Mood Swings and Depression: Can St. John's Wort help?

[motre]

I experience occasional mood swings on the advent of a depressive episode. The 300 mg of Wellbrutrin appear to stabilize most of my depressive symptoms, but not all. I can get overly emotional in response to something that doesn't warrant extreme behavior at all. Then I can have bouts of needing to be totally isolated and alone, unable to function well with others when I'm in the middle of such a bout. When it passes, it's as if the clouds have lifted and it's been sunny out all along. Only I didn't know it. How can I end this horrible debilitation? End the self-destructive mood swings? How can I avoid these depressive cycles? (I eat well, exercise, take Wellbutrin regularly...) HELP! Is there something homeopathic out there?

[Scooby1298]

I have to agree with the others re St Johns Wort, I was taking it for nearly two years  [no other meds involved at that time]. To be honest it did nothing for me after the initial two to three months.
Mixing it with other meds, is a definite No No, In the UK, they actually have it printed on the bottles and the fact that you should consult with a GP before taking it.

Hope this helps
Scooby1298

[whodunnit]

Agree big time Hensley. Don't touch this St John's stuff unless you are totally med free. It really doesn't help much anyway so give it a miss.

Lithium is also very effective as a mood stabiliser for both depressed and bi polar.

[Hensley258]

Whatever you do DON'T add St. Johns wort to Welbutrin.
If you take St. Johns Wort then you can not be on any antidepressant.

This fact comes streight from my Psychiatrist that has 25 years experience in Psychopharmocology.

Your problem is an easy one to solve. Simply add Lithobid CR to your Welbutrin.
Start at 300Mgs a day and in 3 weeks go get a Lithium Level test done. If the test is below 0.8 then you need to jump up to 600mgs a day. Then test again. If still below 0.8 then jump to 900 a day.

Effective theraputic Levels of lithium are between 0.8 and 1.5
Lithium has no antidepressant effect below 0.8 blood level.

Above 1.5 can be toxic, which is why the testing is a smart thing to do.

Do not underestimate the power of Lithium in the right dosage to even out mood and add better effect to any antidepressant drug.

It works much better than other mood stabilizers such as Lamictal and Depikote.

This is all stuff that your Psychiatrist should know. If for any reason you are visiting a doctor that does not know such simple things then please find another doctor.

Is this doctor a Psychiatrist or just an MD? I really can't stress enough that you should never allow a regular MD to treat your mental illness. It's a bad idea.