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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lawrence S. on February 4, 2003, at 2:38:10
I'm running out of options and was wondering if St. Johns wort should be given a try. I have situational deppresion along with SP and obssesive thoughts. I'm getting some releif with fish oil. I cant tolerate ssri side effects. I'm affraid to go back on nardil. Please help!
Posted by Alara on February 4, 2003, at 3:25:14
In reply to How effective is St. Johns wort for anxiety?, posted by Lawrence S. on February 4, 2003, at 2:38:10
> I'm running out of options and was wondering if St. Johns wort should be given a try. I have situational deppresion along with SP and obssesive thoughts. I'm getting some releif with fish oil. I cant tolerate ssri side effects. I'm affraid to go back on nardil. Please help!
Lawrence, I think it depends on your life sitution and the extent of your anxiety. When I was working from home, St Johns Wort made a noticeable improvement to both my depression and anxiety. I did not even need to take the Xanax that my doctor had prescribed for me. However, now that I am working full-time in a high pressure environment, St John's Wort is not potent enough for me. (I now take 20mg Celexa and 0.5-1mg Xanax daily.)
Give it a try. St John's Wort may be all that you need - and it does make a significant difference.
Let us know how you go!
Posted by linkadge on February 4, 2003, at 7:04:39
In reply to Re: How effective is St. Johns wort for anxiety? » Lawrence S., posted by Alara on February 4, 2003, at 3:25:14
I found it very effective for social anxiety.
After not wanting to talk to anyone for months
I finally began to talk to people.It is a very broad spectrum agent. Raising all three of the main neurotransmitters while also
incresing gaba among other things.I found it worked but just wasn't potent enough.
You way want to try the LI 160 or whatever it is.
(the standardized extract).If they could make a synthetic version then we'd have something excellent.
Linkadge
Posted by lostsailor on February 5, 2003, at 10:33:42
In reply to Re: How effective is St. Johns wort for anxiety?, posted by linkadge on February 4, 2003, at 7:04:39
When I first asked my pdoc a few years ago about trying SJW, he looked at my chart realized/knew I have slight hpertension and said that he "thought" , while admiting the best he can do is keep abrest of homepathy, that this side effect ruled it out for me. Anyone elses?
Posted by ZeeZee on February 5, 2003, at 15:49:40
In reply to Re: How effective is St. Johns wort for anxiety?, posted by lostsailor on February 5, 2003, at 10:33:42
SJW helped me maintain for 4 years, the correction to my brain, that 5 prior years of MAOI use had accomplished. My dx is panic/agoraphobia. I revisited its use a few months ago and noticed improvement at the 6 wk mark taking 1200 - 1800 or 5-6 pills a day. However a couple of months later I found it wasn't effective enough for this powerful disorder and am now trying out a SSRI. I too have hypertension, a result of living with an anxious brain and body all my life. I did have to increase my blood pressure med's to compensate. There would be a modest increase within a hour or so after taking. I have a home monitor which I recommend you get if you plan on using SJW. It's worth a try especially if it's combined with CBT.
The only side effect I can speak of is increased sleep, which felt absolutely delicious! and No, you don't have to worry about dietary restrictions, it is not a MAOI.
Good Luck
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