Benefits and risks of the hypericum extract LI 160: drug monitoring study with 3250 patients

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 1994 Oct:7 Suppl 1:S34-8. doi: 10.1177/089198879400700110.

Abstract

Effectiveness and acceptance of a 4-week treatment with hypericum extract LI 160 were investigated by 663 private practitioners. The results of the 3250 patients (76% women and 24% men), were recorded using data sheets. The age of the patients ranged from 20 to 90 years (mean 51 years). Of the patients, 49% were mildly depressed, 46% intermediate, and 3% severely depressed. In about 30% of the patients, the situation normalized or improved during the therapy. Undesired drug effects were reported in 79 (2.4%) patients and 48 (1.5%) discontinued the therapy. Most frequently noted side effects were gastrointestinal irritations (0.6%), allergic reactions (0.5%), tiredness (0.4%), and restlessness (0.3%).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypericum
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Dropouts
  • Perylene / adverse effects
  • Perylene / analogs & derivatives*
  • Perylene / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Quercetin / adverse effects
  • Quercetin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Xanthenes / adverse effects
  • Xanthenes / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Xanthenes
  • Perylene
  • Quercetin