Disclosure: This review is based on my personal experience of Nytol Herbal, and you may have a different experience. Please discuss taking any new sleep aid with a healthcare professional rather than only relying on online sources.
Updates: I first wrote this article in 2013 when I took the Nytol. The most recent update in 2024 was to remove the warnings and side effects listed on the leaflet when I bought it as it may have changed over time.
I decided to try Nytol Herbal for a week in a situation when I know I tend to sleep worse – when I’m away from home and not in my own bed.
I know that it takes me a couple of nights to settle into a new bedroom, so it was a good time to try out a new sleep aid.
I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical that it would work. The picture I’ve got from doing my own reading of research studies into the sedative effect of valerian, hops, and passionflower is that the evidence is inconclusive (such as this review paper).
At the same time, perhaps some skepticism could be a good thing if it helps reduce the potential for the placebo effect to influence my opinion.
Different types of Nytol
There are a few different versions of Nytol, so it’s useful to take a quick look at the difference between them:
Nytol Herbal Tablets – the one I tried first. It contains valerian, hops, and passionflower (photo above).
Nytol Herbal One-A-Night – only contains valerian.
Nytol Herbal Elixir – valerian in liquid form.
Nytol Original and Nytol One-A-Night – these aren’t herbal but contain the antihistamine diphenhydramine.
Nytol Liquid Caramel Flavour – it also contains an antihistamine, but as an oral solution.
Please note that this review is only for Nytol Herbal. To find out more about the stronger antihistamine version, you can read my review of Nytol One-A-Night.
My experience
The first point to note is that the pills are very small, which meant I found them relatively easy to swallow. However, they did have a strong valerian smell since they come in tablet form rather than a capsule.
When I try a new sleep aid, the main problem is that it’s hard to judge how effective it is when it’s only meant to be a mild one when compared to strong prescription sleeping pills. To complicate matters further, there are also many other factors that can contribute to how well you sleep or not.
Having said that, I believe I felt a mild sedative effect on the second and third night that I took the Nytol Herbal. I slept badly the first night, but there was a big storm that night and the noise kept me up.
It’s a good example of how difficult it is to judge a sleep aid’s effectiveness if there are other factors that are powerful enough to offset any sedative effect.
It’s possible that the sedative effect I felt on the second and third night was due to tiredness because I’d slept badly the first night. I don’t think it was though, as I felt a mild calming feeling on top of the physical relaxation.
Moreover, I slept reasonably well during the rest of the week too. I didn’t exactly get eight hours of solid sleep every night (I wish!), but I slept well enough to be content with the amount I got and function well the next day.
No side effects for me in the morning
I had no noticeable side effects on any of the mornings after taking Nytol Herbal. I often have a fuzzy head the morning after taking sleep aids containing antihistamines. So it was good not to have the sleeping pill hangover that can take hours rather than minutes to clear sometimes.
Please bear in mind that this was just my experience. It doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed not to experience side effects as you might react differently to the ingredients.
Would I take Nytol Herbal again?
The question is, do they really work as a sleep aid? To my knowledge, no Nytol products have undergone clinical trials (they don’t need to in order to be sold as supplements in the UK), so there is no evidence that they work.
That means I have to decide how willing I am to take them again based on my personal experience and the broader evidence that valerian, hops, and passionflower can really help with sleep.
The scientific evidence is still inconclusive: some studies show they help, others that they don’t, and others that they only have a mild effect for some people.
For example, a review and meta-analysis of 60 previous studies of valerian by a team of Japanese and British researchers in 2020 found that “the outcomes of previous clinical studies are inconsistent”.
Interestingly, they had some room for optimism that valerian “could be a safe and effective herb to promote sleep”. Issues they highlighted include the way it’s prepared, the quantity used, and appropriate partnerships with other ingredients.
Back to my own experience, and there are two factors that might make me consider taking it again. Firstly, I believe I slept reasonably well on the majority of the nights I took it. Secondly, I had no side effects that I was aware of.
My experience with Nytol Herbal One-A-Night
After trying the original Nytol Herbal, I decided to test the One-A-Night, which only contains valerian, to find out if it was much different. This was a long time afterwards, not the next day.
The first thing I noticed is the improvement in the smell and taste. The previous type had a very strong valerian smell, as I mentioned earlier.
The One-A-Night tablets have a coating though, so the smell is hidden away better. They are larger tablets, and the instructions were to take one rather than two or more.
I’ve seen suggestions that valerian may need to be taken for longer than a night or two to see an effect.
For example, Webmd says the following:
Continuous use for up to 4 weeks might be needed before an effect is noticeable.
However, as Mountsinai.org says, studies have found different effects:
One of the best designed studies found that valerian was no more effective than placebo for 14 days, but by 28 days valerian greatly improved sleep for those who were taking it. Some researchers now think you may need to take valerian for a few weeks before it begins to work. However, in another study, valerian was more effective than placebo almost immediately…But not every study has found that valerian had a positive effect. One review of several studies found that valerian probably doesn’t work to treat insomnia. So the evidence remains contradictory.
I decided to take it every night for a month to give it time to build up in my system, if that was indeed what would happen. I think it did help a little, and even though it never knocked me out as such, I did feel slightly more relaxed at night.
I’m not sure the effect was much better in the second half of the month though really. If it was, then it wasn’t an effect I could objectively measure, either with my sleep diary or sleep tracker. So if valerian does need a couple of weeks to build up in your system, it’s not an effect I could tell.
On the whole though, I think I slept reasonably well most nights of the month. Interestingly, I couldn’t tell much difference between this version and the Nytol Herbal with all three herbs. Perhaps the valerian is the main player in the mix; perhaps it was just the placebo effect in both cases – it’s hard to say.
Further information
The ingredients of Nytol Herbal
Please keep in mind that I bought it in 2013, but the manufacturer may change the ingredients.
According to the information sheet when I bought it, the ingredients were:
- 200 mg extract of hops
- 160 mg extract of valerian
- 130 mg extract of passion flower
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate
- Microcrystalline cellulose (E 460)
- Stearic acid
- Magnesium stearate
- Hypromellose 4500
- Polyethylene glycol 400
- Iron oxides (E 171)
- Titanium dioxide (E 171)
Manufacturer warnings and possible side effects
Update: Because I bought it many years ago, I’ve decided to remove this section listing the possible side effects and warnings that were on the leaflet.
If you decide to try Nytol yourself, it’s important to read the patient information carefully, and consult a healthcare professional to ensure they are appropriate for you.
And as with any medication, if you notice any new symptoms after taking them it’s important to consult a doctor.
Nytol Herbal One-A-Night information
The One-A-Night version I took only contained one active ingredient:
- Valerian 385 mg.
As with Nytol Herbal, please ensure you check carefully that it will be safe and appropriate for you to take.
Further reading
The Nytol.co.uk website (not a paid link) has up to date information regarding the different versions and ingredients, as well as a FAQ section.
The Mayoclinic website has useful information about using valerian as a sleep aid.
Take a look at my sleep hygiene article for some general sleep tips you might find useful.
