Ingredient scan: the one with the longest warning list
St. John's wort in MemoPryl: the medicine-clash check
St. John's wort is one of six ingredient names the seller's notes link to a sibling MemoPryl pack, and no image we have confirms it for your bottle. It is studied for low mood, not memory, and it can weaken many prescription medicines. Keep taking prescribed medicine and ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
Written by the MemoPryl label deskUpdated
Is St. John's wort really in MemoPryl?
Maybe, and the label does not settle it. The seller's notes name St. John's wort as one of six ingredients on a sibling MemoPryl pack, and say to confirm the current bottle.
Neither bottle image we have shows a Supplement Facts panel. So we cannot say if the capsules you receive hold St. John's wort, or how much. Read the panel on your own bottle first. It wins over this site.
St. John's wort is the flowering herb Hypericum perforatum. People have studied it mostly for low mood. That is a different job from the memory, focus and clarity claims on the front label.
Check: look for "St. John's Wort" or "Hypericum" in the panel.
| Name in the seller's notes | St. John's Wort |
|---|---|
| What it is | A flowering herb (Hypericum perforatum) studied mainly for low mood |
| On the bottle? | Unconfirmed: named in the seller's product notes from a sibling pack; no Supplement Facts panel was supplied |
| Amount per capsule | Not printed (no Supplement Facts panel supplied) |
| Amount used in research | Studied as a depression remedy, not as a memory ingredient |
| Strength of evidence | Not shown to improve memory; NCCIH says it is not consistently effective even for depression |
| Marketed use | Sold for mood |
| Main caution | Weakens many medicines (antidepressants, birth control pills, warfarin, transplant, HIV and heart drugs) and can cause serotonin syndrome with some antidepressants. |
Which of my medicines does St. John's wort clash with?
Many of them. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says St. John's wort can weaken the effects of many medicines, including crucially important ones (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety).
The reason is practical. The herb can make the body clear some drugs faster, so the dose you were prescribed does less. With birth control pills or transplant drugs, that matters a lot.
FDA gives the same warning. It says the herb can make several types of medication less effective, including HIV/AIDS, heart disease, depression, organ transplant and birth control drugs (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
| Medicine group | Named examples | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Antidepressants | Amitriptyline, bupropion | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety) |
| Birth control pills | Hormonal pills | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth) (MSK, St. John's Wort) |
| Blood thinner | Warfarin | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth) (MSK, St. John's Wort) |
| Transplant drugs | Cyclosporine, tacrolimus | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth) (MSK, St. John's Wort) |
| Heart medicines | Digoxin and others | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety) (MSK, St. John's Wort) |
| HIV and cancer drugs | Some, by name on your pharmacy sheet | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety) |
| Seizure drugs and statins | Some | (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety) |
Next step: bring the bottle, or a photo of the panel, to your pharmacist. Keep taking prescribed medicine exactly as directed while you ask.
What is serotonin syndrome, and why does it come up here?
Serotonin syndrome is the body's reaction to too much serotonin activity. It usually happens when two or more medicines that affect serotonin are taken together (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome).
St. John's wort belongs on that worry list. NCCIH says combining it with certain antidepressants can cause a potentially life-threatening rise in serotonin (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth). MSK reports serotonin syndrome especially with prescription antidepressants (MSK, St. John's Wort).
The risk is higher when you first start a medicine or raise a dose (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome). Symptoms can show up within minutes to hours.
Agitation, diarrhea, a fast heartbeat, hallucinations or a rising body temperature (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome). Untreated, serotonin syndrome can be deadly. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own; call first.
If you take any antidepressant, triptan or other mood or migraine medicine, treat a St. John's wort capsule as a question for your prescriber. Not a guess.
Does St. John's wort help memory?
No study we cite shows that it does. The research is about depression, and even there the answer is mixed.
NCCIH says the herb is not consistently effective for depression. A 2002 study of 340 people with moderate major depression found it no better than placebo. A 2008 review of 29 studies found it may beat placebo for mild to moderate major depression (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth).
That leaves a gap. A mood herb inside a capsule sold for focus has no memory trial behind it.
