What a concern.
Rhode Island pharmacist Ethan Melillo is calling St. 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 they just don’t like you,” 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 potentially harmful types of St. John’s Wort interactions, including antihistamines (may cause the drug to accumulate 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. St. John’s wort may reduce the concentration of blood thinners, cancer chemotherapy, and blood pressure medications.
The team found St. John’s Wort combinations potentially dangerous in 28% of cases reviewed 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 St. John’s Wort products due to drug interaction concerns.
“We want to warn, if you are currently taking this for depression, do not stop this,” Melillo said. “But I want you to talk to your doctor about whether you really should be taking this.”
Mount Sinai notes that St. John’s wort is one of the most widely purchased 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 plant, 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 St. John’s wort especially if you are taking medications.
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