The guide from Ubie on ashwagandha side effects advises avoiding combining it with sedatives or alcohol, because both can add to drowsiness and feeling off.
What is ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is the common name for Withania somnifera, a small shrub native to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and parts of Africa. The name comes from Sanskrit and is often translated as “smell of a horse.” A PubMed Central review on ashwagandha for stress, sleep and cognition notes it has been used for over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine. The most common powder is made from the dried root, leaf, or a mix of both. You can read more on the ashwagandha plant profile.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says that, unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they are sold to the public (NCCIH’s ashwagandha overview). That makes the label and the amount you take worth checking.
Can you drink alcohol while taking ashwagandha?
Both ashwagandha and alcohol can make you drowsy, and the sources point to the same risk when they are combined. Ubie’s guide says ashwagandha may calm the nervous system and that “stacking calming substances can amplify the effect.” Alcohol also disrupts sleep on its own. For a closer look at sedating combinations, see valerian and alcohol.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ubie’s ashwagandha side effects guide | Advises avoiding combining ashwagandha with sedatives or alcohol. |
| NHS sleep tips | Alcohol and nicotine can have disruptive effects on sleep, so try to avoid them 1 to 2 hours before bed. |
| Cleveland Clinic sleep tips | Says alcohol’s “overall impact can actually be harmful” to sleep. An expert quoted there says that when alcohol wears off, it “can wake people up in the more restorative stages of sleep.” |
| PubMed Central review on ashwagandha | Ashwagandha root extract “may enhance the effects of anti-anxiety, sleep, muscle-relaxant, and sedative medications.” |
What isn’t known yet is how much alcohol and how much ashwagandha change each other’s effects in a given person. The review notes that most studies compared ashwagandha with a placebo, and that data comparing it with standard drug treatments such as SSRIs and hypnotics are lacking.
What are the side effects of ashwagandha?
Ubie lists the most common side effects as upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, drowsiness and headache. The review reports that side effects in studies were mild, and it describes one allergic reaction and a rise in blood pressure in two patients who were taking blood pressure medication.
| Side effect | Where it is reported |
|---|---|
| Upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn | Common, according to Ubie |
| Drowsiness, headache | Common; more likely if you also take other calming substances, according to Ubie |
| Dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue | Ubie says these may occur if cortisol is already low |
| Rapid heartbeat, anxiety, sweating, weight changes | Ubie links these to thyroid effects, especially with hyperthyroidism or thyroid medication |
| Weakness, shakiness, fainting | Ubie says this can happen for people on blood pressure or diabetes medication |
| Allergic reaction | The review describes one case; Ubie lists it as rare |
| Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe fatigue, upper right belly pain | Ubie says a small number of case reports have linked ashwagandha to liver injury; it calls these rare but serious |
Do they go away? Ubie says “most reported side effects are mild and temporary,” and that for many people symptoms improve after lowering the dose or stopping the supplement. Ubie advises that “any symptom that feels severe, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening requires immediate medical care.” For more, see the ashwagandha side effects guide, and the ashwagandha side effects in studies (our research library) summary.
Does ashwagandha make you sleepy?
It can. Ubie says ashwagandha may improve sleep by calming the nervous system, but in some people the calming effect “becomes excessive,” leading to grogginess, unusual fatigue or mental fog. The review reports trials where ashwagandha improved sleep quality, shortened the time to fall asleep and helped people wake up refreshed. One alcohol-free beer maker says its ashwagandha blend promotes relaxation “without drowsiness”; that is the maker’s claim.
Why do I feel so weird after taking ashwagandha?
Ubie gives several reasons. Ashwagandha can affect cortisol and stress hormones, may affect thyroid function, can irritate the digestive system, can cause drowsiness, and may lower blood pressure and blood sugar, which matters if you take medication for either. Ubie also notes that sedating substances, including alcohol, can stack up. If you feel off, Ubie advises stopping the supplement, tracking your symptoms and contacting a clinician promptly for severe or persistent problems. Ubie also says symptoms that last more than a few days are a reason to speak with a doctor.
Who should not drink or take ashwagandha?
