St John’s Wort

[LittleJem]

Who has tried St John's Wort?

Last time I tried it, it reduced my suicidal thoughts but made me very nervy and agitated, which I didn't like. But I didn't necessarily give it enough time or do the dosing protocol properly. The other thing I am scared of is anhedonia. I had a horrendous hour of it the other day. I think it's worse than the depression. It was kind of a new thing, and I'd just started St JW again.

But side effect wise for me SJW is the best option and maybe I should bravely try the dosing regime again? (Psych prescribed me seroquel which cause weight gain and diabetes. I just don't want to take it).

 

[AvaAdore]

I tried it one time years ago. I didn't notice any difference but maybe it wasn't a good supplement company. One thing I don't like about it is that it makes you sensitive to the sun.

 

[LittleJem]

I'm scared of it making me manic. I haven't been manic before, but I did feel quite wired on it. I also - the anhedonia was so horrible. I wouldn't want to experience it again.

But I don't think it causes permanent side effects. Maybe I need to find some Facebook groups on the topic and ask more questions! My GP refused to even discuss it. But in Germany they prescribe it!!!!

 

[Chupacabra 44]

Be careful with st. John's Wort if you are on other psychiatric medications. I'm not positive but I think it is contraindicated if you're on an SSRI. I believe there could be chance of having serotonin syndrome.

Also, one needs to be careful to buy a quality product. Not all st. John's Wort has the amount of active ingredient necessary to potentially obtain benefit.

I haven't researched St John's Wort in 10 years but I think that only the leaf and bud is the active substance, and the stems are inactive, but don't quote me on that last part. My recollection is the cheaper products are filled with stems which then turn the product into something that's worthless.

You can research to find out what the active substance is and then look for that quantity listed on any bottle of st. John's Wort. I think it has to have 3% of the active substance to be perceived as beneficial, but a 2-minute Google search will tell you exactly what you need.

 

[LittleJem]

Be careful with st. John's Wort if you are on other psychiatric medications. I'm not positive but I think it is contraindicated if you're on an SSRI. I believe there could be chance of having serotonin syndrome.

Also, one needs to be careful to buy a quality product. Not all st. John's Wort has the amount of active ingredient necessary to potentially obtain benefit.

I haven't researched St John's Wort in 10 years but I think that only the leaf and bud is the active substance, and the stems are inactive, but don't quote me on that last part. My recollection is the cheaper products are filled with stems which then turn the product into something that's worthless.

You can research to find out what the active substance is and then look for that quantity listed on any bottle of st. John's Wort. I think it has to have 3% of the active substance to be perceived as beneficial, but a 2-minute Google search will tell you exactly what you need.

Quite right - thank you. I'm not on an SRRI - becasue the one I tried was a chocolate teapot for me! But thank you for the safety tips... When I tried the SJW it was better for me than the SSRI, though I am not saying that is true for everyone. I think both SSRIs and SJW can trigger mania - so they have that in common. That is my nervousness about using it - as it made me feel wired last time. But I am in a better place now than I was then (thanks to the crazy LSD dose) so maybe it would be different this time round!

 

[Megadeth]

Sorry im a bit uneducated, can someone inform me what st johns wort is?

 

[MyStateKilledMe]

I tried it. It was as effective as eating blades of grass growing along roads. In other words, don't bother. Nature doesn't want you feeling happy.