HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

St. John's wort and being scared to take any medication

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/18/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I need some help... I have anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I have tried two different anti-depressants so far (only once each time) and I just cannot stand the intense anxiety it gives me. That horrible feeling of intense fear and agitation inside me scares me to death and am really scared to take any more medication. I take propanolol which has helped immensely but I had to pluck up a lot of courage to take them. This comes from something that happened to me that set off the anxiety and makes me scared to do anything (even drink coke) in case it makes me have anxiety. Recently though, I have been feeling a lot more depressed than anxious (which is better for me in way) and don't know what to do without medication.

Has anyone tried st john's wort for depression and anxiety? I have heard it isn't medically proven to help and it is probably more dangerous than anti-depressants???? anyone know anything about it?

p.s. pronanolol is amazing and has helped my anxiety tremendously!!!

Thank you :)
Posted 3/18/2013 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
S01a

Welcome to the forum. I take Pronanolol for face pain (nerve pain) and cymbalta for depression.

St. Johns wort is tricky, it thins the blood out so you have be careful how much you take with what meds you are on, and it works differently for every person.

I would ask you doctor for an increase in the pronanolol. I take 40mg 3x a day. There is nothing wrong with taking medication to help us. meds can only do about 50-60% of the job. rest has to come from us.

Minfulness, meditation, DBT skills and other ways of coping day to day ensure that we can handle and process what depression can throw at us.

At the top of the Depression forum, there is a thread called resources. Please take the time to review these pages and see what is helpful for you. There are links to learning new coping skills.

Welcome to our community, we support and care about each other.

Peace
Trina
Posted 3/18/2013 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for your reply!! are you sure st john's wort thins the blood? is this why it interferes with contraception?

also propanolol is amazing for anxiety but not too sure it is going to work for my depression... i have felt more depressed since taking them as the anxiety has been relieved.

thank you
Posted 3/18/2013 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
The thinning of the blood is mostly an interreaction with medications, but yes I believe one of the basic properties is to even the blood flow which calms the body or the other way around.

I also take topomax, this is a mood stabilizer, however I take it for migraine pain. Works well with the propananol, you may want to ask your doctor about it. It maybe what you need. Most people with depression, especially if it is a chemical inbalance like mine, need a "cocktail" of 1-3 meds to handle depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

As your skills become stronger, you can back off the medications. Breathing helps me alot, I can control most of my panic attacks with breathing now, where before, I would have to take an Ativan. So, just because you need the med now, does not mean it is forever.

Peace
Trina
Posted 3/18/2013 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
ahh okay, i see. i want to try st john's wort so i might go and see the doctor about it. the only thing is, they always seem to be very funny about it because it isn't a prescription medicine...

what is topomax? is it available in the uk?

glad you can control panic attacks with breathing. i can sometimes, but sometimes take a 10mg propanolol if i feel like i'm going to have one.

thank you for all your help!
Posted 3/18/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Not a problem, that is what we are here for.

Start at and natural food or herbal shop for information then go to a druggest/pharmacist. Then talk to your doctor. This way you will have all the information written down for his arguements against it.

Topomax is sold as a mood stablizer, but I take it as a pain med as part of a cocktail for severe daily migraines. I don't see why it would not be available in the UK.

As for breath. IN slowly 1, 2, 3 out slowly 1, 2, 3 doing this at least 3- 5 times concentrating on the breath itself. then continue to breath slowly, but make you exhale, slight longer than your inhale and you body will calm itself naturally.

It is best to practice this 2- 3 times a day everyday, so when a panic attack come you are old school at the breathing practice.

Peace
Trina
Posted 3/18/2013 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
okay, i will definitely get doing that!! and the breathing as well

thank you :)
Posted 3/18/2013 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
With the breathing, doing the out breath, I purse my lips. It makes it more controlled. Hence, blowing out the candles. Wecome to the forum SO1a...

Hugs, Karen
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply