Active ingredient
Combination preparation of St. John’s wort (Hyperici herba Extr. sicc.) and valerian root (Valerianae radix Extr.
sicc. )Sedariston® is a combination of active ingredients from St. John’s wort and valerian in the form of capsules or drops which is available in pharmacies but not on prescription. It is a herbal medicine that is primarily intended to calm and relieve depressive or anxiety symptoms. Although it is a herbal preparation, possible interactions with other drugs should not be underestimated. Also, the treating physician should always be informed about the use of Sedariston® so that he or she can assess the risk of such interactions and react accordingly.
Side effects
The use of Sedariston® can – depending on the dose – lead to a reduction in the ability to react, so that adequate roadworthiness can no longer be guaranteed. When Sedariston® is taken, the skin is often hypersensitive to light, a process known as photosensitization. This can manifest itself through sunburn-like redness or blistering even with minimal sun exposure.
More rarely, allergic reactions with skin rash (exanthema) may occur. Furthermore, symptoms such as dry mouth, headaches, tiredness and dizziness, but also restlessness and slight complaints of the gastrointestinal tract such as nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea can occur. In rare cases Sedariston® leads to an exaggerated effect, so that the affected person falls into an exaggerated high spirits (mania).
Interactions
Sedariston® contains the calming herbal remedy valerian. This calming and sedative effect can be significantly enhanced when other sedative drugs are taken at the same time, such as some drugs from the group of tricyclic antidepressants and sleeping pills. The same applies to alcohol consumption during treatment with Sedariston®.
The drug should also be discontinued in good time before planned anaesthesia, as an unforeseeable increase in sedation can also occur here. The second component of Sedariston®, St. John’s wort, is responsible for its further interactions. Since St. John’s wort can cause hypersensitivity of the skin to light, this effect can be significantly increased if other drugs with such side effects are taken in parallel.
These include: Amiodarone for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia can also increase photosensitivity. The simultaneous intake of Sedariston® and antidepressants from the group of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. paroxetine) is prohibited, as it can lead to the development of a life-threatening serotonin syndrome. This can lead to symptoms such as fever, sweating, confusion and a drop in blood pressure, even coma.
For other antidepressants, too, simultaneous intake with Sedariston® should be avoided. St. John’s wort activates certain degrading enzymes in the liver (enzyme inducer), which means that many drugs are broken down more quickly and are therefore less effective. Among these drugs are such vital ones as the immunomodulators tacrolimus and ciclospoprin A for the treatment of organ transplant patients to prevent organ rejection. Drugs for the treatment of patients suffering from AIDS, such as indinavir, can also lose their effectiveness if St. John’s wort is taken at the same time.Furthermore:
- Some antibiotics (for example, tetracyclines such as doxycycline),
- Some representatives from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain inhibition (for example Piroxicam and Tiaprofen acid),
- Some drugs from the group of water tablets, i.e. diuretics (for example hydrochlorothiazide),
- Some representatives of psychotropic drugs (for example Haloperidol and numerous tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline),
- Medicine against malaria like quinine or chloroquine,
- Some medicines for high blood pressure (for example, captopril and nifedipine) and hypercholesterolemia (for example, clofibrate),
- Some antidiabetics like glibenclamide,
- Some oral contraceptives (“pill”)
- Retinoids, which are used for example to treat acne
- Medicines for heart failure like Digitoxin,
- Tranquilizers from the benzodiazepine group such as midazolam,
- Drugs from the group of tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline,
- Medicines for blood thinning (anticoagulation) like phenprocumone and warfarin,
- Drugs for the treatment of cancer such as imatinib and irinotecan,
- Oral contraceptives (“pill”).
