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How Many Patients Self-Medicate with St John's Wort?

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How Many Patients Self-Medicate with St John's Wort? Redvers et al Patient self-medication with StJohn's wort Discussion regarding fitness to drive ^ group one licence holders motor car and motor cycles) who persistently use Relatively few 7.7%) declined to answer the question- cannabis, ecstasy and other hallucinogens will have their original naire, so we achieved a good representation of those papers licence revoked for 6 months. This period increases to 1 accessing the service. The population was unremarkable year in use of amphetamines, heroin, benzodiazepines, as a substance misuse group in contact with services, cocaine and methadone except supervised oral metha- 40% being severely dependent, the majority being male done users, who are subject to annual reviews). This must and over the age of 30.There was a wide spread of be crucial information to impart to such a population. substance use ^ opioids and alcohol most frequent ^ Comparing the results to those of Albery et al reflecting the emphasis of treatment within a clinical 2000), the two studies show very similar proportions of service. The first issue, of driving habits, shows that few subjects that held driving licences, had used drugs prior were currently driving, which may be for financial or legal to driving and had driving convictions, although they reasons as opposed to actual choice. Most had driven found a much higher rate of substance related accidents. while influenced by either drugs or alcohol and had This study begins to look at how substance users charges for driving offences, often drink-driving. This may assess risks and responsibilities with regard to would suggest that most would feel safe combining driving. With increasing prevalence of substance misuse substance use with driving even though legally many the danger of driving while under the influence of are being challenged. The low reporting of the traffic substances merits further investigation. Clinicians have a accidents suggests either a fairly high level of driving responsibility to alert their patients to the risks. competence or an underestimation of accidents. The second aim was to establish the degree of responsibility. Contrary to the above, responses suggest References a high level of awareness of safe levels of substance use AA GROUP PUBLIC POLICY 1998) Great Britain:1999 The Casualty before driving, with only a small proportion seeing excess Drugs and Driving: A Discussion Paper. Report. London: HMSO. Basingstoke: AA Policy. drug or alcohol use as safe. Despite this, substance DRIVER AND VEHICLE LICENSING misusers continue to drive following usage, possibly ALBERY, J. P., STRANG, J., GOSSOP, M., AGENCY 1999) At a Glance Guide to minimising the perceived risks attached to driving while et al 2000) Illicit drugs and driving: the Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive. prevalence, beliefs and accident Swansea: Driver and Vehicle Licensing intoxicated. One explanation of this, as proposed by involvement among a cohort of current Agency. Albery et al 2000), is that: out-of-treatment drug users. Drug and RAISTRICK, O., BRADSHAW, J., ``Actual experience of driving after taking drugs could create Alcohol Dependence, 58,197-204. TOBER, G., et al 19 94) Development realistic knowledge and hence a more accurate perception or COHEN, J., DEARNALEY, E. J. & HANSEL, of the Leeds Dependence judgement of the different impairing effects of various illicit C. E. M. 1958) The risk taken in driving Questionnaire LDQ): a questionnaire drugs.'' under the influence of alcohol. British to measure alcohol and opiate It is standard local practice at the first interview to MedicalJournal, 2,1438. dependence in the context of a treatment evaluation package. run through driving issues with each user and so it is DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND Addiction, 89,563-572. surprising that most people reported not being given TRANSPORT 1999) Road Accidents ^ information about legal matters. This could be explained *Tim Bradbeer Specialist Registrar in Psychiatry, Jim Ormsby Specialist by the regularly demonstrated poor retention of inform- Registrar in Psychiatry, StJames' Hospital, Locksway Road, Portsmouth PO4 ation following clinical interviews. The Driver and Vehicle 8LD, Philip Fleming Consultant Psychiatrist in Substance Misuse, Kingsway Licensing Agency 1999) widely distribute information House,130 Elm Grove, Portsmouth PO51LR Psychiatric Bulletin 2001), 25,254^256 A. REDVERS, R. LAUGHARNE, G. KANAGARATNAM AND G. SRINIVASAN How many patients self-medicate with St John's wort? AIMS AND METHOD RESULTS CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS St John's wort is popularly taken as a Fifteen patients, of 101, had taken A significant number of patients are herbal remedy, but it interacts with St John's wort at some time and of taking St John's wort. In order to prescribed drugs.The aim of this those seven were currently taking it. prevent drug interactions, doctors survey was to estimate the preva- PatientswhousedStJohn'swort should askall patients whether they lence of patients self-medicating tended to be younger and female. use it, especially young women who with St John's wort. All new referrals Only nine of the15 patients tookit may be on the contraceptive pill. to a community mental health team for depressive symptoms and none Patients need better education over 5 months were asked about any hadreceivedmedicaladvice.One about its risks and benefits and it use of St John's wort. patientwastakinganinteracting should be taken with medical advice. medication. 