Other treatments
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St John's Wort (hypericum)
This is a herbal antidepressant that you can buy from pharmacies without a prescription. It recently became a popular 'over the counter' treatment for depression. However, many doctors now do not advise that you take this because:
- It is not clear how well it works. Although some studies suggest that it may help depression, other studies have failed to confirm this.
- Side-effects sometimes occur. (Some people think that because St John's wort is 'natural' then it is totally safe. This is not true. It contains many chemicals which sometimes cause problems.)
- It may react with other medicines that you may take. Sometimes the reactions can cause serious problems. For example, you should not take St John's wort if you are taking warfarin, cyclosporin, oral contraceptives, anticonvulsants, digoxin, theophylline, or certain anti-HIV medicines. Also, you should not take it at the same time as certain other prescribed antidepressants.
Specialist and hospital based treatments Other treatments such as specialist medicines or electrical treatment (ECT) may be advised if you have severe depression which has not improved with other treatments.
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Where to next?
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Post-natal depression
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What are the treatment options for depression?
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What are the treatment options for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?
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Depression: Help and advice
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More about light therapy for SAD
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Seasonal affective disorder and how to fight it
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Some particular features of SAD
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Under the microscope: Depression
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What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
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What is seasonal affective disorder?
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Who gets Seasonal Affective Disorder?
