St John’s wort ‘can block contraceptives’

Patients are advised to tell their doctor if they are using St John's wort when they are prescribed their contraceptive. Picture: John Tann, flickr

Patients are advised to tell their doctor if they are using St John's wort when they are prescribed their contraceptive. Picture: John Tann, flickr

Published Apr 1, 2014

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London - Drug safety chiefs have issued renewed warnings about the dangers of mixing St John’s wort with some contraceptives.

The herbal remedy dilutes the effect of the pill and implants, which could lead to unplanned pregnancies, they said.

Two women conceived accidentally last year while taking the popular remedy commonly used to treat mild depression. Both had been using a contraceptive implant seen as “more than 99 percent effective”.

Nineteen cases of suspected incidents involving the herb and hormonal contraceptives have been reported since 2000.

Four involved implants and 15 the pill, with 15 resulting in pregnancies. Packets of St John’s wort contain warnings but some unlicensed products or those available online do not always carry the information.

Dr Sarah Branch, of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency said: “Patients are advised to tell their doctor if they are using St John’s wort when they are prescribed their contraceptive or receiving their implant.”

Around 10 million Britons take herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals. - Daily Mail

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