St John’s Wort

[PixieRabbit]

Has anyone taken St John’s wort for depression? If so, did it help you, and what were the side-effects like?

I’ve read it can interact with hormonal contraception. I have a Mirena coil for heavy bleeding. I haven’t made sexy sex (or any other type of sex) in a long time, so accidental pregnancy isn’t a worry, but I don’t want the bleeding to start again. Has anyone experienced any such interactions?

I have lifelong depression. I’ve had a pretty ghastly time on all manner of antidepressants and I just feel like nothing really helps.

Thank you for sharing any thoughts.

My DM swore by it she suffered from mood swings just before she was due on and always took a few drops 2 or three days before she was due to start . I dont know if it worked or was a placebo but as long as she felt better who cares ,
I have know idea if it would interfere with any contraception tho

St John’s wort interacts with hormonal contraceptives reducing the effectiveness and increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/st-john-s-wort-interaction-with-hormonal-contraceptives-including-implants

Following ... I've had bad side effects with all antidepressants and don't think I'll ever be free of depression, so interested to know how others got on with this, what dosage etc and what side effects are, i.e does it affect your libido, sleep, weight?

I take HTP5 from October to March to combat the effects of seasonal affective disorder. I take it in the evening and it helps with sleep. I used to take St John's Wort but the more research was done, the more side effects became known and I sought advice from a homeopathic practitioner who recommended the HTP5.

@cassy
Slightly off thread but have you tried half a mug of orange juice per day for SAD?

Just been through my second winter doing this and helps enormously.

Also completely rid of depression thanks to CBT
(Drinking plenty of 'warm' water , fresh air and walking daily , caffeine free and 3 balanced PROTEIN meals a day , one meal being meat protein.

And none to minimal alcohol as it disturbs my sleep.
Need good quality sleep

Thank you everyone.

I do take 5HTP at night, along with magnesium. I take a bunch of different supplements, which improve things very slightly.

I started CBD cannabis thingy today, which I’m hoping will help my debilitating anxiety.

I have CFS/ME as well so it is very difficult to do anything much.

The St John’s wort is something I’ve been not-quite-buying for years, but I always balk at the hormone thing. It’s jolly expensive too.

JustMyName

Is your depression lifelong too?

Do you feel like you were born with something missing? I do.

FWIW I’m on the waiting list to be assessed for autism spectrum disorder. I’ve never functioned quite right somehow and I don’t feel normal, as in I can’t seem to do life like everyone else does.

It’s so miserable being like this.

Robin2323

What is in orange juice that makes it good for SAD?

I love orange juice but I had to give it up as it’s so sugary and acidic. My poor gnashers are in a real mess.

Oh the other thing is that it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, more likely to burn.

Pixie I'm not sure I've suffered with depression all my life, but certainly for the last 20, some times worse than others. I've always struggled with being with people though, going out, things other people just do. I thought I was just lazy for years and years, but realise it's more than that. I have no motivation to do anything.

CBT is good, I understand the concept, it's just very hard to put into practice.

I feel better if I get outside and walk. I try to do things I enjoy like lots of reading. I'm trying not to beat myself up about things I've done that I wish I hadn't. I tend to talk to myself in my head as if I am a child, "you're doing your best, .... you did what you thought was right ... " if that makes sense.

Gosh can relate so much ti this.

I also felt like something was missing.

I did CBT for self esteem and anxiety over 2 years ago and it totally eradicated my depression

When I feel any inkling of the old back dog coming back I can literally talk myself back to an even keel.

It does take practice / I had 7 sessions- wish I'd done it years ago.

My diet, fresh air and walking certainly help.

But I also practice being genuinely nice to people.

I found that being angry actually made me less depressed but then I would feel so guilty and beat myself up.

So cutting out blame and anger made feel tones better and myself talk would be Similar to pp
'Well done. You handled that really well. See how people warm to you when you tell them a positive story. '

I dropped the guilt 'mostly' for having stuff and 'looking' successful- BUT you have to work at it.

