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Mental health

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Original poster

taking st johns wort

12 replies

noma · 09/02/2009 10:10

Ive been taken st johns wort for two months now and i know you cant take it for ever you have to have a break but the doctor dosent know even though they except that it works, can any mumsnetters advise.

OP posts:

MaryBSnowing · 10/02/2009 07:16

Sorry, don't know the answer, but thought it was worth bumping.

I don't think taking it for 2 months is considered long. For many people it takes a month or more before it starts to work.

I'd be interested to know how long is "long" though.

Original poster

noma · 14/02/2009 14:25

Thanks for bumping still hope someone knows the answer, im taking it for anxiety and panic attacks and it really helps to take the fear away but i know i cannot take it forever.

OP posts:

TimeForMe · 14/02/2009 15:08

I used to take St Johns Wort and would take it for up to 6 months as a time, have a break of about 8 weeks and then start taking it again and I was absolutely fine.

I now take a supplement called 5HTP when I am feeling 'the need'. I find it to be more effective than the St Johns Wort so, if ever you find the St John's isn't having the desired effect then I can highly recommend it if you want to give it a go

PS You can actually take the 5HTP and the St Johns as a combined pill so rather than be without anything at all when you are having a break from the St Johns you could take the 5HTP. HTH

Original poster

noma · 17/02/2009 21:16

Thanks for that information timeforme i will consider that.

OP posts:

cornsilk · 17/02/2009 21:17

Why haven't you spoken to the doctor about it?

LoveMyLapTop · 17/02/2009 21:21

I took it for 4 months and it made no difference to me.
Am still grumpy

MegSophandEmma · 17/02/2009 21:23

Am also taking 5htp. Only started yesteray so not sure what to say about it yet but I did my research beforehand and it does appear to have better reults than SJW.

Here is a forum discussions on both.

""---- www.sjwinfo.org/forum/"

MaryBSnowing · 17/02/2009 21:23

Just a thought, but I gather StJW in Germany is MUCH more widely used by Drs. Maybe worth asking those people on here who live in Germany?

MegSophandEmma · 17/02/2009 21:24

Scuse spelling, am soooo tired.

Original poster

noma · 17/02/2009 21:24

cornsilk i have spoken to my doctor she put me on antidepressents which didnt suit me , so i have been taking sjw she said that was ok and see how it goes .

OP posts:

cornsilk · 17/02/2009 21:25

Oh okay- sorry I misunderstood your op.

rachels103 · 17/02/2009 21:29

My dh has taken St John's Wort on and off since I've known him and it makes a huge difference to him - he's now at the stage of giving it a blitz for a couple of months when he needs it but has had quite long spells on it.
Make sure you read up on the right concentration to take as a lot of the products available in Boots etc aren't strong enough. It does take a good few weeks to get into the system fully and have an effect.

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