Can I take St. John's wort with magnesium?

Question

Menopausal woman who has a lot of difficulties with mood and anxiety (no night heat and day heat are very low and not every day). The prescribed hormones gave a skin reaction (big pimples on the face) so my doctor said I could not take hormones. I am left with a disorder that is similar to mild depression but I don't want to take an antidepressant. I assume the body will stabilize and everything will go back to normal.... one day. I have read that St. John's wort is good for mild depression or anxiety so I want to try it. I already take magnesium for plantar fasciitis.

Sarah-Yan Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello, There is no interaction between St. John's wort and magnesium. However, St. John's Wort can interact with many other natural products or medications taken during the day, so it would be important to talk to your pharmacist if this is the case. Regarding St. John's Wort, it is true that it has been shown to be effective for mild mood disorders (depression, anxiety) when taken over a period of time. However, you should ask your pharmacy about the different products available. Note that St. John's Wort can take 4-6 weeks to take effect and is not without side effects In order to determine the severity of a mood disorder (mild, moderate, severe), only a doctor can make the distinction, so if I haven't already done so, I would talk to him before using it. It is also true that mood disorders can occur during menopause, but the duration varies greatly from one person to another. Also, other factors could be involved, so I wouldn't trivialize the situation by saying that it will go away on its own. Note that antidepressants are not the only possible solution. An adequate psychological follow-up is another approach scientifically proven to be as effective as medication. We look forward to hearing from you, Sarah-Yan Chagnon, pharmacist