St. John's wort is a plant recommended by some alternative health-care practitioners as a treatment for depression and to assist patients suffering from insomnia. With that noted, the effectiveness of St. John's wort in treating these conditions is subject to debate, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Additionally, St. John's wort presents a variety of side effects in some patients.
Interaction with Antidepressants
The side effects of using St. John's wort includes negative interaction with antidepressants, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Not only can St. John's wort reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants, the supplement when combined with an antidepressant causes anxiety and confusion as well as nausea and headaches in some patients.
Interaction with Other Medications
Research reported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine also reveals that the side effects of St. John's wort include reducing the effectiveness of a variety of other medications, including birth control pills. These medications do not perform as necessary for certain patients when St. John's wort is taken. Other medication affected by St. John's wort in this manner include irinotecan (cancer treatment), indinavir (HIV treatment) and cyclosporine, a medication designed to present rejection of an organ after a transplant.
Other Side Effects
Other side effects to St. John's wort include a heightened and unpleasant sensitivity to light, gastrointestinal symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Additionally, in some patients, St. John's wort causes dizziness, dry mouth and headaches. These problems do not appear to be permanent in patients afflicted with one or another of these side effects. These side effects can appear alone or in combination with one another.
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