Topic Title: Help
| |  "Help"
, Tue 2 Apr 12:13
I am wonder about Stjohns Wart. I am on birth control pills and I want to know how safe it is to take the birth control pills and st johns wart. Will the sjw decrese the effects of my bc pills??
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Tue 2 Apr 2002 12:11 |
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| |  "Re(1):Help"
, Wed 3 Apr 10:54
I stopped using the Pill when I started on SJW three and a half weeks ago. Reading the other replies to this thread, I am wondering if I was maybe too hasty...
Posts: 71 | | Registered: Tue 12 Mar 2002 5:43 |
| | "Re(1):Help" , Wed 3 Apr 00:44
You'll get two answers to this. The authorities have stated that SJW should not be used in conjunction with contraceptive pills.
Unfortunately, the evidence for this warning is weak, and is really based on a theoretical concern only. As a result, government health authorities around the world differ in how strongly they feel e.g. the NZ position given here.
Ultimately, it's up to you to weigh up the risks. It might encourage you to know that no-one has ever reported an accidental pregnancy as a result of this interaction 
Epyx
Posts: 129 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
| | | "Epyx... more info!" , Wed 3 Apr 03:59
HI Epyx, me again!
It has recently been quite publicised in UK about effects of SJW on pill. All stated that it did reduce the effects of pill. Where do they get that sort of info? I did not realise it wasnt evidence based - presume they are erring on the side of cautio as they probably dont really know? Have you read anything on pregnancy whilst taking SJW?
Take Care
Jex
x
Posts: 92 | | Registered: Sun 10 Feb 2002 10:29 |
| | | "Re(1):Epyx... more info!" , Wed 3 Apr 05:07
Hi Jexy! Hope things are going well in your corner of the world.
The info comes primarily from the Swedish MPA (Medical Product Agency), and was subsequently submitted to the prestigious UK medical journal Lancet as a letter. There have been a handful of reports of breakthrough bleeding, but no miraculous pregnancies yet.
There are some early indications that SJW is metabolised through an enzyme system called cytochrome P450, and if this is true, then it probably competes with other treatments that rely on the P450 system, thus reducing their effectiveness. That's why a whole bunch of drug interaction warnings came out at exactly the same time.
For the medical establishment, it's a lot easier to just issue drug interaction warnings for SJW with P450-reliant drugs such as warfarin, oral contraceptives and so forth. As you say, it errs on the side of caution and makes less work for doctors. The sad part though is that many patients will be forced onto an antidepressant with a much harsher side-effect profile.
Drug interactions should not preclude a substance from being used therapeutically -- it's all about risk and reward. Even if P450 induction is ultimately proved, it will still be simple for enlightened doctors to manage the interaction e.g. by dose compensation.
Epyx
Posts: 130 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
| | | "Re(2):Epyx... more info!" , Wed 3 Apr 11:46
I agree whole heartedly!
I think that if the medical profession - (one reason for me leaving our wonderful NHS was that I disagreed with much of the politics and beaurocracy- I was a senior nurse) do not understand it, they are so frightened of being sued that they simply err on the side of caution, which will ultimately lead to some patients not getting the treatment available. When I went to my new GP (changed from the old one because he handed me prozac and said call me in a fortnight) he was all for SJW as he said if its working, I'm damned if I know how but why stop? He had no idea what it interacted with or when to stop it, he just said he would support me! I gave details of this website etc after he apologised for his lack of knowledge - but he was willing to support me if I felt it helped! He said if I needed other drugs we would learn together what I could have! Cool GP I thought! Anyhow, keep up with the research Epyx, it is a joy to learn from your posts.
take care
Jex
x
ps. hope all is well in your corner too! I have wobbly days but I'm pretty sure most of us do! I am considering taking a specific B complex supplement as my currrent multi vit doesnt include one of the B's you mention and is simply an RDA mixture, not a dedicated B vit supplement, so I may go in and see the helpful lady in the shop!
take care
Jex
x
Posts: 94 | | Registered: Sun 10 Feb 2002 10:29 |
| | | "Re(3):Epyx... more info!" , Wed 3 Apr 16:16
A nurse! I suspected you were a health professional <g> I like the sounds of your current GP ... what more could you ask of in a doctor?
Things are going well for me too. I've been keeping up most of my regimen -- daily exercise, water, good nutrition, counselling. I'm tinkering around with SAMe at the moment, but I think I'm just using it as a safety net. What I really need to do is pull my finger out and make my next career move! This is the big impasse I've been stuck at in my life for a couple of years now, and it's the one that will really deal my depression the final blow.
I'm self-employed as a computer troubleshooter and I've had a good run with it. I can now either seek full-time employment with someone else, or I can re-train in something completely different. I'm thinking of returning to my first vocation, which was medicine (I pulled out of the degree course after 2 years when I was younger). The problem though is that it means significant expense plus 6+ years without income. And even then I fear the prospects for a conventional doctor with naturopathic sympathies ... so hard. My wife is happy to support me through it, but I feel so guilty just thinking about it.
Aaaarrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Make it stop! 
Epyx
Posts: 131 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
| | | "Re(4):Epyx... more info!" , Sat 6 Apr 12:16
Hey matey,
why not train as a homeopath or reflexer or similar - you can do discount sessions whilst training and with your knowledge, you could probably teach the tutors! You have a good head and a thirst for info - a homeopath would be great - stripping away the layers of peoples problems and geting to the root cause using natural therapies - right up your street.
Whatever makes you happy then go for it - I suspect however, you would have difficulty accepting some of the theories and politics behind traditional medicine - i did. How do you cope with the thought of trying new stuff. I am struggling a bit recently to deal with general things! I too am in a crossroads and the thought of starting a new job absolutely terrifies me! Yet before I would have relished it - funny how life turns out - it aint a dress rehearsal so do what you need to do!
Take cAre
Jex
x
Posts: 95 | | Registered: Sun 10 Feb 2002 10:29 |
| | | "Re(5):Epyx... more info!" , Sat 6 Apr 19:07
Jexy, I hope you mean "naturopath" ... homeopaths are quacks in my book!
I've been thinking about that actually. I could get frustrated in either field really; as a naturopath, I'd be constantly referring people to allopathic (regular) doctors, and that would make me feel a bit impotent after a while. Will need to give it lots more thought and research.
I'm not that scared of new experiences ... OK, a little, but it's not really my big problem. I'm actually terrified of rejection. That makes it a teensy bit difficult to apply for job interviews! Once I'm actually working, I usually do well wherever I am. *sigh*
Thanks for your encouragement by the way. I appreciate it. I hope that you find your destined path as well!
Epyx
Posts: 139 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
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