Social Anxiety Support

georgec · 06-03-2012, 12:49 PM

I've been reading up on St. John's Wort recently and I'm hoping someone could tell me if they've tried it and was it a viable option for depression (I've had it for about three years now). I tried antidepressants but came off them cold turkey after 4 or 5 months because I'd rather feel down than absolutely nothing.

So, St. John's Wort, what's the verdict?

fallen18 · 06-03-2012, 01:23 PM

My psychologist says its bad for you b/c no one knows exactly what's in it. He may be lying but I doubt it.

squidd · 06-03-2012, 03:01 PM

I found it took the edge off, like nicotine patches for a smoker. but you still need to work at it though after a few weeks I think I got used to it and nothing much changed (or it could have been a placebo effect).

georgec · 06-04-2012, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squidd

I found it took the edge off, like nicotine patches for a smoker. but you still need to work at it though after a few weeks I think I got used to it and nothing much changed (or it could have been a placebo effect).

Funny you should mention patches, I just gave up smoking cold-turkey and haven't had one for a week today. As far as SJW is concerned, how long did you take them for? I've read in some places you need to give it from 3 to 6 weeks to feel the full effects of it.

Apparently it varies completely from person to person but I've read more good than bad so fingers crossed..

simian4455 · 06-17-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgec

I've been reading up on St. John's Wort recently and I'm hoping someone could tell me if they've tried it and was it a viable option for depression (I've had it for about three years now). I tried antidepressants but came off them cold turkey after 4 or 5 months because I'd rather feel down than absolutely nothing.

So, St. John's Wort, what's the verdict?

I've been taking St John's Wort for about 5 years. For me, it started working the day I started taking it. I think it has something to do with my lack of serotonin or something. Anyway, it probably works differently for different people.

Sierpinski · 06-17-2012, 07:52 PM

Years ago, I took 900 mg of Solgar SJW and did really well. It seemed to help a lot. More recently, I'm having trouble getting the same effect from Jamieson SJW, although that may just be because my metabolism has changed. I mean, it helped me in 1998, but is not helping me so much now. I just pushed the dosage of Jamieson SJW up to 1600 mg, and am waiting to see how that affects me. I'm been inching up in tiny increments and have already been on 1500 mg for awhile.

simian4455 · 06-17-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sierpinski

Years ago, I took 900 mg of Solgar SJW and did really well. It seemed to help a lot. More recently, I'm having trouble getting the same effect from Jamieson SJW, although that may just be because my metabolism has changed. I mean, it helped me in 1998, but is not helping me so much now. I just pushed the dosage of Jamieson SJW up to 1600 mg, and am waiting to see how that affects me. I'm been inching up in tiny increments and have already been on 1500 mg for awhile.

Maybe you should stick to Solgar? I have tried SpringValley, Swanson's and Body Naturalle and they work okay for me. For me after 5 years, the effects are still as good.

hoddesdon · 06-18-2012, 02:26 AM

Is there a problem with taking St John's Wort at the same time as blood-thinners? Research on the Internet seemed to show that Lexapro should not be taken at the same time, so I was wondering whether the same applied to St John's Wort. It could be used as a substitute for Lexapro.

simian4455 · 06-18-2012, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoddesdon

Is there a problem with taking St John's Wort at the same time as blood-thinners? Research on the Internet seemed to show that Lexapro should not be taken at the same time, so I was wondering whether the same applied to St John's Wort. It could be used as a substitute for Lexapro.

I think it is better to consult a doctor to avoid any future complications. It is your health and well-being at stake

tygiag · 07-18-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAS

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by proximo20

Treatment Experience
I was taking it before sleep usually. It was good and during the day I had more self-respect. This can be placebo effect I don't know. The thing with herbal supplement is that you should take it ar least 4 weeks to see its effects.

And St.johns wort has some interactions with other drugs. So read about it before taking.

Now I am trying to find out what is causing the SA like hypoglycemia, candida, MVP. I believe that this foggy mind and not finding anything to talk about has some connections with our body.

