§ Earl Baldwin of Bewdleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they are advising patients who are on treatment for depression and also taking a St John's Wort preparation to stop taking St John's Wort, rather than to stop taking either St John's Wort or their prescribed medication in view of the Deputy Chief Medical Officer's advice that "St John's Wort when taken alone … causes no harm" and in view of the patients' freedom of choice. [HL1511]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathDepression is a serious condition, which can be fatal if treatment is ineffective. Medicines licensed for the treatment of depression have been shown to be safe and effective and have met standards to ensure reproducible quality. It is not advisable for patients to stop their prescribed medication without seeing their doctor. There have been no successful licence applications for St John's Wort in the United Kingdom.
Along with a number of other European Union member states, the United Kingdom licensing authority has issued advice in the light of new evidence on interactions between prescribed medicines and St John's Wort. The objective is to ensure that prescribed medicines of proven benefit are safely used. In general when a substance or product interacts with a licensed medicine, the regulatory advice is directed at that particular product.