St. John's Wort

[Pebbbles]

Anyone currently taking this, and if so, is it effective for you? I started it a few days ago and am hoping for some good results as I have been feeling pretty blue for over 3 months now.

[ttdriver]

I tried it for about a month. No real difference that I can tell, but in all fairness, I was so depressed, it would have taken ALOT to pull me out of it.

I now take Effexor XR AD and its made a world of difference. I am a new person again! No side effects other than appetite suppression which ain't all bad! :icondance

Hope you can get the relief you need! Depression is no fun!

:hug

Betty

[shelbyquinn03079]

I don't take in now but I have in the past. I run a little anxious and "moody" normally but not so bad until my period comes. During PMS times it can get pretty bad. While I was taking it I do remember getting through my whole cycle pretty calmly. Warning.... I stopped becaue I read several reports saying it can effect Birth Control Pills.

[Desertthorn]

I have taken it in the past for those blue days one gets, and it seems to work for me, but I know that its not suppose to me mixed with other medications and if its something that you would like to try, I would suggest talking with your MD about it first, expecially if your on other anti-depression mediation.

[da Walnut]

Hi Pebbs,

Like Lynne said, while it's an herb, herbs are also medications. And you really might want to talk to your doc before adding it if you're on meds already, for anything.

That said, I've heard of good results from it. And I hope it works for you.

:hug

Wen

[Pebbbles]

Thanks guys. I am not on any other meds at this time, so I may give it a go. Thx!

[ttdriver]

I think I recall reading that it can take several months to be effective, so be patient ...

Best wishes, I hope it helps!

Betty

[Peterlock]

Hi Pebbles, :wave

I would really caution you against St. Johns Wort. Based on my own experience with it and the facts surrounding both your mood for the past three months and pros and cons for St.Johns Wort.

Your absolute best bet is to make an appointment with a Psychiatrist...as in immediately so you can get yourself in for an evaluation.

The main problem with St Johns Wort is two fold:

1) There is no guarantee of quality or dosage you need to reach and maintain specific levels of drugs with anti depressive properties and they have to be achieved with lightening, pin point accuracy. This is for obvious reasons impossible for St. Johns Wort to accomplish in tea form or capsule Also remember ST. Johns Wort is a "supplement" supplement manufacturers don't answer to anyone and the quality between brands is significant.

2) St Johns Wort has MAOI related properties MAOI drugs unlike SSRI meds like Prozac or Lexapro or the other 50 billion of them work on very specific reuptake inhibitors in the brain, you'll have side effects but you to watch your diet one bit

MAOI medications although often successful work on every reuptake inhibitor and you have to be very careful of what you eat, hard cheeses, anything cured or pickled and caffeine can make you gravely ill - and for people on MAOI medications they can be fatal.


Claims from Europe and Canada that St Johns Wort helps ease mild depressive feelings exist but there isn't one shred of clinical evidence that supports it's use as an Anti Depressant. As a temporary "lift" for people having a depressive episode (two weeks or less) it may be an on option, as would the supplement SAMe

But three months isn't a depressive episode it's a sign of progressive depression. So please, get yourself to a Dr, and get a handle on what your options are before you being self prescribing with over the counter remedies. Deal?

Peter ha

[loonatika]

wow didn't realize st johns wort had MAOI properties. I actually thought it was like the SSRI's. Kind of scary as there are a lot of meds that are affected by MAOI's.

Pebs - I'd go see a doc babe, you shouldn't have to put up with depression :hug

[ttdriver]

Yes, I agree; see a doctor! Oh man, I was so miserable from depression for MONTHS last year and finally saw a doctor in Dec .. he prescribed Effexor XR which has turned my entire life around! I feel great now!

Life can be good with the right anti-depressant! Effexor XR is also an appetite suppressant, so you need not worry about weight gain.

Betty

[ana]

Life can be good with the right anti-depressant! Effexor XR is also an appetite suppressant, so you need not worry about weight gain.

Betty

I was taking prozac a few yrs ago and it made me gain sooo much weight. I have been feeling depressed for sometime now but have avoided going to the doctor because I didn't want more prozac and I can't take wellbutrin, because of a history of seizures.
can you give a little more info about effexor such as side effects and so on I would be interested in finding something else to take. :nod

[2big4mysize]

you might want to talk with your doc about SAD if your blues are winter related bright light is the cure for that. depression in generakl they are now finding responds with more serotonin production from the stimulation the bright light gives the pinal glands.

St Johns wort has also been shown to have no effect on moderate to sever depression so before you dose with it see your doc.

There are other medical conditions like low thyroid and anemia thqt cause depression like symptoms too.

Hope you are better soon.

[Pebbbles]

Way too late3 in responding, but thanks Peter for your info on St. John's Wort. I had no idea it was related to the MAOI's. And it makes perfect sense regarding doseage, quality and reliability, as we all know that supplements are not regulated.

Thx again! I decided not to take it because of these reasons. I went back on Zoloft and am feeling much better :joy

[2big4mysize]

glad you are feeling better,

Happy low carbing

[Peterlock]

Hi Pebbles! :wave

I'm so glad you're feeling better!

I know many folks who do so well on Zoloft I think it's great you're one of them.

Peter ha