Any closer to finding a connection with "your body" and the SA? I am intersted, cause I have these same beliefs.

silverwolf94 · 07-27-2012, 03:34 AM

Absolutely no effect on me whatsoever

ted80 · 09-01-2012, 12:47 PM

Hello, i'm taking only 5mg of Paxil because i would like to try St. John's Wort.
Anyone know how to correctly switch from Paxil to St. John's Wort (initially 150/300mg then.. 600/900 mg if needed) ?
Thanks

preston2 · 09-01-2012, 01:17 PM

I've done a fair bit of research on the supplement. It apparently works for a minority of people, compared to a placebo, and is very comparable to stronger anti-depressant drugs. I took it for 2 months and found it not to make a difference, but I know in light of research that it doesn't meant that it's a useless supplement.

MrWibblyWobbly · 09-01-2012, 03:05 PM

I've been taking this for about four months now. It has helped me immensely. My moods are less chaotic, and I feel more positive and less stressed. I've recently started combining it with DL-phenylanaline (DLPA), which is an amino acid that is supposed to induce endorphin, serotonin, and dopamine production and it's cut my anxiety down quite a bit.

It's important to get a good brand, and to get the dosage right. I started with 300mg, three times a day for the first month. After that, however, I've been able to cut it down to one or two 300mg capsules a day, depending on how I'm feeling. I have to avoid taking it with meals because it seems to dilute the effects for some reason,but taking it with the DLPA seems to be fine. It took about three weeks to really start working for me, but once it did, I could feel the results much more immediately after taking each capsule. I experienced some sun sensitivity in the first three months, but that's actually subsided for some reason and I don't have that problem anymore.

soto · 09-16-2012, 04:57 PM

works well for me.. been taking x3 per day (990mg hypericin/tab) for about a month... noticed serotonin effects from the very first dose.. tingling in feet etc.. anti depressant effects kicked in properly after about 2 weeks.. stress and anxiety is alot more manageable than before hand..

ellieg · 09-18-2012, 01:51 AM

The package says not to take it if you have a peanut allergy even though there aren't any in the ingredients, so I'm guessing it was made in a nut environment - has anyone experienced any allergic reactions?

Mirium · 09-18-2012, 07:25 AM

I took it for 6 months and it worked for me. I didn't have any side effects. But now I don't take it anymore because it interferes with another medication I'm on. I switched to Omega oils and a B-complex; and found those to be even more effective for my mood.

Any Germans out there correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that a lot of German doctors will prescribe SJW over Prozac. I think like any other supplement, you need ask the pharmacist if there are any contra-indications, they would know best since drugs are their job.

Hyperion · 09-18-2012, 12:27 PM

I used St. Johns Wort while I was coming off of Effexor XR. It helped lessen the depression, but not by much. I don't take it anymore.

I found HTP-5 was more effective.

Sierpinski · 09-18-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simian4455

Maybe you should stick to Solgar? I have tried SpringValley, Swanson's and Body Naturalle and they work okay for me. For me after 5 years, the effects are still as good.

I switched to Kira which is supposed to be as authentic as authentic gets. I'm up to 1500 mg now, and not noticing much. Maybe my body has changed somehow. Or maybe I need to give it more time. I only just went from 1200 to 1500 two days ago. But I've been on 1200 a long time.

Rola · 09-19-2012, 03:35 AM

I took it for a year because I was too young for medication then, but it didn't take effect until 2 months later. It helped lifted my mood I guess.

06-03-2012, 12:49 PM	#81 (permalink)
georgec Status: Rumination extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 14	I've been reading up on St. John's Wort recently and I'm hoping someone could tell me if they've tried it and was it a viable option for depression (I've had it for about three years now). I tried antidepressants but came off them cold turkey after 4 or 5 months because I'd rather feel down than absolutely nothing. So, St. John's Wort, what's the verdict? Rate this treatment: Click the "Rate Thread" link to the upper right of this post (login required). Review this treatment: Click the "Post Reply" button to the upper left of this post (login required).

06-18-2012, 02:26 AM	#88 (permalink)
hoddesdon Status: Querdenker Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canberra, Australia Gender: Male Posts: 2,778	Is there a problem with taking St John's Wort at the same time as blood-thinners? Research on the Internet seemed to show that Lexapro should not be taken at the same time, so I was wondering whether the same applied to St John's Wort. It could be used as a substitute for Lexapro. __________________ vegetables of the world unite - you have nothing to lose but dousing in salad dressing

09-18-2012, 01:51 AM	#96 (permalink)
ellieg Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1	Peanut allergy The package says not to take it if you have a peanut allergy even though there aren't any in the ingredients, so I'm guessing it was made in a nut environment - has anyone experienced any allergic reactions?

