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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
I have just come off Zoloft after two years..... but felt a bit vulnerable without some sort of support. I tried half a tablet a day of St. Johns Wort for nearly two weeks, and was prepared to build up the dose gradually, however I found they seem to cause DIZZINESS !!......... the day I stopped taking them, the dizziness left.
Has anyone experienced side-effects from using it ?
Posted by Sulpicia on June 18, 2001, at 22:05:43
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
> I have just come off Zoloft after two years..... but felt a bit vulnerable without some sort of support. I tried half a tablet a day of St. Johns Wort for nearly two weeks, and was prepared to build up the dose gradually, however I found they seem to cause DIZZINESS !!......... the day I stopped taking them, the dizziness left.
>
> Has anyone experienced side-effects from using it ?Here are some of the side effects:
Herbal experts have warned for some time that combining St. John's wort with
drugs in the Prozac family (SSRIs) might raise serotonin too much and cause a
number of serious problems. Recently, case reports of such events have begun
to trickle in.47,48,49 This is a potentially serious risk. Do not combine St. John's
wort with prescription antidepressants except on the specific advice of a
physician. Since some antidepressants, such as Prozac, linger in the blood for
quite some time, you also need to exercise caution when switching from a drug
to St. John's wort. (See Transitioning from Medications to St. John's Wort.)The antimigraine drug sumatriptan (Imitrex) and the pain-killing drug tramadol
also raise serotonin levels and might interact similarly with St. John's wort.50,51Perhaps the biggest concern with St. John's wort is the possibility that it may
decrease the effectiveness of various medications, including protease inhibitors
(for HIV infection), cyclosporine (for organ transplants), digoxin (for heart
disease), warfarin (a blood thinner), chemotherapy drugs, oral contraceptives,
olanzapine or clozapine (for schizophrenia), and theophylline (for asthma).52–62
Furthermore, if you are taking St. John's wort and one of these medications at
the same time and then stop taking the herb, blood levels of the drug may rise.
This rise in drug level could be dangerous in certain circumstances.These interactions could lead to catastrophic consequences. Indeed, St. John's
wort appears to have caused several cases of heart, kidney, and liver transplant
rejection by interfering with the action of cyclosporine. Also, many people with
HIV take St. John's wort in the false belief that the herb will fight the AIDS virus.
The unintended result may be to reduce the potency of standard AIDS drugs. In
addition, the herb might decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives,
presenting a risk of pregnancy.63The bottom line: We recommend that individuals taking any critical medication
should avoid using St. John's wort until more is known.It is probably advisable on general principles to discontinue all herbs and
supplements prior to surgery and anesthesia, due to the possibility of
unpredictable interactions. However, there does not appear to be any specific
foundation to publicized claims that St. John's wort interacts with anesthetic
drugs.
The site [www.tNp.com] recommends getting all prescription ad meds out of your system.
Read the full discussion for more info.
feel better soon,
S.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 19, 2001, at 4:31:05
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
PsychoSomatics Volume 61(5)September/October 1999 p 712 "Dietary Supplements and Natural Products as Psychotherapeutic Agents":
Side effects reported for SJW are generally mild. Gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue have been reported (7). The most predictable effect seems to be photosensitization, especially in fair-skinned people. First noted in light-skinned cows that grazed in pastures in which SJW grew, photosensitization has been demonstrated in a controlled clinical trial involving hypericin and exposure to metered doses of UVA and UVB irradiation (13). Using LI 160, a standardized extract from Lichtwer Pharma (Berlin, Germany), these authors found a measurable increase in erythema in light-sensitive volunteers exposed to UVA irradiation after receiving 600 mg of SJW three times daily for 15 days. This effect has also been seen in humans taking high doses of synthetic hypericin (14). Photosensitization is generally mild and transient, disappearing within a few days of drug discontinuation. Although this effect is usually associated with higher than recommended doses of hypericum, it can occur at lower doses and generally appears on the package labeling as a precaution. No other adverse effects were observed in the high-dose studies.
