Loading...
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the most common herbal treatments given to children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Like atomoxetine (Strattera) — which is approved for use in children with ADHD — St. John’s wort is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
In a clinical trial conducted at a college of naturopathic medicine, 54 children and adolescents who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD (age range, 6–17 years; mean age, 10) were randomized to thrice-daily St. John’s wort (300 mg) or placebo for 8 weeks after a 1-week placebo run-in. Nearly half the children previously had taken medications for ADHD. Based on blinded clinical evaluations and standardized assessments at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, no difference was…