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Has anyone tried St Johns Wort for low mood?

46 replies

Canistaysane · 26/08/2011 18:09

Just been to see GP today and he suggested st Johns Wart for low mood.
Has anyone tried it before?
If so how was it? is there any side effects to worry about?
I notice on the box it says not to take if depressed. My doctor said there is a fine line between being fed up and depressed. Now I'm a little Confused.
can anyone help?

OP posts:
MrsFlittersnoop · 29/08/2011 16:50

I have taken SJW intermittently to combat mild depression for about 15 years and have never suffered any adverse effects. I take the Kira one a day tablets - easier than remembering to take a lower dose of a cheaper brand x 3 daily.

When I start taking it I notice a difference within 3 days - there is a very definate "chemical" lift to my mood, like ADs but milder. I can be a bit hyper (talking far too much Blush) for a week or so, with mild insomnia, but these side effects wear off very quickly.

I generally only notice the effects when I DON'T take it IYSWIM. I forgot to take some with me on holiday this year, and after a week I started to feel very "flat" , apathetic and miserable. It took me a while to work out what was wrong!
I also didn't take SJW for a while last winter when I had a very bad dose of swine flu, and ran out of tablets. After a few weeks I was a wreck (I have SAD as well) so now I'm very careful to take it every day.

TimeForMeIsFree · 29/08/2011 16:51

madmouse I'm genuinely interested in why you are concerned at people taking 5HTP. Smile I've never had any problems with it and found it to me more effective than St Johns Wort. I suppose what suits one person won't suit another. I became more wary of St Johns Wort following the media reports that it may be harmful to health and should be taken with caution.

Anyway, since leaving my ex I am on a natural high and no longer need either supplement Grin

madmouse · 29/08/2011 17:00

Here's a quick one from wikipedia - you will find more when you search:

''Because 5-HTP has not been thoroughly studied in a clinical setting, possible side effects and interactions with other drugs are not well known.

Administered serotonin has been shown to increase the risk of heart valve disease in animals.[19][20] 5-HTP has not been subjected to this test. Oral 5-HTP results in an increase in urinary 5-HIAA, a serotonin metabolite, indicating that 5-HTP is peripherally metabolized to serotonin, which is then metabolized. This might cause a false positive test in tests looking for carcinoid syndrome.[21]

5-HTP can cause hypertension by increasing plasma renin activity, when not co-administered with a peripheral aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, such as carbidopa or benserazide.[22]

Direct and indirect evidence for possible yet unproven risks and side effects associated with 5-HTP when overdosed:

* Heart valve damage or disease (cardiac fibrosis).[19][20]
* When combined with MAOIs or SSRIs, 5-HTP can cause acute serotonin syndrome.[23][24]
* When combined with carbidopa (as a treatment for symptoms of Parkinson's disease), 5-HTP causes nausea and vomiting; however this can be alleviated via administration of granisetron.[25] As mentioned above under pharmacology, cases of scleroderma-like illness have been reported in patients using carbidopa and 5-HTP.[26]

5-HTP may cause eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, a serious condition which results in extreme muscle tenderness, myalgia, and blood abnormalities. Some think this could be caused by a contaminant in most 5-HTP products.[27]''

Interestingly enough the reason why you know more about St Johnswort and its side effect is because it has been properly tested in a clinical setting (it is prescribed by doctors in Germany and other countries, including to children, although not for severe cases)

TimeForMeIsFree · 29/08/2011 18:05

Good heavens! I have never read anything like that before, it's always been positive info that I've found. Even forums of people using it. Shock It seems wrong that it can be bought so easily as a supplement when it obviously hasn't been tested so thoroughly.

Thank you for that madmouse. I certainly won't be recommending it again!

notcitrus · 29/08/2011 19:35

I noticed today that Lidl now sell SJW for only £1.50, if anyone wants to try it.

I was a bit Hmm that the only warning on the pot was to consult your doctor if taking any prescribed medication - what about unprescribed meds like other herbal remedies???

Personally, given the risks of 5-HTP are still unproven, I'd consider it if not taking carbidopa and if I didn't have any of the conditions mentioned.

madmouse · 29/08/2011 20:10

notcitrus - I've used St J from Tesco for the same price - was fine. Equally annoyed at lack of info, although this is common also in for example H&B products.

