Can antidepressants be taken along with a natural supplement such as St.Johns Wort for Depression?
St. John’s wort appears to act as an SSRI, although extensive studies have not been done. If taken in combination with another SSRI, if can cause a dangerous and potentially fatal ‘serotonin syndrome’. “The symptoms of the serotonin syndrome are: euphoria, drowsiness, sustained rapid eye movement, overreaction of the reflexes, rapid muscle contraction and relaxation in the ankle causing abnormal movements of the foot, clumsiness, restlessness, feeling drunk and dizzy, muscle contraction and relaxation in the jaw, sweating, intoxication, muscle twitching, rigidity, high body temperature, mental status changes were frequent (including confusion and hypomania – a “happy drunk” state), shivering, diarrhea, loss of consciousness and death. (The Serotonin Syndrome, AM J PSYCHIATRY, June 1991)” Under no circumstances should St.
