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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