Q Can I take herbal medicine while taking an SSRI (anti-anxiety medication)?
A Combining SSRIs with herbal medicine theoretically requires consideration of serotonin syndrome risk, so you must always tell your Korean medicine doctor what medications you are taking.
Detailed Answer
SSRI antidepressants such as escitalopram and sertraline inhibit serotonin reuptake. In theory, when combined with certain herbal ingredients that affect serotonin (such as Wonji and Hapanpi), the risk of serotonin syndrome must be considered. Clinically serious interaction cases have been rare to date, but you must inform your Korean medicine doctor of all mental health medications you are taking so that a safe prescription can be designed. Korean medicine treatment is used as a supportive role to ease the increased anxiety that can occur in the early stage of medication or to help bring forward the time of tapering.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we confirm all anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and sleep aids being taken at the first visit. When a patient is on medication, we first choose formulas with low interaction risk such as those based on Boksin (Poria with hostwood), Sanjoin, and Baekhap (lily bulb), and after stabilization we gradually broaden the prescription range. We design safe combined treatment in communication with the attending physician.
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