St. John’s wort

St. John’s wort is used to treat depression. Can interact with many medications. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take to ensure they do not interact with St. John’s wort.

St. John’s wort Overview

Reviewed: June 18, 2014
Updated: 

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a plant.

St. John’s wort is used most often for depression.

St. John’s wort may prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing certain chemical messengers, including dopamine and serotonin. Scientists have found that these naturally occurring chemicals are involved in regulating mood.

Common side effects of St. John’s wort include upset stomach and sensitivity to sunlight.

St. John’s wort Cautionary Labels

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Uses

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St. John’s wort is used most often for depression.

St. John’s wort has not been proven effective for all of the uses listed above. St. John’s wort may be used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of St. John’s wort

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Common side effects of St. John’s wort include the following:

  • upset stomach
  • sensitivity to sunlight

St. John’s wort is a stimulant and may worsen feelings of anxiety in some people.

This is not a complete list of St. John’s wort side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

St. John’s wort Interactions

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Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • Antidepressants
  • Birth control pills
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune)
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin)
  • Some HIV drugs including indinavir (Crixivan)
  • Some cancer medications including irinotecan (Camptosar)
  • Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and similar medications used to thin the blood

This is not a complete list of St. John’s wort drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

St. John’s wort Precautions

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Special precautions & warnings:

  • Serotonin syndrome. Combining St. John’s wort and certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase in serotonin levels. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome.
    • tremor
    • diarrhea
    • confusion
    • muscle stiffness
    • drop in body temperature
  • Psychosis. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any changes in mood.
  • Possible Drug Interactions. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

St. John’s wort is not a proven therapy for depression. Do not use St. John’s wort to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing your doctor. Consult a doctor if you or someone you know may be depressed.

Dietary supplements such as St. John’s wort can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if used in large amounts, and some may interact with medications you take. Talk to your doctor before you take St. John’s wort.

Many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. There is minimal safety information on St. John’s wort in pregnant women or children. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing or are considering giving a dietary supplement to a child.