What a concern.
Rhode Island pharmacist Ethan Melillo is calling Saint-John’s-wort — a herbal supplement with roots in ancient Greece now used to treat mild to moderate depression — “the worst supplement to take if you’re taking other medications”.
“Honestly, if someone tells you to accept this, I think you really don’t like it,” Melillo said in a TikTok this month with 60,600 views.
“This natural supplement has an interaction with almost everything.”
The Mayo Clinic lists nearly two dozen types of potentially harmful St. John’s wort interactions, including antihistamines (may cause the drug to build up in the body), narcotics (may increase drowsiness), and birth control (may decrease its effectiveness).
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina reported that St. John’s wort can reduce the concentration of blood thinners, cancer chemotherapy and blood pressure medications.
The team found potentially dangerous Saint-John’s-wort combinations in 28% of the cases they examined from 1993 to 2010.
Researchers say drug interactions can cause serotonin syndrome, which is when high, possibly deadly levels of the chemical serotonin build up in the body, heart disease from less effective blood pressure medications or unplanned pregnancy from contraceptive failure. .
Melillo noted that France even banned the use of Saint-John’s-wort products because of drug interaction concerns.
“We want to warn, if you’re taking this now for depression, don’t stop it,” Melillo said. “But I want you to talk to your doctor about whether you really should be taking this.”
Mount Sinai notes that Saint-John’s-wort is one of the top-selling herbal products in the US.
It has become popular in part because it is said to have fewer side effects, or side effects to a lesser degree, than prescription antidepressants. For example, St-John’s-wort does not appear to cause loss of libido, a common antidepressant side effect.
The yellow-flowered herb, which has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, may also be helpful in treating PMS, menopausal symptoms, seasonal affective disorder, and scars.
Mount Sinai says you should talk to your doctor before taking Saint-John’s-wort, especially if you’re taking medications.
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