It's not unusual for people living with chronic pain to also be dealing with some depression and/or anxiety. But if you're taking an opioid like oxycodone for the pain and also taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's Wort, you may unknowingly be reducing the effectiveness of your pain medication.
A small study in Finland found that when St. John's Wort and oxycodone were taken together, the plasma concentration of oxycodone decreased by 50 percent and its half-life (the time it...
Does Saint John's Wort Raise Serotonin Levels?
Featured Health Expert
EXPERT
More information on "Does Saint John's Wort Raise Serotonin Levels?"
From Our Experts
EXPERT
How are serotonin levels measured?
By Ask the Clinician, Health Expert
Full Question: i was reading an article of yours "Migraine Term of the Day: Serotonin". I would like to know how Serotonin levels are... Read more »
EXPERT
St. John’s Wort for Mild Depression & Anxiety
By Jerry Kennard, Health Expert
St. John's wort is a herb that contains a variety of active components known to regulate neurotransmitter activity in the brain and... Read more »
EXPERT
05/28/07 #3: Cluster headaches, serotonin levels, "body clocks?"
By Ask the Clinician, Health Expert
Full Question: Hi, I have cluster headaches, when I am in a cluster Topamax is what saves me, along with Imitrex StatDose. I read anything... Read more »
EXPERT
Migraine Medications: Triptans, Antidepressants, and Serotonin...
By Teri Robert, Health Expert
A Migraine and medication question just came in for our Ask the Clinician column. There is so much confusion about this that it's become... Read more »
EXPERT
Why do some people prefer natural treatment for depression?
By Deborah Gray, Health Expert
Since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, several people have suggested bee stings as an alternative treatment to the interferon... Read more »
From Our Sources
St. John's Wort
Source: Breastcancer.org
Also known as: Amber, demon chaser, fuga daemonum, goat weed, hypereikon, hyperici herba, hypericum, klamath weed, millepertuis, rosin rose, tipton... Read more »
Antidepressants may raise diabetes risk
Doctors at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have found a connection between antidepressants and the development of diabetes. In a... Read more »
Some herbal supplements boost women's lead levels: study
Boston researchers have found that some common herbal supplements appear to increase lead levels in women's blood. For the study, researchers looked... Read more »
Type 1 Diabetes: Monitoring Tests - Checking Glucose (Blood Su...
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
of ComplicationsHigh Blood Pressure and Heart DiseaseAll patients with diabetes and high blood pressure should adopt lifestyle changes. These include... Read more »
Ask the Clinician: Migraine and Headache Questions and Answers...
Do you have questions about headaches or Migraines? Many of our readers do, and each week, and Dr. John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert answer some... Read more »
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