These are the groups the sources flag. If any of them describes you, ask a clinician before you start.
| Who | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|
| Pregnant or planning to conceive | The review says high doses of root extract “could result in miscarriage” and calls it contraindicated. |
| Breastfeeding | Ubie says to speak with a clinician first. |
| Hyperthyroidism, or taking thyroid medication | The review says it is contraindicated in hyperthyroidism because it can raise T3 and T4. It describes a 73-year-old woman who had a racing heartbeat and hyperthyroid symptoms after two years of use; symptoms resolved after she stopped. |
| Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer | The review says it is not recommended, because it may boost testosterone production. |
| Taking blood pressure, blood sugar or sleep medication | Ubie flags these combinations; the review reports blood pressure increases in patients on blood pressure drugs. |
| Liver disease | Ubie says to speak with a clinician. |
| Autoimmune condition | One alcohol-free beer maker advises people with autoimmune conditions to avoid its ashwagandha drinks. |
| Older adults taking several medicines | The review says potential side effects should be weighed, especially for elderly patients on other medications. |
What should you never mix with ashwagandha?
The review says ashwagandha root extract may enhance the effects of anti-anxiety, sleep, muscle-relaxant and sedative medications. It also says ashwagandha has additive effects with anticonvulsants, barbiturates and benzodiazepines, which can lead to “impaired motor coordination, muscle weakness, headaches, reduced libido, muscle tremors, and drowsiness.” For antidepressants, the review reports interactions with reboxetine, sertraline, escitalopram and paroxetine, and says ashwagandha inhibits the CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 pathways, which can raise the levels of drugs those pathways process. Ubie adds alcohol and thyroid medication to the list. Confirm any combination with your prescriber or pharmacist before you take them together.
Why can’t you take ashwagandha every day?
The NCCIH page says that “ashwagandha may be safe when taken in the short term (up to 3 months).” The review says there is a lack of substantial data on long-term effects, and notes that many studies ran from 30 days to 16 weeks. That is why daily, long-term use is not something the research has settled. If you plan to use it daily, ask a pharmacist how long is reasonable for you.
Will ashwagandha lower cortisol?
Ubie says modern research suggests it may lower cortisol, the stress hormone. The review cites a meta-analysis by Arumugam et al. covering 558 participants, which found a significant effect compared with placebo on serum cortisol, along with stress and anxiety scores. Ubie warns that if your cortisol is already low, lowering it further may cause fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness.
What are the ashwagandha benefits?
The NCCIH page says there is some limited evidence that taking ashwagandha for 2 to 4 months may increase testosterone levels and sperm quality. It describes evidence on anxiety as unclear, and says there is not enough evidence on asthma, athletic performance, cognitive function, diabetes, menopause or female infertility, or enough high-quality evidence on COVID-19. The review reports stress and anxiety benefits in several trials, including one where ashwagandha reduced fatigue more than psychotherapy over 12 weeks. For the full picture, see ashwagandha benefits.
Ashwagandha and magnesium: can you take them together?
Cleveland Clinic says magnesium supplements are generally safe at recommended doses, but they can interact with certain antibiotics, osteoporosis medications and diuretics, and that people with kidney problems should speak with a provider first. It also says magnesium may help some people sleep better, but there is still not enough research to know how well it works (Cleveland Clinic on magnesium and sleep). Nothing in the research here covers ashwagandha and magnesium together, so ask your pharmacist before combining them.
Is ashwagandha addictive, and what about withdrawal?
Whether ashwagandha causes dependence or withdrawal is not established. If you have been taking it daily and feel unwell after stopping, Ubie’s advice is to track your symptoms and contact a clinician, especially if symptoms last more than a few days.
Why don’t doctors recommend ashwagandha?
Clinicians differ in how they advise patients about supplements, and the sources here do not explain any one doctor’s view. Ask your own doctor or pharmacist directly whether ashwagandha makes sense for you.
What isn’t known yet
- Long-term safety of daily use, according to the review.
- Whether ashwagandha causes dependence or withdrawal.
- Whether it helps anxiety, according to the NCCIH page.
Checklist for the shelf or home
- Read the label for the ashwagandha amount per serving, the plant part used (root, leaf or both), and any other calming ingredients.
- Keep alcohol and ashwagandha apart, and avoid alcohol 1 to 2 hours before bed, per the NHS.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every supplement you take, including ashwagandha.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a thyroid condition, or take blood pressure, blood sugar or sleep medication, speak with a clinician before you start.
- If you feel off, stop, track your symptoms, and seek urgent care for anything severe, as Ubie advises.
- Note how many weeks you have been taking it. NCCIH describes short-term use as up to 3 months.
By MountainSageNaturalHealth.com Editorial Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.