What a worrier.
Ethan Melillo, a Rhode Island pharmacist, calls St. John’s wort — an herbal supplement that originated in ancient Greece and is now used to treat mild to moderate depression — “the worst supplement to take if you’re taking other medications.”
“Honestly, if someone told you to take this, I would say they just really don’t like you,” Melillo said in a TikTok this month that has been viewed 60,600 times. “This natural supplement interacts with almost everything.”
The Mayo Clinic lists about 20 potentially harmful interactions with St. John’s wort, including with antihistamines (which can cause the drug to build up in the body), narcotics (which can increase drowsiness) and birth control pills (which can make them less effective).
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina reported that St. John’s wort may help lower levels of blood-clotting inhibitors, cancer chemotherapy drugs, and blood pressure medications.
The team found that the St. John’s Wort combination was potentially dangerous in 28 percent of cases studied between 1993 and 2010.
Researchers say drug interactions could lead to serotonin syndrome, in which high and sometimes fatal levels of the chemical serotonin build up in the body, heart disease due to reduced effectiveness of blood pressure-lowering medication, and unplanned pregnancy due to birth control failure.
Melillo noted that France even bans the use of St. John’s wort products due to concerns about drug interactions.
“First of all, if you’re taking this medication for depression, don’t stop taking it,” Melillo said, “but I would urge you to talk to your doctor about whether you should be taking this medication or not.”
Mount Sinai notes that St. John’s wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States.
One reason St. John’s Wort has become popular is that it is said to have fewer or milder side effects than prescription antidepressants. For example, St. John’s Wort does not appear to cause decreased libido, a common side effect of antidepressants.
This yellow-flowering plant has antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is also thought to be effective in treating premenstrual syndrome, menopause, seasonal affective disorder and wounds.
Mount Sinai says you should talk to your doctor before taking St. John’s wort, especially if you’re taking medication.