Hi. Does anyone know if it's safe to take St. John's Wort with levothyroxin?

[Delphi]

[RedApple Administrator]

Not a good idea. Here's a link to a PIL for the H&B St John's Wort, which has thyroxine and many other things listed under the 'Do Not Take If' section.

images.vitaminimages.com/hb...

[TTLady]

NO NO NO NO

What is it with people and St John's wort?

Stay away from it if you want to stay well

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to TTLady]

I know TTlady, I bought them ages ago then read the instructions and realised they wouldn't go with my blood pressure tablets.

They are something that look like they will do you a lot of good and I gather they are actually prescribed by doctors in some European countries but they can actually be bad for you and you should be very careful with them.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to TTLady]

I tried St. John's Wort too when I was at the beginning of my thyroid treatment. This was years ago, before the 'don't take if' information was readily available. There was quite a bit of info about how well they work, but not so much info about how badly they can interact with other things, and there was certainly no PIL from H&B when I bought them.

I was absolutely desperate for some relief from the awful depression that lack of thyroid hormone was causing, but determined not to go down the conventional medicine anti-D route. So I totally understand why people want to take what has been touted as a 'herbal/natural or whatever other name. They didn't help me at all, so I stopped taking them for that reason.

[Delphi]

Well, thank you for your advice. Actually, I have been taking St. John's Wort for some time now and with no obvious side affects. I found they took the edge off my low mood. However I stopped last month when I read the contraindications in the leaflet.

[Vivante]

I agree with other comments made. St.John's Wort should NOT be taken with any other medication.