Does St John’s Wort make you sleepy? (risks vs benefits)

This article will discuss whether Saint John’s Wort causes sleepiness. It will explore research studies on St. John’s Wort’s benefits for sleep. It will also discuss how Saint John’s Wort’s sleep-inducing effects can cause daytime sleepiness in some people.

Additionally, the article provides suggestions on what to do if Saint John’s Wort causes excessive sleeping or daytime sleepiness as a side effect. Finally, it will mention other side effects that people should be aware of before taking Saint John’s Wort for sleep.

Does St John’s Wort make you sleepy?

Yes, Saint John’s Wort (SJW) can make you sleepy. Saint John’s Wort is a medicinal herb that unselectively inhibits the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters, including GABA, serotonin, and norepinephrine, in cells. This increases the availability of these neurotransmitters in the synapse and increases the actions.

Increased GABA activity, which can be caused by SJW, leads to calmness and sleepiness. Some people can benefit from Saint John’s Wort’s sleep-inducing effects in treating insomnia and other sleep disturbances.

However, SJW-induced sleepiness may also be a side effect for people who experience daytime sleepiness. People react to medications differently. Thus, you should consult with a doctor before taking SJW to treat insomnia. 

What does research suggest?

There isn’t a study that directly investigates Saint John’s Wort’s sleep-inducing effects on humans. However, in a trial studying its anti-depressive effects for perimenopausal women, it was found that SJW also helped with sleep disturbances and improved sleep quality.

Additionally, a trial was conducted to investigate St. John’s Wort’s benefits for mice that had been sleep-deprived for 72 hours. St. John’s wort administration improved various symptoms and problems that were caused by this sleep deprivation.

For example, sleep deprivation in these mice led to behavioral changes, anxiety, increased oxidative stress, and changes in body weight. After taking SJW, anxiety symptoms significantly improved, and locomotor function was enhanced. SJW also normalized their body weights.

Researchers concluded that SJW can help with sleep deprivation-induced anxiety and oxidative stress.

What to do if St. John’s Wort causes daytime sleepiness?

If Saint John’s Wort causes daytime sleepiness, you may need to change the way you administer it. For example, it is better to take it at night close to bedtime to avoid its sleep-inducing effects occurring during the day.

Moreover, try reducing the dose and see if the daytime sleepiness goes away. You may also change the frequency of administration. For example, If you take your full dose one time per day, try dividing it throughout the day. This may help reduce side effects like daytime sleepiness.

If you are feeling sleepy and suspect that SJW is causing this, drinking coffee or tea may help. It is also important that you avoid driving, operating on dangerous machinery, or engaging in dangerous sports if you feel sleepy or sedated, as SJW-induced sedation may lead to accidents.

If possible, try to avoid taking other drugs that cause sleepiness, such as Contrave, or antidepressants like Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and Prozac. If you must take other sedating drugs, then it’s recommended to take them at night.

If an elderly person takes Saint John’s Wort and feels sleepy or drowsy, it is very important that they sit down or lay down and rest. SJW-induced sedation or daytime sleepiness in the elderly can lead to falls. It is also recommended to have someone present at home to support the old person and prevent falls.

Finally, if you still experience daytime sleepiness while taking SJW, you can discuss this with your doctor. They can suggest an alternative based on your condition, medical history, and concurrent medications.

What are the other side effects of St. John’s Wort?

If you’re considering using Saint John’s Wort for sleep disturbances, it is important to be aware of the risk of daytime sleepiness. Moreover, Saint John’s Wort can also cause other side effects. This table demonstrates SJW’s possible side effects [1]:

Understanding St. John’s Wort’s effects on sleep

Based on my knowledge, Saint John’s Wort can cause sleepiness in a lot of people. I believe that this is due to its ability to increase the action of GABA. Moreover, based on my research, I found that SJW can also treat symptoms associated with sleep deprivation, such as sleep deprivation-induced anxiety.

From my perspective, it is important to be aware that St. John’s Wort-induced sleepiness isn’t always beneficial; it can cause daytime sleepiness in some people, which can lead to accidents and falls in the elderly.

If you experience St. John’s Wort-induced daytime sleepiness, I suggest taking it at night, reducing the dose, or changing the dosing frequency throughout the day. I also suggest avoiding combining it with other drugs that cause sedation. Moreover, older people need to be extra careful due to the risk of falls.

Finally, if St. John’s Wort-induced sleepiness is severe or persistent, consult with a doctor and consider replacing it with another herb or drug with less sedating side effects. 

References