Animal studies indicate low toxicity for SJW. Rats fed SJW as 5% of their diet for 119 days experienced no adverse effects on the liver or any significant tissue lesions (19). Hepatic enzymes were induced, an effect that could theoretically increase metabolism and decrease bioavailability of drugs metabolized by those hepatic enzymes.
In chronic toxicity studies in rats and dogs, only nonspecific symptoms of toxicity were seen, including reduced body weight, slight pathological changes in liver and kidneys (most likely due to increased metabolic load), and some histopathologic changes in the adrenal glands (20). No effects on fertility or reproduction were observed. No mutagenic potential was evident. Long-term ([almost equal to]2 years) carcinogenicity studies were recently completed, but the results have not been reported.
Posted by dana on June 19, 2001, at 11:23:31
In reply to Re: ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 19, 2001, at 9:59:12
> Thank you to everyone who responded.....
Posted by gilbert on June 19, 2001, at 15:38:32
In reply to THANK YOU !, posted by dana on June 19, 2001, at 11:23:31
Dana
And then there is the consistency problem...as much as I rip on the pharmaceutical companies at least they make sure they put out consistent products at right dosages. St Johns Wort purity is under suspicion depending on what brand you bought. You may be having a reaction to a filler product in a substandard product. There is recommended brand names on this board if you a search of St Johns Wort.
Good Luck
Gil
Posted by dude on June 19, 2001, at 18:54:24
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
Hi Dana,
I tried St. Johns Wort for 3 weeks, but then I
quit because I have to take antibiotics often
and SJW may reduce the ammount of antibiotics
in your blood stream. But let me tell you about
my experience. SJW definetly has less side
effects than most perscription ADs, but it is
not like a sugar pill. When I took it, I could
only sleep about 6 hours a night, I felt somewhat
fatigued during the day, I had a little increased
anxiety, a little dizziness, and I had VERY vivid
dreams. But I have high anxiety and am therefore
very sensitive to medication, so you could
very well have little if no side effects. Also,
like with other ADs, I bet that the side effects
will diminish with time.The good news: no sexual side effects;
it possibly even increased my libido!Check out the web site: www.sjwinfo.org. It has
a message board with other users and some good
information.Good luck!
dude
> I have just come off Zoloft after two years..... but felt a bit vulnerable without some sort of support. I tried half a tablet a day of St. Johns Wort for nearly two weeks, and was prepared to build up the dose gradually, however I found they seem to cause DIZZINESS !!......... the day I stopped taking them, the dizziness left.
>
> Has anyone experienced side-effects from using it ?
Posted by Sunnely on June 19, 2001, at 21:05:31
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
Hi Dana,
As mentioned in the previous posts, St. John's Wort (SJW) or Hypericum perforatum, can interact with other serotonin-boosting drugs (e.g., the MAOIs, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Serzone, the "triptans" for migraines, etc.) possibly causing "serotonin syndrome."
SJW can also induce the metabolism of certain drugs (via CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 induction) leading to their loss of effectiveness. Some of the serious drug-drug interactions with SJW are exemplified by:
1. SJW may increase the metabolism of oral contraceptives leading to decrease oral contraceptive blood concentrations, causing breakthrough bleeding, irregular menstrual bleeding and unwanted pregnancy;
2. SJW may increase the metabolism of cyclosporine leading decrease blood levels causing organ transplant rejection.
3. SJW might reduce the blood levels of digoxin (Lanoxin) leading to heart failure.
4. SJW might decrease the therapeutic effects of warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner, leading to thromboembolic complications.
5. SJW might reduce the blood levels of protease inhibitors (drugs for HIV) leading to development of viral resistance and treatment failure.
