St. John’s Wort- Herb/Drug Interactions, Part 2

St. John’s Wort- Herb/Drug Interactions, Part 2

 

I highly recommend St. John’s Wort for patients with mild depression who wish to utilize Western herbal medicine alone. However useful this herb is on its own, it is not to be used in combination with Western pharmaceutical medication without first consulting with the individual’s doctor. In addition, if it is approved for use alongside Western medicine, it should still be monitored carefully. St. John’s Wort should never be used at the same time as an SSRI’s, specifically because the combination can potentially cause Seratonin Syndrome. According to the American Family Physicians, in an article written April 1, 2005, “Serotonin syndrome is caused by a systemic excess of serotonin and is defined when at least three of the following signs and symptoms are present: mental status changes, diaphoresis, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, diarrhea, fever, tremor, incoordination, seizures, tachycardia, and QT interval prolongation.”

Due to a large amount of research done about Seratonin Syndrome, this contraindication is well known. However, there has been additional research that indicates that St. John’s Wort also has herb/drug interactions with other medications as well. According to an article published in the University of Maryland, St John’s Wort should not be taken with the following medications, without first discussing it with your doctor, “Antidepressants- tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, and MAOIs, Antihistamines, Dextromethorphan, Digoxin, Drugs that suppress the immune system, Drugs to fight HIV, Birth control pills, Reserpine, Sedatives, Theophylline, Triptans, Warfarin.” In addition, the article goes on to state, “Because St. John’s Wort is broken down by certain liver enzymes, it may interact with other drugs that are broken down by the same enzymes. Those drugs may include Antifungal drugs…, Some calcium channel blockers (taken to lower blood pressure), Statins (drugs are taken to lower cholesterol).”

In conclusion, St. John’s Wort is an important herb to be aware of, so as to guard against potential drug-herb interactions. St. John’s Wort should be used with caution, if used at all, with Western herbal medicines. In addition, it would be best to also use it carefully, if at all, in combination with Chinese herbal medicines. A person should be monitored carefully when taking both St. John’s Wort and Chinese Herbal Medicines simultaneously.

Written by,

Yasmin Spencer LAc, DAOM, Dipl. OM
427 F Street, Eureka, CA 95501
(707)616-6880

 

 

 

Bibliography

• Paula Gardiner, MD, MPH, Russel Phillips, MD, Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, January 1, 2008. American Academy of Family Physicians.  “Herbal and Dietary Supplement-Drug Interactions in Patients with Chronic Illness.”  Retrieved from:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0101/p73.html

• Borrelli F, Izzo AA.  December 11, 2009.  National Institute of Health- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II.  “Herb-drug interactions with St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): an update on clinical observations.”  Retrieved from:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19859815

• Wail Malaty, M.D.  April 1, 2005.  American Family Physician- Mountain Area Health Education Center.  “St. John’s Wort for Depression.”, Retrieved from:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0401/p1375.html

• Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.  2011.  University of Maryland Medical System.  “Possible Interactions with: St. John’s Wort.”  Retrieved from:  http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/st-johns-000931.htm