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St. John's Wort and Antidepressants: Serotonin Syndrome
St. John's wort and antidepressants can be a dangerous pair. NCCIH says combining the herb with certain antidepressants can cause a potentially life-threatening rise in serotonin. If you take an antidepressant, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any product that names St. John's wort, and keep taking your prescription.
By the MemoPryl label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Is it safe to take St. John's wort with antidepressants?
Not without medical advice. NCCIH says mixing the herb with certain antidepressants can cause a potentially life-threatening rise in serotonin (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth).
The same agency lists amitriptyline and bupropion among the antidepressants the herb can weaken (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety). So there are two worries: a weaker prescription, and too much serotonin.
MSK reports serotonin syndrome especially when the herb is combined with prescription antidepressants (MSK, St. John's Wort).
Call your prescriber first. Stopping a prescription without advice can cause its own problems.
What is serotonin syndrome?
Serotonin syndrome is a reaction that usually happens when two or more medicines that affect serotonin are taken together (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome).
The risk rises when you first start a medicine or increase the dose. Symptoms can begin within minutes to hours, and untreated it can be deadly (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome). The MedlinePlus page does not name supplements, so the link to the herb comes from NCCIH and MSK.
| Body area | What you may notice |
|---|---|
| Mind | Agitation, hallucinations |
| Heart | Fast heartbeat |
| Gut | Diarrhea |
| Body | Increased body temperature |
If you have these signs, contact your provider right away (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome).
What does this mean for MemoPryl?
St. John's wort is named on a sibling MemoPryl pack. That is unconfirmed for the bottle you receive, and no amount is printed on any image we have.
The bottle images show claims and a capsule count, not warnings. Read your bottle for the herb's name, and bring it to your pharmacist.
MemoPryl: capsules in 2, 3 or 6 bottlesRead the bottle · check medicines first · 60-day window (confirm)
See packsWhat should I ask before starting?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist, and keep taking your prescribed medicine exactly as directed.
The quick check below covers the questions to raise. Show the result to your pharmacist.
Thinking about MemoPryl?Check your medicines with a pharmacist first. The checkout confirms prices and the 60-day window.
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Read more on the St. John's wort page and the medicine guide.
FAQ01
Questions people ask about MemoPryl
Can serotonin syndrome come from a supplement alone?
Our sources describe it mainly as a result of combining medicines that affect serotonin. MedlinePlus does not address supplements. NCCIH and MSK link St. John's wort to it when it is combined with certain antidepressants. Ask a clinician about your own mix.
What if I feel agitated after starting a supplement?
Contact your provider right away, especially if you also have a fast heartbeat, diarrhea or a high body temperature. FDA also says to stop using a product that you think caused a serious reaction, and you can report it online.
Why does the first week on a new medicine matter?
MedlinePlus says serotonin syndrome risk is higher when you first start a medicine or raise the dose. Tell your pharmacist about every supplement before a new prescription begins, so the combination can be checked at the start.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Each page draws on the bottle images, the seller's product notes and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by MemoPryl USA retail, not by the manufacturer or the distributor of the bottle. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
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