St Johns Wort - myth or magic?
Discussion
i assume you are coming off citalopram with guidance from your GP??????
this should be done gradually over a period of weeks, to prevent rather unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Personally i would avoid st johns wort for several reasons. it is not regulated, therefore you do not actually know how much to take/ quality of the product. Some patients do find it works, but not everyone.
Also, st johns wort interacts with warfarin, so for this reason alone, i would strongly advise to avoid it.
if you are clinically depressed, but want to avoid "medication", then speak to you GP - they may be able to recommend some other form of therapy.
Good luck - you will be surprised on how many people are in a similar situaton
this should be done gradually over a period of weeks, to prevent rather unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Personally i would avoid st johns wort for several reasons. it is not regulated, therefore you do not actually know how much to take/ quality of the product. Some patients do find it works, but not everyone.
Also, st johns wort interacts with warfarin, so for this reason alone, i would strongly advise to avoid it.
if you are clinically depressed, but want to avoid "medication", then speak to you GP - they may be able to recommend some other form of therapy.
Good luck - you will be surprised on how many people are in a similar situaton
Farmerpalmer said:
i assume you are coming off citalopram with guidance from your GP??????
this should be done gradually over a period of weeks, to prevent rather unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Personally i would avoid st johns wort for several reasons. it is not regulated, therefore you do not actually know how much to take/ quality of the product. Some patients do find it works, but not everyone.
Also, st johns wort interacts with warfarin, so for this reason alone, i would strongly advise to avoid it.
if you are clinically depressed, but want to avoid "medication", then speak to you GP - they may be able to recommend some other form of therapy.
Good luck - you will be surprised on how many people are in a similar situaton
Thanks for the reply.this should be done gradually over a period of weeks, to prevent rather unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Personally i would avoid st johns wort for several reasons. it is not regulated, therefore you do not actually know how much to take/ quality of the product. Some patients do find it works, but not everyone.
Also, st johns wort interacts with warfarin, so for this reason alone, i would strongly advise to avoid it.
if you are clinically depressed, but want to avoid "medication", then speak to you GP - they may be able to recommend some other form of therapy.
Good luck - you will be surprised on how many people are in a similar situaton
Sadly, my Surgery is pretty much next to useless on 98% of things medical. I watched a GP actually google a question I asked her once and during another consulatation with a differnt GP they answered their mobile to their daughter who phoned to ask if she buy new tennis shoes?!?!?!
To say I have no faith in them is an understatement.
Then get another GP. Seriously, coming off it off your own back isn't going to be a barrel of laughs at all, and St Johns Wort + pretty much anything isn't a recipe for success. It's a natural antidepressant, but is heavily contraindicated with most drugs. Don't use it, find another surgery.
You could be
I was on citalopram in about 2006/7 and really struggled with it, I was then moved on to prozac(which had a lot less side effects) and very slowly reduced the dose over about 4months - it really did take that long as every slightest drop made me so dizzy and feeling like a drunk. I stuck it out though and got there in the end
I have used SJW over the years to help with SAD and the winter - it works for me with no side effects apart from sun sensitivity. As others have said though, it interacts with loads of medications so you have to be careful(or even pregnant if on the pill!). Don't mix SJW with any antidepressants, that can cause some serious problems.
I was on citalopram in about 2006/7 and really struggled with it, I was then moved on to prozac(which had a lot less side effects) and very slowly reduced the dose over about 4months - it really did take that long as every slightest drop made me so dizzy and feeling like a drunk. I stuck it out though and got there in the end
I have used SJW over the years to help with SAD and the winter - it works for me with no side effects apart from sun sensitivity. As others have said though, it interacts with loads of medications so you have to be careful(or even pregnant if on the pill!). Don't mix SJW with any antidepressants, that can cause some serious problems.
Don't take SJW and (es-)citalopram at the same time. Both together (with or without other things as well) may raise serotonin levels to dangerous levels ( serotonin syndrome).
See this information, or check interactions between things yourself here.
The risk of serotonin syndrome is the reason I had to stop taking tramadol (for back pain) when I started on citalopram. Pity, because nowt else they've given me has got close to being anywhere near as effective for the pain.
See this information, or check interactions between things yourself here.
The risk of serotonin syndrome is the reason I had to stop taking tramadol (for back pain) when I started on citalopram. Pity, because nowt else they've given me has got close to being anywhere near as effective for the pain.
The fact that you are not happy with your GP is a real shame. I am a GP and if I heard that about me or my colleagues, I would be devastated.
I would avoid SJW. There is no evidence that it will help and some evidence that it will alter the metabolisation of warfarin.
Escitalopram has been shown to be superior to citalopram, certainly, and others depending on the problems you have and the diagnosis you have received.
I am stabbing in the dark here, due to the limited information you have so far shared but:
1) have you got a diagnosis?
2) have you looked at online tools such as mood gym?
3) has the GP recommended CBT?
I would avoid SJW. There is no evidence that it will help and some evidence that it will alter the metabolisation of warfarin.
Escitalopram has been shown to be superior to citalopram, certainly, and others depending on the problems you have and the diagnosis you have received.
I am stabbing in the dark here, due to the limited information you have so far shared but:
1) have you got a diagnosis?
2) have you looked at online tools such as mood gym?
3) has the GP recommended CBT?
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