Read this as a label gap
The front label promises "Supports Focus*" and "Optimized Memory*" on label A, and concentration and brain energy on label B. The asterisk points to the FDA disclaimer (FDA, Structure/Function Claims).
Nothing on either label ties St. John's wort to those words. Mood is not the same as memory, and the site claims no link.
MemoPryl: capsules in 2, 3 or 6 bottlesRead the bottle · check your medicines · 60-day window (confirm)
See packsWhat side effects and timing rules apply?
The common ones are mild, and the timing rules are the part people miss. MSK lists headache, nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, stomach upset and more sun sensitivity (MSK, St. John's Wort).
NCCIH adds that large oral doses may cause severe skin reactions after sun exposure. It may be unsafe in pregnancy because it may raise the risk of birth defects (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety). MSK says pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take it (MSK, St. John's Wort).
Before surgery, MSK says to stop it at least one week ahead. Before chemotherapy, the same (MSK, St. John's Wort). FDA notes that a clinician may ask you to stop supplements two to three weeks before a procedure (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements). Ask your surgeon which number applies to you.
- Pregnancy or nursing: skip it unless a physician says otherwise.
- Planned surgery: tell the team about every supplement.
- Any reaction: stop and call your doctor, then consider a report to FDA (FDA, Report a Supplement Problem).
What should I check on my bottle before deciding?
Check four lines, in this order. It takes two minutes and needs no dose guess.
The panel
Find the Supplement Facts panel. Look for St. John's wort or Hypericum. Our images show no panel at all.
The warnings
Read the printed cautions. They are not on any image we have, so only your bottle can tell you.
Your medicine list
Write down every pill, patch and supplement you use, with the strength. Hand it to a pharmacist.
The count and the claims
Label A says 30 capsules, label B says 60. The bottle that arrives is the source of truth.
Pause and ask. If it is not, the herb is not your concern, but the other ingredients still deserve the same check. See the pharmacist question guide.
The MemoPryl side effects guide covers warning signs.
Where do I read about the other five names?
Each named ingredient has its own scan, with the same layout: what it is, what studies say, what to ask.
Start with the ginkgo scan if you take a blood thinner.
FAQ01
Quick answers on St. John's wort and medicines
Does St. John's wort interact with birth control pills?
Yes, it can. NCCIH and MSK both list birth control pills among the medicines St. John's wort can weaken. If you rely on the pill, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any product that contains the herb, and keep using your prescribed method until you hear back.
Is St. John's wort safe with antidepressants?
Not without asking. Combining it with certain antidepressants can raise serotonin to a dangerous level, which is called serotonin syndrome. Do not stop your prescription on your own. Call your prescriber or pharmacist first and show them the supplement bottle.
How long before surgery should I stop St. John's wort?
MSK says at least one week before surgery or chemotherapy. FDA adds that a care team may ask you to stop supplements two to three weeks before a procedure. Tell your surgeon about every supplement and follow the number they give you.
Can St. John's wort improve memory?
No study we cite shows it does. Research on the herb centers on depression, where results are mixed. NCCIH calls it not consistently effective even there. A memory claim for a capsule with this herb has no direct trial behind it.
Is St. John's wort listed on the MemoPryl bottle?
We cannot tell. The seller's notes name it for a sibling pack, but no Supplement Facts panel appears in any bottle image we have. Read the panel on the bottle you receive. If the herb is not listed, the medicine clash does not apply.
What are signs of serotonin syndrome?
MedlinePlus lists agitation, diarrhea, a fast heartbeat, hallucinations and a rising body temperature. Symptoms can start within minutes to hours, often after a new medicine or a higher dose. Call your provider right away, and do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Does St. John's wort make skin more sensitive to sun?
It can. MSK lists increased sun sensitivity as a common side effect, and NCCIH says large oral doses may cause severe skin reactions after sun exposure. Cover up outdoors and tell your doctor if you notice new redness or a rash.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle images, the seller's product notes and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Official stocking desk for MemoPryl, not by the manufacturer or the distributor of the bottle. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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