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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by sunflower77 on November 20, 2000, at 19:06:56
I am quitting celexa down to 5mg every other day, would it
be safe to start St. johns wort now. I have been on celexa for about a year and a half.
Thanks
Posted by Sunnely on November 22, 2000, at 21:35:29
In reply to celexa....St. johns wort, posted by sunflower77 on November 20, 2000, at 19:06:56
> I am quitting celexa down to 5mg every other day, would it
> be safe to start St. johns wort now. I have been on celexa for about a year and a half.
> Thanks++++++++++++++++++++++
We still don't know exactly how St. John's Wort (SJW) works as an antidepressant. It appears it may have serotonin- and norepinephrine-boosting effect. How it does this remains nebulous. Some propose that SJW may have a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) effect. Others propose that, like the SSRIs, it has serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibiting effect.
Since it has serotonin-boosting effect, the combined use of an SSRI such as Celexa and SJW may lead to a potentially serious condition "serotonin syndrome." It would be clinically prudent to completely stop Celexa and wait until it is "washed off" your system before starting the other. Since Celexa has a half-life of approximately 35 hours, it may take about 5-6 days to completely "wash it off" your system, granted your kidneys are "OK" and you are not taking other meds that may interfere with its clearance.
Posted by jojo on November 22, 2000, at 23:43:19
In reply to Re: celexa....St. johns wort » sunflower77, posted by Sunnely on November 22, 2000, at 21:35:29
> > I am quitting celexa down to 5mg every other day, would it
> > be safe to start St. johns wort now. I have been on celexa for about a year and a half.
> > Thanks
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> We still don't know exactly how St. John's Wort (SJW) works as an antidepressant. It appears it may have serotonin- and norepinephrine-boosting effect. How it does this remains nebulous. Some propose that SJW may have a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) effect. Others propose that, like the SSRIs, it has serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibiting effect.
>
> Since it has serotonin-boosting effect, the combined use of an SSRI such as Celexa and SJW may lead to a potentially serious condition "serotonin syndrome." It would be clinically prudent to completely stop Celexa and wait until it is "washed off" your system before starting the other. Since Celexa has a half-life of approximately 35 hours, it may take about 5-6 days to completely "wash it off" your system, granted your kidneys are "OK" and you are not taking other meds that may interfere with its clearance.I've been taking 10 mg of Celexa and 1800 mg of St Joh's Wort (among other things)
for over a month, with no adverse effects.
Posted by JohnL on November 23, 2000, at 4:34:11
In reply to celexa....St. johns wort, posted by sunflower77 on November 20, 2000, at 19:06:56
> I am quitting celexa down to 5mg every other day, would it
> be safe to start St. johns wort now. I have been on celexa for about a year and a half.
> Thanks
You can start SJW any time you want. No probs expected combining it with Celexa, especially at your very low dose. I do know a doctor who allows patients to combine SJW with all kinds of antidepressants. The only one he's ever had a problem with is Paxil.Just make sure and get a good brand like Kira, Movana, Nature's Way Perika. Start with one pill per day, and increase dosage every two or three days. Recommended dose is 3 pills a day, but 9 has been clinically used and was safe.
John
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