The following is a list of known and reported adverse reactions from the use of SJW:
1. Insomnia, vivid dreams, restlessness, anxiety, agitation, irritability, gastrointestinal discomfort, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, paresthesias (e.g., numbness or tingling sensation), delayed hypersensitivity, induces hypomania or mania. In one report, insomnia was the most common side effect. In some cases, insomnia was alleviated by decreasing the dose or taking SJW in the morning.
2. Colic, drowsiness, and lethargy have been reported in breast-fed infants whose mothers used SJW while breast feeding.
3. SJW has been associated with reports of intermenstrual bleeding and one report of changed menstrual bleeding. Most of the women in these reports were taking an oral contraceptive and the changes in menstrual bleeding may be the result of a drug interaction.
4. Photodermatitis (skin rash from exposure to sunlight) and photosensitivity (skin senstivity) reported with use of SJW. Light or fair-skinned people should employ protective measures against direct sunlight when using SJW. Neuropathy after sun exposure has been reported.
5. There is some indication that SJW may be associated with a higher incidence of cataracts. The hypericin constituent is photoactive and, in the presence of light, may damage lens proteins, lealding to cataracts; however, studies evaluating this association are not available.
6. Some evidence suggests that high doses of SJW might reduce male and female fertility, but this effect has not been demonstrated in humans.
7. SJW might lead to withdrawal effects similar to those found with conventional antidepressants, including headache, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, paresthesias, confusion, and fatigue. In one report, withdrawal effects were most likely to occur within 2 days after discontinuation, but in some cases didn't occur for more than 1 week after stopping treatment. Occurrence of withdrawal symptoms did not appear to relate to dose or duration of use.
8. Finally, a case of hair loss due to SJW also reported.
***********************************
> I have just come off Zoloft after two years..... but felt a bit vulnerable without some sort of support. I tried half a tablet a day of St. Johns Wort for nearly two weeks, and was prepared to build up the dose gradually, however I found they seem to cause DIZZINESS !!......... the day I stopped taking them, the dizziness left.
>
> Has anyone experienced side-effects from using it ?
Posted by Jean Paul on June 20, 2001, at 2:09:29
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
I used to have good results from SJW with few side effects: a bit of drawsiness specially. It is useful when you need to control emotions in difficult times. I do not think on it as a mood brightener; I took SJW for the same purpose rarely take benzodiazepines: combat circumstances of (mild) perplexity. It was better for me than clonazepam, which (unlike SJW) depress cognitive functions and atention, but don´t think it may work for severe cases of anxiety (except in very high doses). You should have waited more time: anti-depressant effect was clear for me on the third week and initial side effects disappeared slowly, as with other ADs. It works, but is not the key for everybody´s problems.
> I have just come off Zoloft after two years..... but felt a bit vulnerable without some sort of support. I tried half a tablet a day of St. Johns Wort for nearly two weeks, and was prepared to build up the dose gradually, however I found they seem to cause DIZZINESS !!......... the day I stopped taking them, the dizziness left.
>
> Has anyone experienced side-effects from using it ?
Posted by blackjack on June 21, 2001, at 9:49:24
In reply to ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by dana on June 18, 2001, at 19:24:06
SJW gave my orthostatic hypotension ("head rush" dizzyness when standing) worse than even Parnate, which is notorious for that side-effect. It was bad enough that on more than one occasion, I would get up quickly to answer the phone, then find myself regaing consciousness on the kitchen floor with phine in hand and a very concerned person ont the other end of the line...
Your milage may vary. I don't think most people have this problem.
Posted by CraigF on June 25, 2001, at 21:44:25
In reply to Re: ST JOHNS WORT SIDE EFFECTS, posted by blackjack on June 21, 2001, at 9:49:24
I had that problem with dizzyness. I nearly fell off an escalator once and found I couldn't exercise (cardio, at least).
My appetite all but disappeared also. It was a shame because it seemed to help with my social phobia and with depressive episodes. Not much for general dysthymia/anhedonia.
This is the end of the thread.
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