St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum oral dosage forms
St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum oral dosage forms
What is this medicine?
ST. JOHN'S WORT (seynt JONZ wurt) is an herbal or dietary supplement. It is promoted to help improve depressed moods. The FDA has not approved this supplement for any medical use.
This supplement may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
How should I use this medicine?
Take this herb by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the package labeling, or talk to your health care professional for advice. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this herb in children. Special care may be needed.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
anxious
breathing problems
changes in emotions or moods
confusion
fast or irregular heartbeat
increased sweating
stiff muscles
suicidal thoughts or other mood changes
uncontrolled head, mouth, neck, arm, or leg movements
unusually weak or tired
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
change in sex drive or performance
difficulty sleeping
sensitivity to sunlight
stomach upset
What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
methylene blue (injected into a vein)
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
alcohol
amiodarone
amphetamines
aspirin and aspirin-like medicines
bosentan
certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
certain medicines for migraine headaches like almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
cyclosporine
digoxin
female hormones, like estrogens or progestins and birth control pills
irinotecan
linezolid
lithium
medicines for blood pressure or heart disease
medicines for HIV infection
medicines for sleep during surgery
NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
procarbazine
rasagiline
sirolimus
sunitinib
tacrolimus
theophylline
tramadol
tryptophan
warfarin
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Where should I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F) or as directed on the package label. Protect from moisture. Throw away any unused supplement after the expiration date.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
bleeding disorders
heart disease
high blood pressure
HIV or AIDS
immune system problems
kidney disease
liver disease
mental illness like anxiety, depression, mania
stroke
suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt; a previous suicide attempt by you or a family member
taken an MAOI like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate in last 14 days
an unusual or allergic reaction to St. John's wort, other herbs, plants, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
If you are already being treated for anxiety, depression, or other mental state use this supplement only by your doctor's direction. This supplement my interfere with your other treatments. See your doctor if your symptoms do not get better or if they get worse.
This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.
If you are scheduled for any medical or dental procedure, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking this medicine. You may need to stop taking this supplement before the procedure.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.
Herbal or dietary supplements are not regulated like medicines. Rigid quality control standards are not required for dietary supplements. The purity and strength of these products can vary. The safety and effect of this dietary supplement for a certain disease or illness is not well known. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Food and Drug Administration suggests the following to help consumers protect themselves:
Always read product labels and follow directions.
Natural does not mean a product is safe for humans to take.
Look for products that include USP after the ingredient name. This means that the manufacturer followed the standards of the US Pharmacopoeia.
Supplements made or sold by a nationally known food or drug company are more likely to be made under tight controls. You can write to the company for more information about how the product was made.
Updated:  
July 17, 2018