Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 6650

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

St. John's Wart question

Posted by CindyM on May 27, 1999, at 8:33:55

I have been off my medication for about one month now and am having a hard time coping with anything. My next doctors appt. isn't for 2 weeks (I still haven't seen her since going off the effexor). I have heard some take St. Johns Wart and it helps. Has anyone tried this? Exactly what does it do? Does it really help and are there any side effects? I am kinda chicken to try any other anti-depressants now because I don't want to deal with all the side effects and then withdawls of it. I feel like my own guinne pig! Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

Re: St. John's Wart question

Posted by JD on May 27, 1999, at 10:45:18

In reply to St. John's Wart question, posted by CindyM on May 27, 1999, at 8:33:55

Hi Cyndy,

My personal experience is that St. John's is as much an antidepressant as many prescription meds on the market. While it doesn't seem to have too many side-effects, its reputation as an "herbal remedy" may only confuse matters--it's a drug that happens to come from a plant...or more precisely, a bunch of drugs since there's so many different substances in it. Since it effects both serotonin and norepinephrine among other things, one might even compare to Effexor in some ways, though it's gentler and not as stimulating for most people.

I've often wondered about the advisability of suggesting SJW to people like you who are "between doctors" or in a similar tough situation. Ultimately, I'm not sure where I come down on it so I won't make a blanket recommendation. A few things to keep in mind if you do try it though:

(1) It's very unregulated in the U.S., so the trick is to go with a reputable brand that clearly indicates a standardized hypericin content. I also believe that one should start with smaller than suggested doses until you know how well you tolerate it.

(2) Be aware that SJW builds up in the body and hangs around for a long time after your last dose--up to one or two weeks, I believe. (It's a bit like Prozac in this respect.) This might make things a bit tricky if your doctor want's to start you on a new med later--to be safe, you might have to wait a good while to flush the SJW out of your system before starting the new one. (MAOIs are totally unsafe with SJW, and even SSRIs could cause a serotonin syndrome if started too quickly I think...)

Ultimately, you'll have to go with your own judgment, but it's definitely something that can help certain people if taken correctly.
Best,
JD


> I have been off my medication for about one month now and am having a hard time coping with anything. My next doctors appt. isn't for 2 weeks (I still haven't seen her since going off the effexor). I have heard some take St. Johns Wart and it helps. Has anyone tried this? Exactly what does it do? Does it really help and are there any side effects? I am kinda chicken to try any other anti-depressants now because I don't want to deal with all the side effects and then withdawls of it. I feel like my own guinne pig! Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

Re: St. John's Wart question

Posted by saintjames on May 27, 1999, at 15:38:47

In reply to St. John's Wart question, posted by CindyM on May 27, 1999, at 8:33:55

> I have been off my medication for about one month now and am having a hard time coping with anything. My next doctors appt. isn't for 2 weeks (I still haven't seen her since going off the effexor). I have heard some take St. Johns Wart and it helps. Has anyone tried this? Exactly what does it do? Does it really help and are there any side effects? I am kinda chicken to try any other anti-depressants now because I don't want to deal with all the side effects and then withdawls of it. I feel like my own guinne pig! Thanks for any info you can give me.


James here....

SJW is a weak MAOI which can have dangerous reactions with AD's DON"T TAKE IT if you are comming of or going to go back on an AD. Try calling the doc and seeing if he will give you a refill to cover the 2 weeks.

james

 

Re: St. John's Wort question

Posted by Alison on May 28, 1999, at 1:23:40

In reply to Re: St. John's Wart question, posted by saintjames on May 27, 1999, at 15:38:47

Cindy,
I have been taking 200mg Zoloft for a few months and SJW for a little less. I find it gives me that extra boost on top of the meds. Get some advice from a professional (my Pharmacist helped me) as you cannot believe everything you read. One web page told me that it would cause cardiac arrest with the SSRI's others say you can take it safely. Which is right ? I fully trust my Pharmacist as he knows my situation, all the meds that I am on, and how I am doing. He is also a very experienced professional. The one I take is called ELEZAC and is a combination of many components which aid nervous system funtion. I find that I am feeling so much better that I am going to lower the dose of my Zoloft under the supervision of my Dr. and Pharmacist so the bottom line is get some help from a professional that you trust, make your own mind up.
Alison

