Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Honeybean on March 17, 2021, 12:19:10 PM

Title: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: Honeybean on March 17, 2021, 12:19:10 PM

Hi

Does anyone know if I can take St John's wort with HRT? I am taking estrogen gel and progerstrone capsules. I've been feeling quite low and a friend suggested I should try St John's Wort for a while. I just wonder if it interferes with HRT?

Thanks

Title: Re: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: Alicess on March 17, 2021, 01:57:51 PM

Hi Honeybean,

St John's wort might increase the breakdown of estrogen, it's famous for it's interaction with medication.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25166453/

I personally wouldn't take the risk. If you are feeling low for a longer periode you may need to adjust your HRT?

Alicess
.

Title: Re: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: dahliagirl on March 17, 2021, 09:43:55 PM

I took it with the pill (before the risk was known) and it caused bleeding mid-cycle, because the hormones in the pill were not working.

I did see the GP who was very dismissive and all I got was a swab for infection (which turned out to be for Chlamydia  ??? )

Fortunately I stopped taking it at some point and never got accidently pregnant.

Title: Re: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: Honeybean on March 18, 2021, 05:38:27 PM

Thanks Alicess, I hadn't even thought about upping my HRT, i'll talk to my doctor about. I'm not going to take St John's Wort now anyway, I went to a healthfood shop yesterday and the owner said not to take it and that lots of people have all sorts of side affects with it.

Thanks x

Quote from: Alicess on March 17, 2021, 01:57:51 PM

Hi Honeybean,

St John's wort might increase the breakdown of estrogen, it's famous for it's interaction with medication.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25166453/

I personally wouldn't take the risk. If you are feeling low for a longer periode you may need to adjust your HRT?

Alicess
.

Title: Re: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: BeeBinny on March 20, 2021, 10:23:57 AM

Hi,
Not recommended,  I took a brand called Remotiv on Estrogel & Prometrium and had break through bleeding.
Read up on it and spoke with GP , it can affect HRT.

Title: Re: Taking St John's Wort with HRT?
Post by: Fusseh on March 20, 2021, 06:29:29 PM

I couldn't find much research on this and what I did find suggested that the reason it is discouraged alongside HRT is that it can reduce effectiveness.

So, during a very severe mood dip over the Autumn I decided to increase my HRT (extra half patch of Evorel Sequi) and also took SJW for about a month. It seemed to help me and as soon as i felt better I stopped it.

This is not recommended by health care professionals but I was desperate. I would do this again if/when my symptoms get so bad.

Take care