254 Redvers et al Patient self-medication with St John's wort Introduction the seven patients taking St John's wort, one was taking an interacting medication. St John's wort Hypericum perforatum) is a common herb that has been used medicinally since the times of original papers Hippocrates and Galen, who used it as a cure for Discussion intestinal worms. The active compound is hypericin and the herb is commonly taken for depression. It is A significant number of patients self-medicate with commonly believed that herbal remedies are `safer' St John's wort before they present to the psychiatric than synthetic medicines, but we should not assume services. Although St John's wort has been used for that the herb is harmless. Two cases of organ rejection over 2400 years and is considered to have relatively have been attributed to a reduction of plasma ciclosporin few side-effects, its clinical profile is changing through levels, possibly owing to an effect of St John's wort on interactions with modern medicines. cytochrome p450 in the liver Ruschitzka et al,2000), The two important implications of this survey and a recent warning by the chief medical officer are the need to educate clinicians and patients. Clinicians advised against taking St John's wort with a number need to be aware when prescribing that many patients of drugs, including theophylline, digoxin, warfarin, ciclo- will already be taking St John's wort. Clinical trials have sporin, indinavir and the oral contraceptive pill Depart- established the use of hypericum as an antidepressant ment of Health, 2000). The same report also suggested only and it is as effective as conventional antidepressants that it is inadvisable for patients to take St John's wort in treating mild to moderate depression Linde et al, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI) anti- 1996). It is a psychotropic drug but we do not routinely depressants, as the herb may increase serotonin levels. ask about its use. It is important we do so because it has Other side-effects and drug interactions have also been interactions with medical drugs and SSRI antidepressants described Ernst, 1999). We carried out a survey to that psychiatrists may wish to prescribe. measure the proportion of new mental health referrals This study highlights the need to improve patient who were self-medicating with St John's wort. education about which illnesses benefit most from hypericum and in what doses. Patients tended not to discuss starting on St John's wort with their doctor, a Methods finding also found in the US Wagner et al,1999).The public need to be aware of potential side-effects and The study was conducted by an inner-London general drug interactions, as they can perceive St John's wort adult community mental health team. All new referrals to be safer than conventional prescription drugs over a 5-month period were included. The interview took Wagner et al, 1999). This survey suggested younger place during the initial assessment and was always women are more likely to use St John's wort. The risk of performed by a doctor. We asked the patients if they had pregnancy when using the oral contraceptive may not ever taken St John's wort and if they had taken it in the be known by the user. past 3 months, the dose they had taken, and any other While these problems might suggest that St John's comments. The age and gender of the patients were wort should be prescribed by physicians, it should be recorded along with the clinical diagnosis made by the noted that some foods also potentiate sub-enzymes assessing doctor. of the P450 system, such as cabbage and sprouts Jobst et al, 2000). St John's wort may be a useful addition to therapeutic options and if the public are Results educated about its uses and risks then self-medication may be a useful and acceptable choice. However, the risk A total of 114 patients were seen and data were obtained of drug interactions and side-effects suggests a need for 101 89%). We found that 15 had taken St John's wort either to regulate its use or provide clear information and at some time for psychiatric symptoms. These patients warnings when purchasing St John's wort. were younger mean age 31.6 v. 42.7 for the whole group, independent T test P=0.01) and included more female patients 73% compared with 57%, 2 test not Declaration of interest significant).
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