St John's Wort and how to get off it?

Question

Hi - I have been taking St Johns Wort 1+1/2 tabs/day (bottle states "each tab.extract equiv. dry Hypericum perforatum herb top fl.1.8g stand to flavanoid glycosides 18mg stand. to hypericin 990cg". (Mediherb) for 6 years now and recently changed to taking 2 tabs/day of Hyp.p 750g with added herbs (Schizandra,Tumera and Scutellaria - combined called "Nevaton"-Mediherb)
Has anyone taken St J for a few years then gone off it? Did you experience any side effects ON the herb and/or withdrawls when you went OFF the herb? I also take Remifemin (a Black Cohosh extract). I have been feeling a little "light headed" (3 months, so am looking at what I'm taking). BP is OK. There are no side effects mentioned on the Remifemin leaflet. Also, do you have any other advice? NB. I am over 60 and also use a Progesterone cream (NOT the synthetic Progestin) and is made up by Compounding chemists. Thanks (I am a trained nurse with a keen interest in using natural therapies, NOT traditional drugs!

Answer 1

I am under the care of an NMD (Naturopathic Medical Doctor) and he said that you do not need to taper off St. John's Wort. I was taking it 3 times a day for 2 months and stopped cold turkey. I don't know about your other herbs. I'm on the natural progesterone cream too.