I'm quite happy for you (as if you need my permission! But that's not how I mean it) to take 5HTP as you have obviously not, like many people, decided that if you can buy it in a health food shop it must be safe/natural/innocent. It's my concern that some people google anxiety, come across a name and decide to take it. Recently someone on here said she planned to take skullcap for anxiety, had anyone else tried it Shock

Canistaysane · 29/08/2011 20:13

Hi all, I'm on day two of St Johns wort( missed one day out, I must have been too busy or something) All ok so far.
It's been interesting to hear all about 5HTP. I had never heard of it before but sounds like one to avoid.
Not so sure about that Lidl one for £1.50. I got mine at boots, cost around £11.00. I was quite shocked at how dear it is. In one shop it was £15.Shock

OP posts:
madmouse · 29/08/2011 20:26

canIstaysane I've used both cheap stuff form Tesco and the one you have from Boots. Switched to Boots as they are easy to swallow and I have issues with that. Noticed no difference in effect.

orangeflutie · 29/08/2011 20:58

Thanks for the info madmouse.

Interesting facts about 5HTP, I googled it and don't think I would risk taking it. Might be a case of 'out of the frying pan into the fire'.

Also interesting how SJW varies so much in price. I'll ask my doctor when I next see her for her opinion on SJW.

kizzie · 30/08/2011 15:11

I had a similar experience as notcitrus with SJW. Tried it twice a couple of years apart. (The proper brand from Boots) Both times started to feel very disorientated and shaky after a couple of days with palpitations and blurred vision.

Good thing is tho that this went away relatively quickly once I stopped taking it - didnt have any long term effects.

Gillyan · 30/08/2011 16:30

Yes I've been taking it for a while now, seems to be working. I have been on Citalipram and Mirtazapine in the past for depression and axiety but was fed up if awful side effects. I'm finding exercising and the St Johns wart good

Canistaysane · 30/08/2011 16:48

Is it o.k. to take it if you are really tired? I've been up since 4.00am and am tired now. I still have to cook the dinner. didn't know if I should just miss out todays tablet. Is it o.k. to miss days here and there?

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Canistaysane · 30/08/2011 16:49

It's just I've heard it can make you feel sleepy.

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madmouse · 30/08/2011 17:03

It doesn't make you sleepy immediately - it's not an instantly working tablet like diazepam or a sleeping tablet. If you are tired and it is caused by StJ missing a tablet won't make you less tired, it will just mean it takes longer before you are used to it. You have to keep taking it daily at the same time and give it a few weeks.

Canistaysane · 31/08/2011 08:14

Hi, feeling quite Low this morning but probably my own fault as I missed out yesterdays tablet! Also had a disturbed night with dd. It's also the thought of another week with both dc home before school starts. It feels like it's been a real struggle this summer hols, don't know if it's just the age they are at.
We also have water pressure problems at home to so we can't shower or bath.
So I feel pretty disgusting!
Someone come and talk some sense to me please.

OP posts:
madmouse · 31/08/2011 08:19

CanI if you want to give this StJ a go you really need to start taking them daily at the same time as I said in my previous post. It is not a paracetamol you take when you have a headache. It will over time slightly raise the serotonin levels in your body which will make you feel a bit better. But for that to happen you need to take it regularly like you would blood pressure medication for example.

Canistaysane · 31/08/2011 08:28

O.k. Thanks madmouse, you always seem to have good advice. (hope you don't mind me saying that). I will have one when I'm a little more awake.

OP posts:
Katieswimmer · 17/07/2012 11:38

I know this is an old thread but am considering trying SJW. Can anyone above who'd just started taking it let me know how they got on?

ellieggggggg · 17/09/2012 17:01

It says not to use if you have peanut allergy even though there's no nuts in the ingredients so maybe it was made in a nut environment - is anyone having any allergic reactions?

didldidi · 17/09/2012 17:07

Has anyone had any problems with 5HTP stopping being effective? I was really impressed how much it improved my mood but the effects wore off after about three months and now I take it intermittently instead.

Clairemp38 · 06/10/2021 08:36

What strength did you get?

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