Grapefruit and milk thistle?

[meNtoby]

I've read a couple new things on grapefruit.  And the old standby of Milk Thistle.  If anybody
has any good urls on this, or info, or experience, could you post please?  Besides
wanting to start right away getting in best shape possible, I would like to give my
body any chance for stopping possible progression. Thanks, Cathy

[Marcia2202]

Hi Cathy,

Both grapefruit and milk thistle are good for the liver, but not to be taken while on treatment. Look at a recent post called 'DON'Ts on TX, what to avoid'. Or enter grapefruit, or milk thistle in the 'Search this Community' field on the right. You will find a lot of discussions concerning these subjects.

Marcia

[Faith53]

6 weeks ago, I started taking 1 Milk Thistle (Super Siliphos) tablet and 1 Grapefruit (Naringenin) tablet per day.  I am hoping that these supplements either gets rid of the virus, or that my ALT and AST numbers remain normal until a cure is found or better tx becomes available.  I won't start the standard tx that is available now because of the side effects.

My Viral Load was 203,000.  I will be getting more bloodwork in six weeks, and I will see if my numbers have decreased.  I was diagnosed 3 months ago and found out that I probably contracted this virus 21 years ago.

I will let you know the results.

[meNtoby]

Those are encouraging numbers, I think, for trying what you're trying, and I would really
like to hear back how that works out.  I have not had PCR results yet, but I'm guessing 33 years for mine.  Also taking the milk thistle (as of today) and just drinking regular juice.  I'm concerned more for the cost than sides, as I'm sure there's going to be incidentals, OTC's and the inability to make the extra money I do now.

One thing else I do know is that my enzymes just now spiked in last 4 months, so they haven't been high for years without my knowing I don't think.  My platelet count is normal as well.  I wish you the best, and thanks for responding, I may do the same if I have good numbers.

Marcia;  Thanks as well, I'm kind of surprised by that.  Sooo many questions, a slow computer, but I will follow those search results.  Getting some answers Tuesday, blood within another week....2 weeks seems a long time to wait for a VL, and they use Quest.  Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me do you have to go to the doctor every week and do bloodwork while on treatment?  That would be the difference in who I pick regarding distance if I went that route.

Cathy

[Marcia2202]

I live in Copenhagen, Denmark and they might do things a bit differently regarding taking blood. I think here it is weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, ..... Not sure how it is in the States.

To determine when you want to do treatment, you should have a liver biopsy. That is the way to determine how much liver damage you have and if you can afford to wait to be treated. I personally want to get rid of this virus as soon as I can, as I am having a lot of symptoms (chronic fatigue and light brain fog) and cannot really function normally. Also, I am not getting younger.

As to grapefruit and milk thistle in short. The substance naringin/ naringenin in grapefruit interacts with medications, mostly enhancing the drugs in your blood stream. If you google grapefruit and drug interaction, you will get a lot of info.

Milk thistle helps clean your liver of substances, it's kind of a 'liver flush'. When you are on treatment, the last thing you want is the treatment drugs being flushed out of your liver.

Marcia

[susan400]

I agree!   I was told by two different trial sites to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on treatment.  Also, by one trial to avoid milk thistle on treatment.  Actually, avoid is the wrong word, the right word is, point blank, it is NOT ALLOWED by the trial site.  Also, I was told the Cinnamon tablets/capsules are NOT ALLOWED by the trial site.  One should consider this if they are wanting to do the natural supplements while treating because they might just find that they are turned down by a trial, and/or kicked out of it.  That is (IF THEY ARE HONEST) with the trial site.  I suppose if one was deciding to be dishonest they could march right into the trial site and not list their supplements when the trial nurse asked for the list of all the medications and supplements.  Frankly, I don't know why someone would want to do that, but that is only IMHO.  I'm really not trying to start any type of heated discussion.  So, please everybody don't crucify me for giving only IMHO type of reply.    Susan400

[Marcia2202]

why should anyone crucify you? Thanks for the input, it is another proof, that those the above mentioned substances interfere with medications and treatment. Interesting, I will check up on the cinnamon.

Marcia