 

st. john

Posted by paul on June 2, 1999, at 9:44:56

In reply to Re: St. John's Wort question, posted by Alison on May 28, 1999, at 1:23:40

> Cindy,
> I have been taking 200mg Zoloft for a few months and SJW for a little less. I find it gives me that extra boost on top of the meds. Get some advice from a professional (my Pharmacist helped me) as you cannot believe everything you read. One web page told me that it would cause cardiac arrest with the SSRI's others say you can take it safely. Which is right ? I fully trust my Pharmacist as he knows my situation, all the meds that I am on, and how I am doing. He is also a very experienced professional. The one I take is called ELEZAC and is a combination of many components which aid nervous system funtion. I find that I am feeling so much better that I am going to lower the dose of my Zoloft under the supervision of my Dr. and Pharmacist so the bottom line is get some help from a professional that you trust, make your own mind up.
> Alison

 

Re: st. john

Posted by CindyM on June 10, 1999, at 8:54:23

In reply to st. john, posted by paul on June 2, 1999, at 9:44:56

> > Cindy,
> > I have been taking 200mg Zoloft for a few months and SJW for a little less. I find it gives me that extra boost on top of the meds. Get some advice from a professional (my Pharmacist helped me) as you cannot believe everything you read. One web page told me that it would cause cardiac arrest with the SSRI's others say you can take it safely. Which is right ? I fully trust my Pharmacist as he knows my situation, all the meds that I am on, and how I am doing. He is also a very experienced professional. The one I take is called ELEZAC and is a combination of many components which aid nervous system funtion. I find that I am feeling so much better that I am going to lower the dose of my Zoloft under the supervision of my Dr. and Pharmacist so the bottom line is get some help from a professional that you trust, make your own mind up.
> > Alison

Thank you all for your responses. I spoke to my doctor the other night and I am going to start on Wellebutrin. She told me that the St. Johns wart would be okay for mild depression but mine is too severe. So I guess I will see how it goes with this new one.

 

Re: st. john

Posted by Jubee on June 24, 1999, at 9:11:40

In reply to Re: st. john, posted by CindyM on June 10, 1999, at 8:54:23

I tried SJW once for approximately 7 weeks but it didn't work for me and I suffered a serotonin reaction because I began taking Effexor 7 days after stopping the SJW.

SJW is a psychotropic medication (it is the most prescribed antidepressant in Germany) and there are many who have found it to be the med for them. I strongly advise that you use SJW, or any other psychotropic, only while in the care of a psychiatrist who is well trained in psychopharmacology. Psychotropics are powerful drugs and the actions of most are little understood. In my opinion, non-psychiatrists should not be prescribing these types of medications because they have neither the training nor experience required.


> > > Cindy,
> > > I have been taking 200mg Zoloft for a few months and SJW for a little less. I find it gives me that extra boost on top of the meds. Get some advice from a professional (my Pharmacist helped me) as you cannot believe everything you read. One web page told me that it would cause cardiac arrest with the SSRI's others say you can take it safely. Which is right ? I fully trust my Pharmacist as he knows my situation, all the meds that I am on, and how I am doing. He is also a very experienced professional. The one I take is called ELEZAC and is a combination of many components which aid nervous system funtion. I find that I am feeling so much better that I am going to lower the dose of my Zoloft under the supervision of my Dr. and Pharmacist so the bottom line is get some help from a professional that you trust, make your own mind up.
> > > Alison
>
> Thank you all for your responses. I spoke to my doctor the other night and I am going to start on Wellebutrin. She told me that the St. Johns wart would be okay for mild depression but mine is too severe. So I guess I will see how it goes with this new one.


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