And I felt lazy but as pp said it was lack of motivation in disguise

Re the orange juice - I don't know. Maybe vitamin D which get from sunlight - it works though to a point.
I have half a mug diluted with hot water every day throughout the year in the evening.
I have the no added sugar - clean teeth before bed - all fine.

I didn’t do terribly well with CBT, although I do find myself using it quite a bit, challenging the Hot Thought, you know.

I do tend to beat myself up over the possibility that I’m just “lazy”, but what is worse is that lots of people give me a hard time because they assume I really am lazy. So I really start doubting myself.

Lack of motivation coupled with zero energy makes life really bloody hard. The overwhelming anxiety when trying to force myself to do something or go somewhere, followed by the prolonged time it takes for (lack of) recovery, is a beast.

What doesn’t help is that I “look” ok so there’s even less understanding from family, friends and medical folk.

What was my point though... oh yes, I’ve put a note in my diary for September, to think about getting St John’s wort to take over next autumn and winter. Less chance of sunburn then. Plus my reproductive system might have completely given up by then (it’s been wonky for a very long time).

www.drugs.com/comments/st-john-s-wort/

I’m very slowly reading through this. Not very far down yet, but reviews so far vary from quite good to bloody awful.

@PixieRabbit you sound like me. I could have written your last but one post. It's hard isn't it? I'm struggling to find any help because I come across as ok, but inside I just want someone to take it all away, to help, and no one can.

JustMyName

Yes. I think the best thing to happen for now, would be for me to be able to be reasonably content, and accepted by other people, at my current level of uselessness. That would be huge.

More support in general (instead of well-meaning people being too busy, but telling me in a bullying fashion how to spend my time) would be good. That seems to be a very big ask. What I was offered was very expensive, and not very flexible, and just didn’t seem worth it. God I’m so ungrateful and hard to please.

I’m hoping to get a council flat eventually, something with more light, in a slightly better area than where I am. Patiently building up waiting time for now.

I think I would possibly have a hope in hell of mild improvement if any of these things came about.

I’ve been taking SJW for 5 weeks now. Started to feel better after about 2 weeks. No side effects, I have to say it is helping me feel ‘normal’ rather than constantly on edge/stressed/depressed which is how I was feeling before. I would recommend it, however it is is quite expensive. I buy it from Amazon and take 900mcg a day.

Ooh twiglet123 that is good to know, I’m so glad it’s helping you.

I was looking at Holland and Barrett but the dosages are quite bewildering. What brand(s) be worth looking for on amazon? (I’ve come over all West Country, possibly from reading the combine harvester thread.)

I thought that I'd feel better in a better environment too, then had to move for family reasons and I live in a beautiful place, in a nice little house, but I'm still depressed. I feel so ungrateful. The main problem is it's bleeding me dry financially.

JustMyName

I know what you mean. That’s a shame it’s so expensive for you, how frustrating. Feeling trapped in a place/situation is so stressful.

Wherever I move to would have to be good and cheap, because I’d have to shell out for carpets, curtains, decorating, white goods, etc. Plus the stress of moving would be an absolute nightmare.

I’m under no illusions that anything will cure me. I think it would help a bit to live somewhere that is pleasant and practical, and hopefully has a lifetime tenancy, if that’s still possible these days

Took it a few years ago. I recall it helping me feel better but wish I'd worked up to the recommended dosage more slowly as it started giving me headaches

Oh dear ncqtime was it the headaches that made you stop taking it? I’m glad it helped a bit though.

Today has been so rubbish I think I need to be put into a coma for a few years and then wake up with total amnesia. I wonder if the NHS would be so kind.

Sjw made me suicidal and numb and my skin more sensitive to the sun. Im not normally one affected by possible side effects from medication but this really affected me. 5htp helps my sleep.

I thought i was born depressive then i started looking into complex ptsd and it was like having my eyes opened. Not drinking obviously helps the mood as alcohol is a depressant.

Stabbitha1

That must have been scary. It’s crap when something that’s supposed to help does precisely the opposite! Glad you’re still here!

I wonder about complex PTSD as well myself. Did you have any treatment for it? I’m trying to read a book on it, but my concentration is rubbish. Very slow progress.

I hardly drink any booze, so that’s something.