The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has defended a decision taken last year to recommend banning the sale of St John's Wort over the counter and making it available under prescription only.
In the board's annual report for 1999, Mr Frank Hallinan, chief executive, said the board took the decision solely to protect public health.
"None of the other motivations which have been attributed to us by various people came into our consideration," Mr Hallinan said.
St John's Wort is a herbal medicine used in the treatment of mild to moderate depression and was sold until January this year in health shops and over the counter in pharmacies. Of the 993 requests made to the IMB for documentation under the Freedom of Information Act in 1999, 951 were from members of the public relating to St John's Wort, according to the annual report.
Mr Hallinan said the board recognised the growing interest in "unorthodox types of medicines" and in individuals taking greater responsibility for their health through disease prevention. He said, however, people should not have been able to take the product without the advice of a doctor because of the seriousness of depression. "The widespread availability and irresponsible advertising of St John's Wort as `Nature's Prozac' created a major public health concern for the board," he added.
During a review of the product, he said possible side effects were noted such as hypersensitivity to sunlight and gastrointestinal effects. There were also potential interactions with other medications such as the contraceptive pill.
"None of these problems were being mentioned on any of the range of St John's Wort containing products which were being widely promoted," Mr Hallinan said.