Heidu - Wordy?! ... ME?! .... I hadn't noticed.

The blurred vison that you are experiencing with Paxil is usually attributed to Paxil's antimuscarinic effects. The blocking of acetylcholine receptors (ie. the muscarinic-M1 receptor type, not the muscarinic-M2 nor the nicotinic family of receptors) is one of those "side effects" of Paxil™ (paroxetine) where it's molecules bind to receptors other than the serotonin reuptake mechanism (in theis case the "muscarinic/cholinergic-M1 - 'M/C-M1 - receptor').

Besides being (partially) responsible for the blurred vision (via a couple of different mechanisms), blockade of the M/C-receptor also is responsible for some of the weight gain that is often attributed to Paxil™.

On the other hand, muscarinic-M1 blockade is also the mechanism that makes Paxil™ the first choice of the SSRIs in treating anxiety states, such as panic disorder and (maybe) social phobia.

As for the possibility of adjusting to the drowsiness caused by Paxil, the body will adjust to a large part of it, but because of the muscarinic-M1 blockade, some people retain a little drowsiness for up to 6 months.

As for switching from Paxil™ to SJW, I would do a direct switch, without a washout. The half-life of Paxil™ is fairly short, and it you just stop the SSRI you risk serotonin withdrawl syndrome.

On the other hand, a direct switch from Paxil™ one day to SJW the next may result in serotonin syndrome (the opposite of serotonin withdrawl syndrome, in which the body is receiving too much of the neurotransmitter). Personally, I believe that the probability of either of these scenarios occurring is remote; and if they did occur the symptoms would most likely be mild.

Since SJW might have antimuscarinic activity. Of this I am not certain, but with the number of other chemical compounds in the SJW plant the probability is fairly high. If this is the case, the drowsiness induced by SJW should fade, for the most part.

LECTURE ALERT: <with wagging index finger>

"Natural" does not, cannot, and should not equated with "Safe"! ..... that isn't safe

Cyanide is found naturally in peach pits.

I say, "Anything that you ingest which you expect to elicit a medicinal effect of any kind has o be considered a drug". Water is a drug when you drink it to try to flush out a viral infection; several unripe crabapples are a laxative inducing a medicinal effect (whether you want it or not).

The reason that most herbal preparations have a low incidence of side effects is because the concentration of active ingredients is low. If you concentrated the active ingredients in SJW in order to (potentially) increase it's activity, there will more than likely be a corresponding in the incidence and severity of side effects.

The above is not directed at you, Wendy. The "natural=safe" myth is one of my pet peeves, and it is my mission in life to discredit it every chance I get. I hope that you do not take offense at my rant.

I hope that this answers some more of your concerns. - Cam
P.S. The above may make more sense if you read the text and ignore the stuff in parentheses until you get the gist of what I am trying to say .... I hope.

To fully understand a concept is to be unable to describe it verbal, only emotionally.