St. Johns Wort Matches Antidepressant Drugs

LONDON--German researchers have found a proprietary preparation of St. Johns wort is at least as effective as paroxetine in the acute treatment of moderate to severe depression. Results from the randomized, double blind, reference-controlled study were published online, in advance of print publication in the British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com).

The study involved 251 male and female outpatients from 21 different psychiatric centers in Germany who suffered recurrent moderate or severe unipolar major depression. Participants received either 20 mg/d of paroxetine or 900 mg/d of hypericum extract WS 5570 for six weeks and were assessed according to the 17-point Hamilton Depression Scale. Hypericum and paroxetine doses were increased to 40 mg/d and 1,800 mg/d, respectively, for subjects who did not show a predetermined level of improvement after two weeks.

After six weeks, the hypericum group experienced a 14.4-point or 56.6-percent drop in Hamilton score, while those taking paroxetine reduced their scores by 11.1 points, or 44.8 percent. The scientists also noted the number of adverse events reported by participants taking hypericum was significantly less than by the paroxetine group.

Our results support the use of hypericum extract WS 5570 as an alternative to standard antidepressants in moderate to severe depression, especially as it is well tolerated, the study authors concluded. We are assessing long-term treatment, for which the [herbal] drug can be an interesting option because of its favorable ratio between efficacy and tolerability, in the ongoing continuation phase. They cautioned hypericum could potentially interact with other medications.

Hypericum extract WS 5570 is patented, developed and produced by Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in Germany, and it is available in the United States as WS 5572 or Perika® from Natures Way. Parxetine (also known as Paxil®) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used by patients suffering any level of depression.