Other safety alerts
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| The United Kingdom: St John's wort: interaction with hormonal contraceptives, including implants |
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St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a herbal medicine traditionally used to relieve slightly low mood and mild anxiety. The MHRA has received two Yellow Card reports in the last quarter of 2013 of suspected interactions in women with implanted contraceptives containing etonogestrel (Nexplanon and Implanon). These women started taking St John’s wort and then had unplanned pregnancies. A total of 19 reports of suspected interactions between St John’s wort and hormonal contraceptives have been received through the Yellow Card scheme since 2000 (four for contraceptive implants and 15 for contraceptive pills). Of these suspected interactions, 15 cases resulted in unplanned pregnancies and the remaining four cases in association with contraceptive pills resulted in breakthrough bleeding without pregnancies. Healthcare professionals are advised to advise women taking hormonal contraceptives for pregnancy prevention not to take herbal products containing St John’s wort.
Please refer to the following website in MHRA for details:
https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/st-john-s-wort-interaction-with-hormonal-contraceptives-including-implants
In Hong Kong, hormonal contraceptives (excluding implants) are registered pharmaceutical products. So far, the Department of Health (DH) has not received any adverse reaction report of the drug associated with the use of St John's wort. The Department of Health (DH) will remain vigilant on the safety updates of the drug.
Ends/ Thursday, January 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:00
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