St. John's Wort with multi-vitamins safe to take?!
Question:
St. John's Wort with multi-vitamins safe to take?
I'm currently taking St. John's Wort for depression and would like to know if it's safe to take it with multi-vitamins. I've heard that it's not safe to take St. John's along with medications and wondering if it's the same with taking multi-vitamins.
Answers:
Multi-vitamins are normally taken in order to supplement your usual dietary intake. Being that your body produces each and every vitamin and mineral offered in these supplements taking additional (nutritional enhancers) with St. John's Wort is not a problem. They are indeed compatible with one another. There are however several medications that are not compatible with St. John's Wort because of the biochemical alterations that occur when taken together. Research shows that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs and may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include: Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV;
Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer; Cyclosporine, an antibiotic; Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions; Warfarin and other anticoagulants; Birth control pills, and most importantly
antidepressants. Do not take this medication with other anti-depressants because it can have a rebound effect and cause severe depression as well as may increase side effects of the antidepressants, such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.
Good-luck. I hope this was helpful, and I hope that you feel a greater sense of peace soon.