Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
Source: Irish Times, The (Ireland)
Copyright: 2000 The Irish Times
Contact:  11-15 D'Olier St, Dublin 2, Ireland
Fax: + 353 1 671 9407
Website: http://www.ireland.com/
Author: Judith Crosbie

BOARD DEFENDS ST JOHN'S WORT BAN

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has defended a decision taken last year to 
recommend banning the sale of St John's Wort over the counter and making it 
available under prescription only.

In the board's annual report for 1999, Mr Frank Hallinan, chief executive, 
said the board took the decision solely to protect public health.

"None of the other motivations which have been attributed to us by various 
people came into our consideration," Mr Hallinan said.

St John's Wort is a herbal medicine used in the treatment of mild to 
moderate depression and was sold until January this year in health shops 
and over the counter in pharmacies. Of the 993 requests made to the IMB for 
documentation under the Freedom of Information Act in 1999, 951 were from 
members of the public relating to St John's Wort, according to the annual 
report.

Mr Hallinan said the board recognised the growing interest in "unorthodox 
types of medicines" and in individuals taking greater responsibility for 
their health through disease prevention. He said, however, people should 
not have been able to take the product without the advice of a doctor 
because of the seriousness of depression. "The widespread availability and 
irresponsible advertising of St John's Wort as 'Nature's Prozac' created a 
major public health concern for the board," he added.

During a review of the product, he said possible side effects were noted 
such as hypersensitivity to sunlight and gastrointestinal effects. There 
were also potential interactions with other medications such as the 
contraceptive pill.

"None of these problems were being mentioned on any of the range of St 
John's Wort containing products which were being widely promoted," Mr 
Hallinan said.

He added: "The board stands by its recommendation regarding St John's Wort, 
as the product was being focused at consumers who needed to visit their 
doctor and with no regard to the information about possible side effects 
and interactions of this substance with other medicines."
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