Hypertensive Crisis Associated with St. John’s Wort

    April 2002 in “ The American Journal of Medicine ”
    Sona Patel, Robert Robinson, Martha S. Burk
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    TLDR St. John's Wort can cause dangerous high blood pressure if taken with certain foods.
    A 41-year-old man experienced a hypertensive crisis and delirium after consuming St. John's Wort along with tyramine-rich foods. His blood pressure was 210/140 mm Hg, and he was disoriented. Laboratory tests ruled out other causes, suggesting that St. John's Wort may act as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, leading to severe hypertension when combined with tyramine-rich foods. This case highlighted the need for caution when using St. John's Wort, especially with certain dietary habits.
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