Using supplements post-TX?

Hi- i'm trying to get a general consensus here on how people feel about taking supplements (milk thistle, etc) after completing treatment.

I used to take milk thistle daily, but got into a drug study in Nov. that i had to stop taking it.  I am (was?) a treatment-naive, Genotype 1, and am currently entering week 14 of a 24-week treatment using an investigational drug (polymerase inhibitor PSI 7977) in conjuntion w/SOC (pegasys and riba).  I just found out last week that as of week 4 and ongoing, my viral load is undetectable.

so my treatment is going to be finishing up in the end of April, and i was thinking of getting back into the routine of taking milk thistle again, and also investigating taking sho saiko to, both as kind of 'maintenance supplements' to keep my liver healthy.

anyone have experience of completing treatment and taking supplements post-treatment?  or any thoughts or opinions on this?

thanks in advance!

cheers,

-Chris

[James10500]

Congrats on going UND.

[carol411]

This is just an opinion, I have not studied the subject and really don't know much about it.  But I, too, have considered milk thistle.  I'm going to wait until all the ribaviron is out of my system.  That can take up to six months.  Then, if I have SVR, I will try it for the healing effects on the liver.  In the meantime, I don't want anything that might change the outcome I hope for.  -- Carol

[carol411]

Oh, great news about the undetected!  Congratulations!!

[desrt]

I've continued to use n-acetylcysteine and CoQ10 post-tx.

Here's an 'HR'thread on NAC:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-B/25-year-old--HB----researcher-exposed-to-organic-solvent/show/96051?forums=forums

...and one on PPC:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Research-supported-antifibrotics---do-they-exist/show/346752

[Susan_1a_CC]

I believe in a few supplements that are liver specific and fortunately, the study I am on said they're fine to take during treatment.  I will add, I cut down on my milk thistle from 3 to 1 a day because of various threads on here.  Additionally, specifically for the liver I take NAC which is the precusor to glutathione (Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body defend against toxicity, and it is most needed by those living with chronic liver disease" and I recently added SAMe which some studies suggest increase chances of SVR.  Recently added a couple of other supplements based on the work of the noble prize winning scientists that reversed aging in mice by protecting their telameres.  The book is "The Immortality Edge."  My last set of blood work was exceptional.  Good luck to you - and of course, follow your doctors advise.  Mine is well aware of what I take and I make sure to keep my team updated.

[meakea]

I have not taken milk thistle post treatment but that's because I figured out that I have an allergy of sorts to it.  I get red and extra-dry eyes from it.  I already have dry eye syndrome and it made it much worse...I'm sure it's just my own personal sensitivity to it.