Q. I am thinking about taking St. John’s wort for mild depression. My only other medication is aspirin for atrial fibrillation. Is there an interaction?
A. It is smart of you to check for interactions before you start to take St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). It affects quite a few medicines, but it does not appear to interact with aspirin.
Several studies of St. John’s wort indicate it can help against mild to moderate depression, but research has not demonstrated any benefit for severe depression. A review of complementary medicine for depression concluded that St. John’s wort can be helpful (Canadian Family Physician, June, 2011).
One disadvantage of St. John’s wort is that it can sensitize the skin and eyes to sun damage. Here’s one reader’s account:
“I also took St John’s Wort for an extended period, some years ago.
“It was effective for a while (depending on the brand I took), but eventually I did have to move onto something stronger.
“The downside, however, is that I have been left super-sensitive to sunlight, and have severe sunburn after even short periods outside – even when it is not overtly sunny. This seems to be a permanent side-effect, with potentially dangerous results.”
To learn more about the pros and cons of St. John’s wort, you can download our St. John’s Wort Guide.
