Hypericum perforatum herb for depression treatment

Hypericum perforatum, also known as St. John's wort, is an herb sold as a supplement that helps improve mood and is often used to treat depression. For more herb and herbal information. Hypericum perforatum is the botanical name for St. John's wort herb.

Hypericum perforatum compared to Prozac
Hypericum perforatum versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Adv Ther. 2002 Jan-Feb;19(1):43-52.
In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, 70 patients (mean age,50 years) suffering from mild to moderate depression received one tablet of either Hypericum perforatum extract (Calmigen) or fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) twice a day for 6 weeks. Efficacy was determined according to the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), the von Zerssen depression scale (DS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and patients' overall evaluation. Significant decreases of 50% in the Hypericum perforatum and 58% in the fluoxetine group in the HAMD score and of 42% and 52% on the DS spoke to the efficacy of both medications. The Hypericum perforatum extract achieved 83% of the efficacy of fluoxetine on the HAMD and 78% on the DS. Assessments by physicians (CGI) and patients indicated considerable improvement with no between-treatment differences. Of the 9 dropouts (13%), 2 in the Hypericum perforatum group and 2 in the fluoxetine group were due to adverse reactions. Safety evaluations demonstrated only minor changes. The Hypericum perforatum preparation tested in this study is therapeutically equivalent to fluoxetine and is therefore a rational alternative to synthetic antidepressants.

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