CalmAid (Silexan) is an over-the-counter supplement made by Nature's Way and its active ingredent is extract of lavender. In several studies it has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety. For example, a recent meta-analysis found that 160mg of silexan was superior to placebo and the prescription medication paroxetine (Paxil) (Yap, Dolzhenko, Jalal, et al, 2019). It is not associated with daytime sedation. It is contraindicated for children and adolescents with estrogen-related problems and people with an estrogen sensitive cancer. Silexan is approved in Germany for the treatment of restlessness related to anxiety and marketed there as LASEA® Here is a discussion on You Tube about silexan by a psychiatrist: Dr. Rossi - Shrinks in Sneakers.
References
Bartova, L., Dold, M., Volz, H. P., Seifritz, E., Möller, H. J., & Kasper, S. (2023). Beneficial effects of Silexan on co-occurring depressive symptoms in patients with subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders: randomized, placebo-controlled trials revisited. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 273(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01390-z
A meta-analysis of five placebo-controlled clinical trials
Results: "Our meta-analysis clearly shows that Silexan has a beneficial effect on co-occurring depressive symptoms in patients with subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders..."
Kasper, S., Gastpar, M., Müller, W. E., Volz, H. P., Möller, H. J., Schläfke, S., & Dienel, A. (2014). Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder--a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 17(6), 859–869. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145714000017
Kasper, S., Anghelescu, I., & Dienel, A. (2015). Efficacy of orally administered Silexan in patients with anxiety-related restlessness and disturbed sleep--A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 25(11), 1960–1967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.07.024
Kasper, S., Müller, W. E., Volz, H. P., Möller, H. J., Koch, E., & Dienel, A. (2018). Silexan in anxiety disorders: Clinical data and pharmacological background. The world journal of biological psychiatry: the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 19(6), 412–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2017.1331046
Krüger, T., Becker, E. M., & Kostev, K. (2022). Prescription of Silexan Is Associated with Less Frequent General Practitioner Repeat Consultations Due to Disturbed Sleep Compared to Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists: A Retrospective Database Analysis. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11010077
Seifritz, E., Kasper, S., Möller, H. J., Volz, H. P., Müller, W. E., Eckert, A., & Hatzinger, M. (2022). Effect of anxiolytic drug silexan on sleep - a narrative review. The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 23(7), 493–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2021.2013092
Seifritz, E., Schläfke, S., & Holsboer-Trachsler, E. (2019). Beneficial effects of Silexan on sleep are mediated by its anxiolytic effect. Journal of psychiatric research, 115, 69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.04.013
98.4% of the total effect of Silexan on disturbed sleep were explained by the effect of Silexan on the symptoms of anxiety whereas 1.6% were attributable to a direct effect. The results indicate that Silexan exerts a secondary sleep improving effect almost exclusively through its anxiolytic action rather than by sedation. Findings are consistent with the drug's assumed mechanism of action.
von Känel, R., Kasper, S., Bondolfi, G., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Hättenschwiler, J., Hatzinger, M., Imboden, C., Heitlinger, E., & Seifritz, E. (2021). Therapeutic effects of Silexan on somatic symptoms and physical health in patients with anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis. Brain and behavior, 11(4), e01997. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1997
Woelk, H., & Schläfke, S. (2010). A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 17(2), 94–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.10.006
Yap, W. S., Dolzhenko, A. V., Jalal, Z., Hadi, M. A., & Khan, T. M. (2019). Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis. Scientific reports, 9(1), 18042. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54529-9
A systematic review and network-meta analysis (NMA) were performed to estimate significance of the anxiolytic effect of lavender essential oil taken as silexan capsules versus other comparators (i.e., placebo/paroxetine/lorazepam). Five studies
The NMA results indicated that consumption of silexan 160 mg resulted in higher decline of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score in comparison to silexan 80 mg, placebo, and paroxetine. The effect of silexan 80 mg was observed to be same as that of paroxetine.