St. John's wort has been used for depression.
Some herbal/dietary supplement products have been found
to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your
pharmacist for more details about the brand you use.
The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or
effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more
details.
Take this product by mouth as directed. Follow all
directions on the product package. If you have any questions, ask your
doctor or pharmacist. Do not take more than the recommended amount. It may
take about 3 weeks of regular use before you notice the benefits of this
product.
Do not suddenly stop taking this product. Some
conditions may become worse when this product is abruptly stopped. You may
need to gradually reduce your dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for
details.
If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think
you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right
away.
Trouble sleeping, restlessness, upset stomach,
dizziness, headache, or numbness/tingling of the hands/feet may occur. If
any of these effects last or get worse, contact your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- black/bloody/tarry stools
- vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- easy bruising/bleeding
This product may increase serotonin and rarely cause a
very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk
increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so
tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug
Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of
the following symptoms:
- fast heartbeat
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- severe dizziness
- severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- twitching muscles
- unexplained fever
- unusual agitation/restlessness
A very serious allergic reaction to this product is
rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking St. John's wort, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic
reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more
details.
If you have any of the following health problems,
consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this
product:
- personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive
disorder
This product may make you more sensitive to the sun.
Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use
sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor
right away if you get sunburned or have skin
blisters/redness.
Liquid forms of this product may contain sugar and/or
alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or
liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product
safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
St. John's wort is not recommended for use during
pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this product.
It is unknown if St. John's wort passes into breast
milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
St. John's wort can interact with many medications and
products.
Some drugs that may interact with this product
are:
- drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including
antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as warfarin
and heparin, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen)
This product can speed up the removal of other drugs
from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs
include certain azole antifungals (such as isavuconazonium, voriconazole),
certain drugs used to treat cancer (such as irinotecan, sunitinib,
tamoxifen), cobicistat, nifedipine, HIV NNRTIs (such as etravirine,
nevirapine), HIV protease inhibitors (such as atazanavir, darunavir),
ritonavir, among others.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a
serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors
(isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide,
phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline,
tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors
should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this
medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this
medication.
The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you
are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include
street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," certain antidepressants (including
SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine),
among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely
when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with
this product. If your doctor has told you to take low-dose aspirin to
prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams a day), you
should keep taking the aspirin unless your doctor tells you not to. Ask
your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This product may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal
birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause pregnancy.
Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use reliable backup
birth control methods while using this product. Also tell your doctor if
you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding, because these may be
signs that your birth control is not working well.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Keep all medical and lab appointments.
Check the product labeling carefully to make sure you
have the correct product. St. John's wort is a species called Hypericum
perforatum and should not be confused with other Hypericum
species.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Refer to storage information printed on the package. If
you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Keep all
medications and herbal products away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.