LymeNet Home LymeNet Home Page LymeNet Flash Discussion LymeNet Support Group Database LymeNet Literature Library LymeNet Legal Resources LymeNet Medical & Scientific Abstract Database LymeNet Newsletter Home Page LymeNet Recommended Books LymeNet Tick Pictures Search The LymeNet Site LymeNet Links LymeNet Frequently Asked Questions About The Lyme Disease Network LymeNet Menu

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter




The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

LymeNet Flash Discussion
Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

LymeNet Flash Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » St Johns Wort safe to take with Abx??

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: St Johns Wort safe to take with Abx??
NMN
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 11007

Icon 1 posted      Profile for NMN     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hey Guys,

Have any of you tried St Johns wort alongside your abx treatment, I am on 3000mg of amox at the moment and I am finding the depression quite tought to deal with. My pharmacist is quite good with herbal treatments and she suggested taking St Johns wort both for the depression and apparently it is good and nerve repair. I have alot of burning and numbness in the limbs and also tinnitus( cranial nerve). I wonder could this kill 2 birds. Let me know your thoughts and experiences??? Cheers

--------------------
Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos)
Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007.

Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141

Icon 1 posted      Profile for sixgoofykids   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I take it, but I keep forgetting to ask my LLMD if it's okay. I had stopped taking it for a while when I started on the meds ... hubby noticed a difference and told me to start taking it again.

Did your pharmacist know you were taking amoxy? If so, I would think he would have said something if they interacted.

--------------------
sixgoofykids.blogspot.com

Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Health     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I took it while on antibiotics and stopped it because I felt it was making Doxycycline less effective.

I stopped it and within one week I was on the jogger for 1 minute. Then worked up to 5 minutes.

While I was ON St Johns wort and Doxycxcline, I was not getting better I felt.

I read this report I posted below, and choose to STOP St Johns Wort, even though I was in a depression. I was able to fight the depression with Bach flower remedies, so I was lucky,the bach flower remedies did not cure the depression,

but it helped, and the fact that I was starting to get better, made my depression better.

NOW though, I am not on the jogger, I have gotten worse, because of stopping antibiotics for months, and a really bad relapse.

SO, if you are on St Johns Worst, watch that you ARE getting better. I also spoke to a few Pharmisits that said to not take St Johns Wort while on the antibiotics because they did not know

enough about it and its interactions. I think one pharmacist said NO dont take it while on antibitoics.

Here is a site.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20041026/st-johns-wort-thwarts-cancer-drug

This was 2 years ago, maybe you are ok with it, but I found the Doxy worked better without me taking st Johns Wort.

I also had some kind of reaction, with it while on the Azithromycin and Flagyl, and I also I think? had taken some diflucan, not sure, I am going to look it up in my journal, this was 2 years ago.

Trish

Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141

Icon 1 posted      Profile for sixgoofykids   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Thanks for the input Trish. I AM getting better, but maybe I'll try easing off it again. I don't think it will be a good idea to stop it cold turkey.

My hubby noticed last time I stopped and told me to start taking it again, so apparently it's doing something.

Sorry about your relapse. Can you get back on abx?

--------------------
sixgoofykids.blogspot.com

Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
pattilynn
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 8065

Icon 1 posted      Profile for pattilynn     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I saw my llmd today and he recommended St. John's wort.
Posts: 340 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
tailz
Unregistered


Icon 1 posted            Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I started taking St. John's Wort during an episode of what I call Larium psychosis, and I noticed a difference within 20 minutes, though I have had to take it througout the day to maintain the effect.

I am also taking Ceftin again right now. The Larium apparently reactivated my Lyme.

Specifically, I felt less agitated and anxious, though I did start to perspire almost immediately. My stomach also started gurgling within minutes - I've found that I am usually less anxious though when my stomach is gurgling, more so than when it is quiet.

I read somewhere that St. John's Wort is comparable to tetracyline-type antibiotics - it may have been erythromycin-like antibiotics - one of these two, but I forget which now.

It does help, though I agree it must be avoided with certain antibiotic cominations.

IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
tailz
Unregistered


Icon 1 posted            Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Thanks for the link, cave.

I'm glad I never started my Synthroid while taking this one!

I don't know - why do they limit it to 3 months?

I really think it is helping some. Plus, I've been taking tea tree oil, though that one makes me smell sort of medicinal.

I took ginger today, too, along with the St. John's Wort. I had severe acid reflux and espophageal burning - BUT now I feel better than I have in a long time.

I would imagine if it can increase levels of certain other herbs - fenugreek, for example, was one noted - perhaps that could be a good thing?

I don't think I'd ever let a doc put me on another medication - other than antibiotics - so I don't think I have to worry about that one.

I want to stay on this one forever. It could just be the Ceftin finally kicked in or the Larium die-off finally cleared, too. Details.

But this is the best I've felt in months. I think I do have babs - that Larium killed something through all the psychosis it caused. I'm still scared to restart it though - like 4 days of herxing.

IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136

Icon 1 posted      Profile for CaliforniaLyme     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
If I remember right St Johns Wort can inactivate AIDS drugs/ anti-virals- when I was working in the last inpatient rehab place we weren't allowed to give St Johns Wort tea to a client we had who was on anti-virals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--------------------
There is no wealth but life.
-John Ruskin

All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer

Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136

Icon 1 posted      Profile for CaliforniaLyme     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
p.s. Yup just checked that in Caveys link above- don't take if on protease inhibitors!!!

--------------------
There is no wealth but life.
-John Ruskin

All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer

Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935

Icon 1 posted      Profile for 5dana8   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I took it for years with no problems & did help in a slight way. Can't take it now because it upsets my stomach.

you should definetly ask your LLMD about abx interactions.

Here's a few more links:

click on "general cautions" on left

http://www.sjwinfo.org/

Scroll down to drug interactions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John's_wort

Hope your feeling better soon [group hug]

--------------------
5dana8

Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
NMN
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 11007

Icon 1 posted      Profile for NMN     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Thanks guys, My LLMD emailed me and said he has no problems with me taking it so I have some in the mail. I am back over to him Aug 13th. I really need to change my abx I think. I am up at 5 Grams of Amox now. Eyes getting worse rather than better and my neuro stuff is up and down. I need to get back to work in the next 3 months or I'm fired. Hey that would not usually bother me but the thoughts of trying to find another job in this condition is not worth thinking about. I need results. I need my life back. All the best to you all. x

--------------------
Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos)
Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007.

Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code� is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | LymeNet home page | Privacy Statement

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:

The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey
907 Pebble Creek Court, Pennington, NJ 08534 USA


| Flash Discussion | Support Groups | On-Line Library
Legal Resources | Medical Abstracts | Newsletter | Books
Pictures | Site Search | Links | Help/Questions
About LymeNet | Contact Us

© 1993-2020 The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Use of the LymeNet Site is subject to Terms and Conditions.