Topic Title: SJW causing panic attacks?
| |  "SJW causing panic attacks?"
, Fri 19 Mar 21:29
I have been taking St. John's wort for about a year and a half (and previously for 6 months a few years ago). I take 300mg a day. Last spring I had my first non drug induced panic attack (I used to smoke pot and when too stoned would sometimes have an anxiety attack); now this was very frightening because it felt like I was losing my mind [at least when your feeling anxiety on a drug like pot you know that in 20 or 30 minutes you'll start coming down off it and everything will be ok], after a few more episodes in the following week, I decided that maybee there was something wrong with the batch of St. John's wort, so I bought a new bottle (same brand), and after that I was fine. I've had one or two minor panic attacks (once on a very early flight) up to a few weeks ago when I had an anxiety attack (and generally felt dissociated from reality); realizing that I had just started a new bottle of wort a week earlier, I quickly went out to buy a new bottle (same brand) from a different store; after starting these I felt not too bad and thought that the problem was fixed, then last week I had a panic attack while in a lecture class. I was not too concerned as I didn't experience much for the rest of the week, but then this week I had a major panic attack (one of the worst ones yet - I remember this wave just hitting me and I felt like I was going to die) in class again and felt out of it for the rest of the day. Then the next day I had another panic attack and felt strange and on the virge of an attack for the rest of the day. Same thing today, and now I'm getting really scared, cause I feel like I'm going permanently insane and this is creating a viscious cycle making it worse. Oddly, it seems like the episodes peak about 2 hours after taking my daily St. John's wort dose. I really don't want to stop taking SJW because the last time I did, I had a really hard time adjusting for a month; tomorrow I will buy a different brand and start on that and if that doesn't help I'm at my wits end.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Fri 19 Mar 2004 21:10 |
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| | "Re(1):SJW causing panic attacks?" , Sat 6 Nov 19:14
I'm a 19 year old female. I stopped taking SJW about two weeks ago because of "panic attacks." However, I'm not sure if I've ever actually had a real panic, but this is the closest to what I can describe it as being. My heart felt like it was "racing", beating out of my chest. At the time, I was only taking 300 mg per day, but it wasn't on a //completely// regular basis, since I would forget to take the pill once or twice a week. I had only been on the pills for three weeks when this happened. The pills were also at least two years old (meaning, that's how long they've been sitting in the bottle).
However, I DID take SJW two years ago, when I first bought the bottle, and I had the same "panic attacks", so I also stopped taking it for the same reason. My roommate, who coincidently starting taking the SJW at the same as me (but a different brand), also experienced the same problems, at around the same time, and also stopped taking it.
The brand I was using was "Herb Tech."
And I am NOT a pot smoker, nor am I on any other medications. I think I am a fairly healthy individual. (I take my vitamins everyday with the SJW and I exercise a few times a week.) I don't know what the cause of these "attacks" are, but I think potential users should take these them seriously- and use caution when taking SJW.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Sat 6 Nov 2004 19:6 |
| | "Re(1):SJW causing panic attacks?" , Tue 20 Apr 16:41
I've had 2 major panic attacks which I'm fairly certain were caused by SJW. I'm prone to depression and have been depressed most of my adult life. I've never experienced panic attacks before recently. I would on occassion smoke marijauna to gain new perspective on my troubles. Often the marijauna would enable me to see my worries as simple mind tricks. I had over the past while become too dependent on marijauna, and so I thought I'd try SJW. I definitely noticed an improvement in my mood, my energy level, and my proactiveness. However, I also began to notice dizziness and mild tension headaches (I was only taking one tablet in the morning per day). Last week I smoked a joint with a co-worker after my shift and experienced intense panic attacks that lasted all night and even into the next day. I've rarely had panic attacks on marijuana alone, and if I ever did, they would subside within 20 minutes or so. I suspected it was the SJW mixing with the marijauna, but wasn't convinced SJW was powerful enough to cause such an experience. Last night I did exactly the same thing with the same result. I had panic attacks all night, and I'm still experiencing them today. I'm personally convinced that its the SJW that's causing the panic attacks (the effects of marijuana never last well into the next day). Depression is a terrible thing to deal with, but panic attacks are far worse. I've thrown out my bottle of SJW and won't be experimenting with it any longer. I also will not be smoking marijauna. If I experience severe depression again, I'll be seeking medication. SJW is much more powerful than I thought. Its effects can at first feel so natural that you're barely conscious of it. It is however, having a major, lasting effect on your brain. If you still wish to take it, I would advise taking no more than one tablet every 3 or 4 days.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Tue 20 Apr 2004 16:13 |
| | "Re(1):SJW causing panic attacks?" , Mon 29 Mar 17:41:
I experienced a MAJOR panic attack about 1 week after stopping SJW. Of course, I was also taking synephrine (Bitter Orange) for allergies, along with Dayquil (again for allergies), and had drank a bottle of wine the night before, and had only had about 6 hours sleep in 3 days. It REALLY messed me up for about 6 months, and I really haven't been the same since, and that was 4 years ago. At the time I blamed it on abruptly stopping SJW. In retrospect, it probably was caused by the combination of the other things (no sleep, dayquil/synephrine, alcohol).
I'm back on SJW after a 4-year break of trying to go "without anything". Recent increases in stress at work almost put me over the edge... I was a depressed paranoid angry wreck, but the SJW is helping immensely now.
One thing I have noticed is that I can only take two 300mg tablets per day. Once in the morning and once at night. If I take more than that I get panicky. Also, when I have less stress (i.e. not at work on the weekends or on vacation), I have to lower my SJW dose, otherwise I get those panic feelings.
[this message was edited by trs18 on Mon 29 Mar 17:42]
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Mon 29 Mar 2004 17:33 |
| | | "Re(2):SJW causing panic attacks?" , Wed 15 Feb 09:46
Funny you mention Dayquil. I have NEVER had a panic attack. It happened to me when I took Dayquil after about the 2nd day of taking it. I didn't take it again for a few years and never had another incident. I got sick and took Dayquil again and poof, had another one. I don't have any scientific evidence but I am NEVER taking Dayquil or any non-drowsy cold medicine again.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Wed 15 Feb 2006 9:44 |
| | "Re(1):SJW causing panic attacks?" , Sat 20 Mar 02:09
Hi I read your post, i get panicky and fearfull. I found an interesting website called www.thelindenmethod.co.uk ,. I was reading about a man called charles linden who had cured himself from agoraphobia and panic attacks after suffering with them for 10 years.
It says.
you are thinking about your condition too much "he told this lady" You need to find ways to divert your mind( I KNow easier said then done when their is panic set in) This charles guy explains that the anxiety response is controlled by a lobe in the brain called amygdala. The amygadala helps the brain make decisions about wether we should be afraid od certain things or not. It only responds to emotional stimulation from other parts of the brain, not stimulation from outside like hypnosis. Apparantly his method will help to access the amygadala directly and retrain the way it reacts. You can read about this lady who he helped on the internet. I hope this is of some intrest. Subsequently I have just started taking biocares st johs wort, and equazan fish oil and liquid b vitemin and a good multi vitemin. I have only started this 3 days ago so still only 3 days. It is difficult you get in to a vicious cycle with panic
fairy
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Sun 14 Mar 2004 7:19 |
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