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06-03-2012, 01:23 PM	#82 (permalink)
fallen18 Status: User Requested Permanent Ban Join Date: Aug 2011 Age: 18 Posts: 3,443	My psychologist says its bad for you b/c no one knows exactly what's in it. He may be lying but I doubt it.

06-03-2012, 03:01 PM	#83 (permalink)
squidd Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Australia Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 266	I found it took the edge off, like nicotine patches for a smoker. but you still need to work at it though after a few weeks I think I got used to it and nothing much changed (or it could have been a placebo effect).

06-17-2012, 07:52 PM	#86 (permalink)
Sierpinski Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 576	Years ago, I took 900 mg of Solgar SJW and did really well. It seemed to help a lot. More recently, I'm having trouble getting the same effect from Jamieson SJW, although that may just be because my metabolism has changed. I mean, it helped me in 1998, but is not helping me so much now. I just pushed the dosage of Jamieson SJW up to 1600 mg, and am waiting to see how that affects me. I'm been inching up in tiny increments and have already been on 1500 mg for awhile.

07-27-2012, 03:34 AM	#91 (permalink)
silverwolf94 Status: Silverwolf94 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire Gender: Male Age: 19 Posts: 10	Absolutely no effect on me whatsoever

09-01-2012, 12:47 PM	#92 (permalink)
ted80 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3	Hello, i'm taking only 5mg of Paxil because i would like to try St. John's Wort. Anyone know how to correctly switch from Paxil to St. John's Wort (initially 150/300mg then.. 600/900 mg if needed) ? Thanks

09-01-2012, 01:17 PM	#93 (permalink)
preston2 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 204	I've done a fair bit of research on the supplement. It apparently works for a minority of people, compared to a placebo, and is very comparable to stronger anti-depressant drugs. I took it for 2 months and found it not to make a difference, but I know in light of research that it doesn't meant that it's a useless supplement.

09-01-2012, 03:05 PM	#94 (permalink)
MrWibblyWobbly Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 133	I've been taking this for about four months now. It has helped me immensely. My moods are less chaotic, and I feel more positive and less stressed. I've recently started combining it with DL-phenylanaline (DLPA), which is an amino acid that is supposed to induce endorphin, serotonin, and dopamine production and it's cut my anxiety down quite a bit. It's important to get a good brand, and to get the dosage right. I started with 300mg, three times a day for the first month. After that, however, I've been able to cut it down to one or two 300mg capsules a day, depending on how I'm feeling. I have to avoid taking it with meals because it seems to dilute the effects for some reason,but taking it with the DLPA seems to be fine. It took about three weeks to really start working for me, but once it did, I could feel the results much more immediately after taking each capsule. I experienced some sun sensitivity in the first three months, but that's actually subsided for some reason and I don't have that problem anymore.

09-16-2012, 04:57 PM	#95 (permalink)
soto Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 22	works well for me.. been taking x3 per day (990mg hypericin/tab) for about a month... noticed serotonin effects from the very first dose.. tingling in feet etc.. anti depressant effects kicked in properly after about 2 weeks.. stress and anxiety is alot more manageable than before hand..

09-18-2012, 07:25 AM	#97 (permalink)
Mirium Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Gender: Female Age: 45 Posts: 89	I took it for 6 months and it worked for me. I didn't have any side effects. But now I don't take it anymore because it interferes with another medication I'm on. I switched to Omega oils and a B-complex; and found those to be even more effective for my mood. Any Germans out there correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that a lot of German doctors will prescribe SJW over Prozac. I think like any other supplement, you need ask the pharmacist if there are any contra-indications, they would know best since drugs are their job.

09-18-2012, 12:27 PM	#98 (permalink)
Hyperion Status: Forever Alone Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Saskatchewan ~ Canada Gender: Male Age: 26 Posts: 1,299	I used St. Johns Wort while I was coming off of Effexor XR. It helped lessen the depression, but not by much. I don't take it anymore. I found HTP-5 was more effective.

09-19-2012, 03:35 AM	#100 (permalink)
Rola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 100	I took it for a year because I was too young for medication then, but it didn't take effect until 2 months later. It helped lifted my mood I guess.