St. John’s wort is a popular herbal therapy for depression, but a new Australian study highlights the fact that “natural” does not always equal “safe.
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From Medical Express
St. John’s wort: natural does not necessarily mean safe
the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:
According to a study published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, researchers in Australia have found that adverse reactions to St. John's Wort were similar to those reported for fluoxetine.
"It's concerning to see such severe adverse reactions in our population, when people believe they are doing something proactive for their health with little risk," lead researcher Claire Hoban, of the University of Adelaide, said in a university news release.
The study showed that side effects associated with St. John's wort use included anxiety, dizziness, hypertension, nausea, and panic attacks. The authors of the study that many patients taking St. John's wort may not be aware that they are at risk for certain adverse reactions. Patients should be advised to visit a health care professional for treatment of depression rather than self-treating with natural remedies.
St. John's wort is a popular herbal product used to treat depression in some patients. It is also known to be involved in several drug-drug interactions, particularly with oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, and some anti-cancer drugs.
