Performance & Grey-Market Pharma
St John's Wort (Hypericum)
Street names: SJW, Hypericum perforatum, Amber, Klamath weed
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Mild antidepressant effect for mild-moderate depression (German Rx tradition)
- The most-studied herbal psychotropic
⚠Key risks
- THE INTERACTION KING: induces CYP3A4 and P-gp — weakens oral contraceptives (pregnancies documented), HIV antiretrovirals, transplant immunosuppressants, blood thinners, chemotherapy
- Serotonin syndrome with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol
- Photosensitivity (livestock poisoning history)
- The 'natural so safe' assumption is the danger — it is a real psychotropic with real pharmacology
✚Overdose signs
- Serotonin syndrome signs with combos
- Severe photosensitivity reactions
📋Quick facts
Also known asSJW, Hypericum perforatum, Amber, Klamath weed
CategoryPerformance & Grey-Market Pharma
Schedule / classOTC supplement — unregulated US; Rx-only Germany for depression
AppearanceYellow-flowered herb; capsules, teas, tinctures standardized to hypericin/hyperforin
Street price$8–$20 per bottle
Legal statusSupplement US; Rx Germany; interaction warnings FDA/EMA
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: FDA, EMA, PubMed
Category comparison — Performance & Grey-Market Pharma
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Wort (Hypericum) | OTC supplement — unregulated US; Rx-only Germany for depression | THE INTERACTION KING: induces CYP3A4 and P-gp — weakens oral contraceptives (pregnancies documented), HIV antiretrovirals, transplant immunosuppressants, blood thinners, chemotherapy; Serotonin syndrome with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol | $8–$20 per bottle |
| 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) | Supplement — unregulated US/UK/EU | SEROTONIN SYNDROME when stacked with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, or MAOIs — the 'harmless supplement' interacts fatally with the party calendar; Heart-valve concern (chronic high-dose serotonin load, rodent signals) | $10–$25 per bottle |
| MAOIs (Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine, Moclobemide) | Rx-only — not controlled | TYRAMINE CRISIS: aged cheese, cured meats, tap beer, fermented soy → hypertensive crisis (stroke-level BP) — the classic interaction; SEROTONIN SYNDROME with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, dextromethorphan, St John's Wort — potentially fatal; washout rules (2 weeks for irreversibles) | ~$0.50–$2 per tablet |
| MDMA | Schedule I | Overheating + dehydration (or fatal water intoxication); Serotonin depletion — multi-day comedown | ~$10–$40 per pill |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does St John's Wort (Hypericum) look like?
Yellow-flowered herb; capsules, teas, tinctures standardized to hypericin/hyperforin
What are the signs of a St John's Wort (Hypericum) overdose?
Serotonin syndrome signs with combos; Severe photosensitivity reactions Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
THE INTERACTION KING: induces CYP3A4 and P-gp — weakens oral contraceptives (pregnancies documented), HIV antiretrovirals, transplant immunosuppressants, blood thinners, chemotherapy Dependence can develop with regular use.