Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Pancreatitis Attacks & St. John's Wort- a Correlation? Posted: 02-02-05 12:24pm
Folks,
as a single male, when chronic
pancreatitis (cp) is diagnosed, there is
always a medical supposition that the
condition is alcohol-related. In my own
case however, I could see no obvious
correlation between my alcohol consumption
patterns and my symptoms. Where I could
see obvious linkage however, was between
extreme stress and cp symptoms (note: I am
not denying that alcohol is a significant
trigger). So, I concluded that in my case
at least, there seems to be a direct link
between pancreatitis and stress.
Reflecting on a recent event however, i’m
beginning to think that I may not have
been entirely correct concerning this
linkage, and that the real culprit may be
st. John’s wort. My theory goes like
this:-
over the years I have been prone to
occasional bouts of depression. I have
always associated my depression with
stress. So at times of actual or
potential stress, I have tended to use
anti-depressant agents to treat or
pre-empt the condition. Some years ago I
made a decision (about the same time as my
pancreas started playing up) to abandon
the mainstream pharmaceutical
anti-depressives (e.G. Seroxat) and try
out the leading herbal alternative
instead; namely st. John’s wort. The
timing of this seems to correspond fairly
well with the start of my pancreatic
troubles. So, looking back at my own
medical history, while there is an
apparent correlation between stress and
pancreatitis, there also seems to be a
strong link between st. John’s wort and
my periods of illness.
Anyway, I had been free of both
pancreatitis attacks and st. John’s wort
for some time, until recently, when I
discovered a bottle of st. John’s wort
tablets in a cupboard. I wasn’t feeling
depressed, but the expiry date was near,
so I thought I might as well use them.
They might put an extra spring in my step
and anyway, what harm could it do? I
started taking some every morning for 3 or
4 days, then my pancreas flared-up. I
felt so lousy that I lost all interest in
the st. John’s wort and stopped taking
it; and after a few days I felt fine
again. In all likelihood, this is all
simple coincidence, but it has set my mind
wondering. I could of course, start
taking the tablets to see if I get ill
again, but somehow I am reluctant to do
that.
Has anyone else noticed a correlation
between st. John’s wort and pancreatic
inflammation?
Andy
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jewlzz2
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Peck, KS
My Husband Has Chronic Pancreatitus! Posted: 04-22-05 23:49pm
He has never taken st. John's wort,
however, he had tremendous stress in his
life prior to his getting ill. They only
diagnosed his cp in the last 6 months, but
he has had the symptoms for 11 years now.
He had an abusive stepfather & 3
siblings & a mother to worry about.
My husband being the oldest felt he should
protect them all from him. In addition
his job brought on tremendous stress also.
He was on call 24 hours & would work
over 12 hours per day, get home, just get
laid down, then get called back in on a
regular basis. He had his gall bladder
removed right after the symptoms started
& they nicked his liver in the
process. Still wondering if this might
have caused some additional problems. He
has almost died on us 3 times now from
kidney failure due to the excessive
vomiting. His doctor said it the worst
case they have seen & are only
bandaiding it the best they can until they
can figure something out to help him. He
did not drink much at all. I believe
stress brought it on.
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ReeAnn
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2005 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia
Other Medications? Posted: 04-29-05 07:16am
Hi andy,
were you taking any other medications??
After reading your post, I did a search
for a corrolation between st. John's wort
and pancreatitis. While I didn't find
any suggestion that it can cause
pancreatic problems, I cerrtainly did find
it negatively impacted other drugs. The
stange thing I did find, some of the drugs
it interacts with do cause pancreatitis.
So there could be a corrolation, just
hasn't been documented yet. So very
little is really know about
pancreatitis.......... And as chronic
pancreatitis is consider a rare disease,
it doesn't get the funding research other
diseases recieve.
While alcohol was not the cause of your
pancreatitis, it is always advisable to
abstain once pancreatitis has been even
suspected. And you don't have to be male
to have the pancreatitis blamed on
drinking. It happens to most of us
atleast once or twice in our medical care.
Prior to learning about pancreatitis, I
was a social drinker. And it was no big
deal to give it up. I did learn the hard
way why this is so important after 1/2
glass of wine at my boss' christmas party.
I too can attest that stress is major
factor. Stress causes a lot of problems
with the body beyond what it does with
pancreatitis. Yet it is something
everyone faces to one degree or another.
Sure would like to see more research done
on this subject as well....
