Evidence indicates that St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) may be as effective as the well-known medications Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) in treating mild to moderate depression. It has not been successful against major depression, however.

If you or a family member appears to have symptoms of depression (such as persistent sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, fatigue, or changes in patterns of eating or sleeping), seek the care of a doctor or mental health professional. Do not rely on self-diagnosis and St. John's wort—get medical advice.

By itself, St. John's wort does not appear to affect the occurrence of seizures. It does affect certain liver enzymes, however, changing the way the body processes many other medications. These may include some seizure medicines such as Dilantin and Phenytek (phenytoin), Tegretol and Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and phenobarbital. Some research has found that carbamazepine levels in the body are not affected, but in general not enough research has been done to know the exact effects. Talk to your neurologist before using St. John's wort.

Read more about St. John's wort in the "About Herbs" section of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website. (If you have not visited the site before, the information on St. John's wort will be preceded by a Disclaimer.)

Much of the information in this article is based on Spinella M: Herbal medicines and epilepsy: The potential for benefit and adverse effects. Epilepsy Behav 2001; 2(6):524-532. (PMID 12609386)

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:12/15/06