it daily for many weeks or months, then if you’re worried you could always reduce the amount you take over a week before stopping. Alternatively you can speak to your doctor and ask for their advice taking into account your full medical history.
Regards
Ethan
I discovered Kalms One-a-Night a few months ago. I have a prostate problem and need to get up to pee every one to two hours every night. With the gentle effect of Kalms making me sleep a little deeper and more relaxed I find I can get periods of sleep of more than four hours
Hi Hugh
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that the Kalms have helped you get some more sleep. They don’t work for everyone it seems, but if they do then it’s a good choice of sleep aid since they are so light.
Regards
Ethan
Ive just bought Kalms. Was always pretty sceptical re herbs and always thought of them as pretty useless. Ive suffered from anxiety for years, and have been on venlafaxine 150mg. Last week I decided to half my dose to 75mg. I also bouth the kalms, thinking well, it couldn’t hurt! Taking one 2xtablet dose yesterday and another today to see what happens, they actually gave me a calm feeling. so yes, in my humble opinion, they settle the nonstop butterflies in the belly feeling which is great!
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from someone who has so far had a positive experience with the kalms. I think more time is needed to really be able to say whether they work or not for you. If you do have a moment in a couple of weeks, it would be very interesting to hear how you got on with them.
All the best
Ethan
Hi — I’ve take stetraline anti anxiety pill for 1 day – didn’t take it yesterday and today. How long do I have to wait to switch to Kalms? I’ve got the day and night tablets…
Hi Maria
Since it’s a prescribed medication, I would ask your doctor about that just to be on the safe side.
Regards
Ethan
I have taken Kalms in the past when i felt down and stressed and out of control of situations to relax me and they seemed to work. Now 4 years on I’ve had stuff going on which has made me feel really down …. I have bought the tablets again and I really do hope they work as they have in the past. I do feel for stress one needs to keep active physically and mentally have a routine and a top up of Kalms….. lets see how i get on!
Hi Dee
Thanks for the comment, and I hope that the Kalms do help you through this difficult period. I can also reccommend trying mindfulness if you’re feeling down and stressed. It can be very effective, and doesn’t involve any pills, which is always a good thing in my opinion. Have a read of this article for more information about mindfulness.
All the best
Ethan
Interesting to read ever comment and that they had a positive experience, unfortunately I am one of the people who has had a sever allergic reaction and thought I would require to be admitted to hospital. I have completed a yellow card to the (MHRA) website. After taking Kalms sleep my symptoms included acute diarrhea, acute sickness, severe headaches, severe sweats., pain around my heart and fainting. I had to take two days off work and on the first day was unable to stay at home on my own and required supervision.Day two, and, I still feel unwell, although slightly better.
I am afraid I would definitely not recommend taking this medication. I thought, its a natural product and will do no harm but I was wrong. Please research carefully before considering.
Hi there,
Thank you for your comment, and I’m very sorry to hear you has an allergic reaction to it. Do you know exactly which ingredient caused the allergic reaction?
I wish you a speedy recovery!
Regards
Ethan
I’ve been taking Kalms day and the one a night for panic attacks. I only take 4 of the day one and the night one. I feel they do work most days but sometimes I do still have an attack but they dont seem as bad
Ni Nikita
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad that they are working well for you it seems. Hopefully your panic attacks will lessen as time goes by. Remember there are some things you can do to help with panic attacks. Have a look online and you’ll find lots of good advice for self-help techniques to deal with them.
All the best
Ethan
I’ve been taking kalms 6 a day for about a month and think they may be working, but I’m very tired by afternoon/evening so I’ve cut it back to 4 a day – is it still likely to work if I reduce the dose?
Also, do I have to take them regularly for them to be effective? Some days I don’t feel I need them at all but have taken them anyway as wasn’t sure if I need to maintain a level of them in my system?
Thanks
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from someone who feels the kalms herbal may be working. 6 tablets seems more than the recommended dose though, and even 4 does. Does the packet you have advise to take that many? I would always stick within the recommended dose levels.
It should still work if you take the amount recommended, yes. I think Valerian is one of those which supposedly works best after a couple of weeks once it has accumulated in your system. How regularly you then need to take it to keep up the amount I’m not entirely sure to be honest. You may be able to find some answers to that questions on herbal remedy websites or forums.
