Does Intake Of Trazodone And St.John's Wort Have Adverse Effect On Serotonin Levels?

Posted on Tue, 29 Mar 2016

Question: My Neurologist has prescribed Trazodone Tab 50 mg to replace the clonzepam I now take for sleep. I am researching it and it seems to work on the serotonin levels. Right now I take 300 mg of St John's Wort 3 times a day to keep my serotonin levels evened out. With fibromyalgia there seems to be a shortage of that. I started using the St. John's Wort after several months on Prozac . When I quit the Prozac I was as depressed as before (after 2 weeks). Should I continue the St John's Wort with the Trazodone, or discontinue it?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Both affect serotonin levels.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

St. John's wort acts by noncompetitive trip take inhibition of serotonin besides other monoamines, so it affects the levels of serotonin.

Trazodone (antidepressant drug too) also affects the serotonin levels and function by antagonistic and reuptake inhibition of serotonin, so, if you use both of them, there may be serious serotonin imbalance.

I think, you should stop St. John's wort while you use Trazodone.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Greetings.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee