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."