All the best
Ethan
Get some valium down ya
Hi Jim,
I think I’d rather stick to herbal remedies! I would recommend you do too:-)
Regards
Ethan
Hi this review has helped thanks can you tell me if one of my wee darlings needed me though the night would I still hear them if I was taking kalm ?x
Hi Lynn
I’m glad you found the article helpful. I can’t really comment on how much the kalms will affect your sleeping ‘alertness’ to sound, I’m afraid. You could always test it with an alarm recording of them and see if you wake up!
Regards
Ethan
Good reading peoples comments, just bought my first ever calms day and want to try it. I get a bit anxious and nervous during the day and cant wait to have something that helps me ease this
Hi Zip,
I hope it worked out well for you! If you have a moment, feel free to pop back and let us know how you got on with the Kalms.
Regards
Ethan
I took 6 Kalms tablets all at once and it knocked me out. I have never taken them before, I was upset and just needed to relieve the stress and worry. I felt very heavy headed, my neck feels heavy, my eyes look tired and I can feel little nausea.
Wow, I wish I never took them, not site what other side effects this may have, feeling worried.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling so stressed and worried. Hopefully you were ok, and the symptoms you describe have long since gone away. Have you got someone you can talk to about how you’ve been feeling? Hopefully you do, as that can be a better way to deal with being upset.
All the best
Ethan
Been using kalms for a while its great it helps me all day long especially in the night i have a good night sleep i need it a lot most at the night my heart race at night but when i take 2 tablets i go to sleep fast am so grateful sometime i feel nerves at the day i take 1 tablet to help me.
Hi Allison,
Thanks for your comment, and I’m pleased to hear Kalms has been working well for you. It’s good to hear from people who’ve had a positive experience.
All the best
Ethan
I take one of the “day” pills at bedtime and it just tips the balance as to my getting off at 11:45pm. I don’t then wake up until about 5.45am which is very good for me. I do feel a bit thick-headed for most of the next day but the sleep is worth it as it lessens the intensity of my tinnitus which is very bad if I am tired.
My comments should be viewed in terms of my being subject to High Functioning Autism which leaves me open to anxiety which stops my being able to sleep soundly and makes me over-reactive to any medication…
Hi Russett
Thanks for your comment, and I’m pleased to hear you’ve had good results from the Kalms. I can fully understand what you say about the tinnitus. I also have it, and find it gets much worse when I’m tired, stressed or feeling under the weather. So it’s a trade-off I would probably take from time to time as well, especially if it meant I was sleeping better.
All the best
Ethan
Hi
I’ve been taken kalms one a night now for about two weeks. Last night I thought I wouldn’t take one as have a week off work so am feeling very relaxed. Unfortunately, last night I was back to horrific night terrors and waking up constantly.
The kalms one a night seem to work for me in that they take the terrors away, I still wake throughout but will have nice thoughts and drift back to sleep. I’ve found I’m no where near as tired in the day and am much more happier. I’ve never taken prescribed medication so that might be why
However my dilemma now is, can I keep taking these kalms one a night indefinitely? What impact is it having to my body ~ clearly I would still benefit from them but don’t want to continue taking if they are not doing good to my body. Appreciate any views.
Hi Lesley,
Thanks for your comment, and it’s great that you found something which has helped you so effectively. I can understand your concerns about not wanting to become dependent on a sleep aid. However, the good news is that the ingredient Valerian is nowhere near as harmful long-term as pretty much every pharmaceutical sleep aid. I think you can probably continue taking it a while longer, and if you’re really worried then do two things:
1) ask for your doctor’s advice about how long you can take it for considering your personal medical history
2) reduce the dosage little by little until you find the lowest dose which still helps you. Even if this means breaking up the pills.
I hope that helps!
Regards
Ethan
After being ‘free’ from anxiety and depression for over 12 years, illness and other factors have taken over my life again, i was finally given antidepressants, one tablet taken and was at A&E due to severe allergic reaction.
I have very dry mouth and tongue problems so many of the anti dep/anxiety tablets make it 10 times worse, i was then given prozac, which i haven’t taken yet for fear of the side effect and a few weeks ago given diazepam,to have if and when i get severe panic attack, but i bought some kalms (day ones) only been taking 2 a day,for nearly 2 weeks but just wondered if i should up them, or give in and start the anti deps?, as on edge all the time suffer from SAD so this time of year doesn’t help at all :0)
Hi Eylane,
Thank your for your comment, and I’m sorry to hear you’ve been battling anxiety and depression for so long. I think really it’s up to you to decide when you might want to try something stronger than kalms. But I think it’s great that you’re at least giving them a go, as in the long run they would be better for you than becoming reliant on stronger medication. In terms of taking more, well perhaps considering your history, you could try asking your doctor for some advice. I don’t want to give advice on taking more than the recommended dose from the manufacturer, and it’s not my place to do so I’m afraid. So perhaps check with your doctor first if it’s safe to try a higher dose.
All the best
Ethan
Hi
It has been interesting reading the comments. I have anxiety and have suffered from depression in the past and want to avoid prescribed medication. The quality of my sleep has been poor so I decided to try Kalms (day ones) and I had a great sleep last night. It is too early to tell how my anxiety has been affected and if the good night sleep was a placebo effect but I guess time will tell.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear that you’ve been struggling with anxiety and poor sleep. But I’m glad to hear that the Kalms may have helped. If you have a few minutes, it would be great to hear from you again and find out what you now think having taken them for a few days. I know other readers will also find it helpful!
All the best
Ethan
I’ve been taking kalms night for a few weeks now didn’t really feel much effect till one night I got back up and had a hot drink I was nodding off on couch I now take mine with a hot drink seems to work better for me.
Hi Jackie,
Thank for your comment. Sometimes it’s a combination of different techniques that can make all the difference. So perhaps having the kalms and relaxing drink was the right combo for you.
I hope it continues to help.
Regards
Ethan
thank you for your comments I did not sleep well last night I am shattered today so I am trying to keep gently busy and going to fight tiredness. I will take another tonight. I am cross tapering my antidepressants from venlafaxine to sertraline so my mood is very low today.
No problem Lizzie, and sorry to hear you’re still struggling – sleep problems are rarely solved quickly unfortunately! Let me know if you have any more joy with it this time round.
Regards
Ethan
I suffer from depression. And I also have issues sleeping. I have just switched antidepressants and sleeping has become more of a problem. I used Sominex last night and felt drugged all day today. Going to try the Kalms one a night any idea what time I should take it so I can get up with a clear head tomorrow morning about 8?
Hi Lizzie,
Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear you’ve got sleeping issues on top of depression. That’s an unfortunately common combination, but not impossible to deal with. I think the kalms should be fine to take before you go to bed. They really aren’t that strong, so you should be fine to have a normal 7-8 hours sleep and go about your day tomorrow.
Let me know how well or not they work, as I know other readers find it very helpful to hear people’s experiences.
Regards
Ethan
I have found they are helpful at night but they make me feel too drowsy in the day and worry about driving after taking these.
Hi Louise,
Thanks for your comment. You must be quite sensitive to the ingredients for you to feel drowsy the next day. Have you tried halving the dose to see if you can get the benefits of the sedative effect without the drowsiness?
Regards
Ethan
I am trying the regular kalms for the day that help with anxiety. I have severe anxiety and in very nervous about my regular medication Xanax 2mg bars not working anymore for me. My prescription says to take up to 6 a day for anxiety, making the 12MG of some of the highest anxiety relievers. I know people who can take .25MG are down for the count sleeping the whole day. That is why I’m getting nervous and trying the Kalms. I know it is for mild anxiety and I suffer from severe anxiety. But I’m crossing my fingers that since I don’t recognise any repeated ingredients in either, that maybe Kalms will work. Even if there is just the tiniest part that can do something, Im and willing to try.
Hi Lo
Thanks for your comment. Hopefully the Kalms will help in some small way – you never know if you don’t try! I guess if you’re developing a tolerance to your normal meds, then it might be worth chatting to your doctor about it and seeing what other options they might have. Perhaps if you haven’t already tried it, you could consider some kind of talking therapy to help with the anxiety? It can be very effective if you’re willing to try. It would be great if you have a moment in the future to pop back and let us know how you got on with the Kalms as well. Feel free to pop back any time you like.
Regards
Ethan
Hi, i was just scrolling through these post but could not see anything that would say if its bad for your heart, because I’m having problems with my heart but i do suffer from insomnia and anxiety, and was just wondering weather i can keep taking the 2tablets x 3 a day, or should i wait till my cardiologist gives me the ‘go ahead’ first?
thanks
Hi Oscar,
I’m afraid it’s not appropriate for me to give you any advice on that one as I’m not a doctor. The only advice I can give you is to always err on the side of caution, in which case speak to your own doctor first before taking any medication, even if it is herbal or over-the-counter. Better safe than sorry!
All the best and I hope your heart problems resolve soon.
Ethan
I took my first kalms one a night last night, I’ve had years of disturbed sleep sometimes waking at 2 not being able to get back to sleep. I woke early hours 3.15 came down had a coffee i felt really tired again about 6 so went back to bed and slept until 10am. I have never stayed in bed until this time! Tonight i decided to take earlier as i’m working tomorrow, and dont want to feel sleepy, taken at 5 pm and hoping for a good solid sleep tonight. I will let you know, here’s hoping! JK
Hi JK
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you appear to have had some success with Kalms. Do come back and let me know how you’ve been getting on since then, as it’s useful to hear from readers and how they feel about particular sleep aids.
All the best
Ethan
Hi, I have been on the sleep “heavy-hitters” of Zopliclone for 7 years and whilst they are no longer enough to help me to fall asleep, I can’t quite get off them entirely (although I am on a very low dose now).
I have tried many things to address the insomnia – which is linked to stress, and generalised anxiety disorder – various antidepressants, melatonin (I would not recommend this to anyone as it doesn’t work and makes you feel very lethargic the next day) and a variety of natural products including Montmorency cherry supplements, Boots sleepeze and now Kalms.
The sleepeze and Kalms one-a-night both help me fall asleep – although I have to take them way earlier than advised – but they don’t improve the overall quality of my sleep so maybe its the placebo effect at work.
The Kalms seem to have less of a “hangover’ feeling the next day than the Boots version so I will stick with them… for now.
Hi Eulalie,
Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience of Kalms and other sleep aids. It’s always interesting to hear from someone and how they feel different brands compare. It’s great that you’ve found something which helps you drop off easier. If you can use it to help you get off the Zopiclone at some point, then that would also be great. I’m curious as to why you don’t feel that your overall quality of sleep has improved though? What makes you say that?
Regards
Ethan
I started making Kalms about a week ago for stress and poor sleep so I decided on the 3rd day, but I found they made me rather sleepy during the day so I decided to cut it down to two a day. after one week I must say I do feel a little calmer less stressed and my sleep has improved slightly, but I suppose if you are less stressed you will sleep better I will continue for awhile, hopefully it will improve some more.
Hi Jean
Thanks for your comment, and it’s nice to hear from someone who is having some success with Kalms. I think it’s always a good idea to reduce the dosage if you feel it’s too much, so it’s great that you seem to have found the balance.
Hopefully it will continue to help!
Regards
Ethan
Oh lord, i have Kalms one a night (for anxiety and difficulty sleeping) and now i am afraid to take it after the first comment talked about having night terrors. I had tried Kalms Day ones for anxiety, but i didn’t find them very effective. I will try it though, with the one a night and report back on what happens
Hi Margie
I don’t think you need to worry too much…not everyone will experience the same side effects, if any at all. Hopefully you’ll find them helpful, and it would definitely be interesting to hear back from you regarding how effective they are or not.
Regards
Ethan
Hi, I’ve been taking kalms sleep following a period of sleeplessness due to stress. I’ve also been suffering night terrors. I got on really well with kalms sleep but decided to try one a night when the bottle ran out. Oh dear back to the night terrors heart racing etc, so went and bought kalms sleep today. Looking forward to a peaceful night. I find kalms day very good too if I’ve got a particularly stressful day!
Hi Jayne
Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience of Kalms. It would be great if you could pop back and let us know if the night terrors continued with your preferred Kalms version, or if you think it was directly related to the other your tried.
Regards,
Ethan