This is a series of studies in healthy volunteers to assess the potential for adverse
interactions between St. John's wort (SJW) extract and two narcotic (opioid) pain
medications: oxycodone and fentanyl. In the case of oxycodone, we are interested in whether
SJW treatment promotes the metabolism of oxycodone, such that it lowers the effectiveness of
standard doses of oxycodone in treating pain problems. For the fentanyl study, we will
investigate whether SJW treatment will interfere with the delivery of fentanyl to the brain
and diminish it's effectiveness to relieve pain. There is evidence to suggest that SJW
treatment may increase the activity of a transporter protein, named P-glycoprotein (Pgp), in
the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that protects the brain from exposure to drugs and other
dietary and environmental toxins.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)