Chromium and St. John's Wort

Hi Dr. McLeod,

Lately I've been hearing much regarding the positives of taking chromium picolinate for minor depression. Can chromium picolinate be taking at the same time with St. John's Wort? I know, for example, that Xanax taken with St. John's Wort results in the Saint John's Wort removing the Xanax from the body faster, resulting in less absorption of the Xanax in the body. Are there any problems with taking chromium with Saint John's Wort, or chromium with Xanax?

Thanks,
Sam

ANSWER: I don't have enought experience with the combination of chromium picolinate and St. John's Wort (hypericum) to give you a certain answer, but I can tell you that three of my patients (two men and a woman) took the combination and felt awful. The woman's menstrual period was much more difficult than usual. After they stopped St. John's Wort and continued chromium, they felt much better.

I don't know the answer to your second question regarding taking chromium with Xanax.

I would surely welcome any future observation you have about your questions, so I can pass that info along to other readers.

To your good health,
Malcolm McLeod, MD