St John's Wort better for depression than Paxil, cheaper too

[BorisPretovsky]

New research shows the herbal supplement St. John's Wort (search) to be as effective as one of the most popular prescription antidepressants for treating both moderate and severe depression.

The study is among the first to compare the supplement with a prescription antidepressant. It was funded by the German company that markets the St. John's Wort product used in the research, and was carried out by the company's researchers.

Some studies have shown that St. John's Wort might be useful in treating mild to moderate degrees of depression. However, prior studies have not shown it to be useful in the treatment of major depression.

The researchers treated 251 patients with major depression with either a standard dose of the St. John's Wort extract (900 milligrams a day) or the antidepressant Paxil (search) (20 milligrams a day). Dosages of their treatment were increased in patients who did not show improvements. Neither the patients nor their physicians knew which treatment was being given.

At the end of six weeks, 71 percent of the patients taking St. John's Wort and 60 percent of those taking Paxil had responded to treatment. Half of the St. John's Wort-treated patients and 35 percent of the Paxil-treated patients were free of depression symptoms.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147061,00.html

[NaughtyKnight]

I actually found St Johns Wort not to work all that well at all. My dad used to take it all the time for stress at work but I't didnt help him all that much at all.

I took some during my end of school exams. It didnt do anything for me. I was still depressed and really stressed.

[adouglasmhor]

St John's wort has been banned in some time in the Irish Republic because of side effects.

[Bob1770]

Be sure to check drug to supplement interactions. SJW is one that interacts with a few prescription drugs.

[aikiMac]

I actually found St Johns Wort not to work all that well at all. My dad used to take it all the time for stress at work but I't didnt help him all that much at all.

I took some during my end of school exams. It didnt do anything for me. I was still depressed and really stressed.
It's for depression, not stress, silly. You chose the wrong tool for the job.

In addition to the risk of interactions with other herbs and meds, SJW and direct sunlight don't mix well, as I recall.

[NaughtyKnight]

I used it for both depression and stress.

What are the side effects of SJW?

[Guo_Xing_Yi]

I'd just like to fill in some of the gaps.

St Johns Wort does work, although, like most anti depressent stuff, requires large doses over a long period of time (i.e. 6 weeks plus).

Also, for all those female readers out there, it does mess around with the enzymes that allow protection when using the contraceptive pill. Therefore, if you take the pills, you aint protected, kapish?

[flaming pearl]

Just started on SJW myself after I came off the anti-depressants a few months ago but needed something to keep my mood up. I have been advised of no side-effects (hasten to add that doesn't mean there aren't any!) but it will interact with any of the contraceptive pills making them ineffective, and it will react badly with any anti depressant medication, so if you are depressed and on prescribed meds, DON'T try and boost it with SJW, you'll regret it. It will also interact with many other prescribed drugs, so if you're on constant medication for something, this is not the herbal extract for you.

Remember kids, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying something new!