Sweating as side effect | Side effects of St. John’s wort

Sweating as side effect

Excessive sweating can also be a side effect of St. John’s wort preparations. This is often described by the person concerned as unpleasant. As with all side effects, it is also true that a visit to a doctor can be useful in the case of increased sweating.

It should be noted that sweating can also occur in the course of the so-called serotonin syndrome. It is caused by a disturbance in serotonin levels and is potentially life-threatening. Many prescription antidepressants act at least partially through serotonin. St. John’s wort may also interfere with the hormone’s metabolic pathways. A combination of several preparations can therefore possibly lead to a serotonin syndrome, which is why they should not be taken together.

Headaches as side effect

Taking St. John’s wort can cause headaches. These headaches often occur in connection with dizziness or neck problems. However, this does not have to be the case.

Headaches are a common adverse effect that can occur with a wide range of medicines. It is usually a relatively harmless but unpleasant side effect. However, this need not always be the case.

For example, headaches can occur in the course of a so-called serotonin syndrome. This dangerous syndrome can occur when the serotonin level in the body gets out of control. Since classical antidepressants can have an influence on the serotonin metabolism due to their effect, they should not be combined with St. John’s wort.

St. John’s wort probably also has an influence on the metabolism of the hormone serotonin, which makes interactions possible. This is one of the reasons why St. John’s wort should only be taken after consulting a doctor. Many complications can thus be avoided or at least alleviated.

What side effects may occur after stopping?

Many prescription antidepressants can cause serious side effects such as agitation, insomnia or diarrhea after they are discontinued. They can also lead to a condition called Relapse Syndrome. In this case, previous depressive syndromes occur again and possibly even more severely.

Therefore these medications should be discontinued. With St. John’s wort, these undesirable effects seem to be absent or less severe. Nevertheless, there are repeated reports of side effects after discontinuing St. John’s wort.

These are often compared with those of prescription antidepressants. The mechanism of action of St. John’s wort preparations has not yet been conclusively clarified. It is therefore difficult to identify or assign possible side effects. It is recommended that preparations containing St. John’s wort should only be taken slowly. St. John’s wort preparations are best taken and discontinued only after consultation with a doctor.