Hypericum Perforatum Side Effects, Uses, Dosage drug information

Generic Name: St. John's wort

What is the most important information I should know about Hypericum Perforatum?

· Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Hypericum Perforatum may increase the sensitivity of your skin to the sun. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

· Hypericum Perforatum has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of Hypericum Perforatum may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is Hypericum Perforatum?

· The use of Hypericum Perforatum in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

· Hypericum Perforatum is also known as Hypericum perforatum, klamath weed, John's wort, amber touch-and-heal, goatweed, rosin rose, and milleperituis.

· Hypericum Perforatum has been used in the treatment of anxiety, mild to moderate depression, stomach upset, insomnia, fluid retention, and hemorrhoids. Hypericum Perforatum has also been used topically in the treatment of nerve and muscle pain, skin inflammation, skin wounds, and burns.

· Hypericum Perforatum may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take Hypericum Perforatum?

· Before taking Hypericum Perforatum, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Hypericum Perforatum may not be recommended in some situations.

· Do not take Hypericum Perforatum without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether Hypericum Perforatum will be harmful to an unborn baby.

· Do not take Hypericum Perforatum without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether Hypericum Perforatum will be harmful to a nursing infant.

· There is no information available regarding the use of Hypericum Perforatum by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.

How should I take Hypericum Perforatum?

· The use of Hypericum Perforatum in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

· If you choose to take Hypericum Perforatum, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

· Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.

· Take the pill forms of Hypericum Perforatum with a full glass of water.

· Some forms of Hypericum Perforatum can be brewed to form a tea for drinking.

· Use the topical forms of Hypericum Perforatum externally only.

· Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. Too much medicine could be dangerous.

· Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of Hypericum Perforatum at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of Hypericum Perforatum.

· Store Hypericum Perforatum as directed on the package. In general, Hypericum Perforatum should be protected from light and moisture and stored in a sealed container.

What happens if I miss a dose?

· No information is available regarding a missed dose of Hypericum Perforatum. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention.

· Symptoms of a Hypericum Perforatum overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking Hypericum Perforatum?

· Hypericum Perforatum may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness or dizziness, including antidepressants, alcohol, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, muscle relaxants, other antihistamines, and topical medications that contain an antihistamine (e.g., anti-itch creams). Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of Hypericum Perforatum?

· Although uncommon, allergic reactions to Hypericum Perforatum have been reported. Stop taking Hypericum Perforatum and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

· Other less serious side effects have been more frequently reported. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience ·increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, ·a rash, ·a feeling of fullness in your stomach, or ·constipation.

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Hypericum Perforatum?

· Hypericum Perforatum may interact with many other medicines, possibly increasing side effects or resulting in decreased therapeutic effects. Do not take Hypericum Perforatum without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following: ·a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as tranylcypromine (Nardil), phenelzine (Parnate), or isocarboxazid (Marplan); ·a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor such as citalopram (Celexa), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft); ·a migraine medicine such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), eletriptan (Relpax), naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); ·a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil); ·furazolidone (Furoxone); ·linezolid (Zyvox); ·procarbazine (Matulane); ·selegiline (Eldepryl); ·bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban); ·trazodone (Desyrel) or nefazodone (Serzone); ·venlafaxine (Effexor); ·mirtazapine (Remeron); ·sodium oxybate (Xyrem); ·levomethadyl acetate (Orlaam); ·cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf); ·an HIV/AIDS protease inhibitor such as indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), amprenavir (Agenerase), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); or ·an HIV/AIDS non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), or nevirapine (Viramune).

· You may not be able to take Hypericum Perforatum, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Hypericum Perforatum or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal/health supplements.

Where can I get more information?

· Your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider may have more information about Hypericum Perforatum.

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Hypericum Perforatum