Taking Hiv Drugs With Milk

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Get the Facts

Silymarin (Milk Thistle)

Most of the scientific studies of silymarin were published in Europe. The Bottom Line Silymarin is an extract of the seeds of the milk thistle plant. It has been used for over 2,000 years to treat liver problems. No serious side effects or dangerous interactions have been noted. For people with HIV, especially if they have had hepatitis, silymarin might help protect the liver from damage caused by ARVs. It might also reduce stomach upset...

Ask the Experts

Milk thistle (Silymarin) and HIV meds

Im on PEP - Is milk thistle good or bad for a regime of AZT+3TC and Indinavir.. Thought taking it would help me protect my liver...thanks...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Although there has been alot of interest in the possible benefit of milk thistle in the setting of HIV or hepatitis C there is no good data suggesting that it is useful to prevent side effects of HIV meds. A 4 week course of your HIV meds usually is... Read more »

Acyclovir and Rhinoceros Milk for HIV

I recently read your response to a question about the possibility that acyclovir increases cd4 counts. I was a little disheartened by the response you gave. Is there a way to physically test in a peitre dish or other technical method to determine if...

Response from Gerald Pierone, M.D.

AIDS Research and Treatment Center of the Treasure Coast

Hello, and thanks for posting. I did not respond to the question about acyclovir, but there are some data suggesting that acyclovir positively affects CD4+ lymphocyte counts by suppressing herpes replication which in turn lessens immune activation.... Read more »

Alternative Liver Detoxifiers other than Milk Thistle

I fully understand the concern about mixing Milk Thistle (sylamarin) with certian HIV meds since some of these both share the 450 cytochrome pathway in the liver for meatbolism. I have had success using phosphadytal choline (in Lectithin) and...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Thanks for your thoughtful comments. In this forum I frequently refer readers to sources of information about alternative therapies (i.e. Jon Kaiser's book Healing HIV or the www.daair.org website).We often have minimal drug interaction... Read more »

HIV MEDS & MILK THISTLE

Has there been any additional findings as to if the use of milk thistle to detox the liver and it's direct effect on the HIV meds being taken? My liver enzymes have been elevating and I was wondering if this would reduce the benefits of the...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

I haven't seen any good data on milk thistle and the liver in the setting of use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infectio. If any reader knows of a good reference/study please post! KH... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others