Taking Milk Thistle while on Peg/riba tx ?

[willbb]

I am new to the site,started tx  only a week ago ina study BMS790052 ,PEG/Riba and either a Placebo or the inhibitor
They told me it was ok to take milkT at the same time,however I have also come across some research that said maybe not a good idea. wondering what some others have done?

[willbb]

Yeah.. That is kind of a neat saying,thanks for you input.

[nygirl7]

I think you made the right choice Will.

We all want to take everything and anything that might help our odds (believe me I still have bottles of all the stuff I bought thinking it would help...) but as Bali said "when in doubt through it out".

I think that is the perfect advice - I'm going to remember that saying even in regular life.

[willbb]

After  all of the discussion and any reasearch (or lack of) I have decided to stop taking MT during treatment. Thanks for your input

[Bali05]

That`s why I stopped taking it for a couple of months before tx.

I really do not understand why this MT discussion keeps popping up
when there is absolutely no evidence for it to improve SVR.

[CoStudy]

I was told to stop taking MT while in the study as it clears the meds out of the liver at an increased rate.

[willbb]

Thanks for that. The study I am in they seem to be pretty knowlegable about most things but when I mentioned the MT and should I continue taking it nobody seem to be sure, so just trying to find out what  I can and folks here have been very infomative. I guess like most things with this we try to find out eveything we can and then make the best possible decision. Thanks again

[evangelin]

Unless something has happened I don't know of yet, there is more research justifying taking Sam-E during TX than milk thistle.  Some years back, HR said not to take anything that was anti-inflammatory  during TX because it might slow down the dendretic cell response.  I always feel like a fraud when I quote him because it supposes I know something about dendretic cell response which I don't have a clue.  At the time, HR said it, there wasn't enough research to give milk thistle a green light during TX.  
If I understand it correctly, it looks like Sam E might improve some peoples ability to respond to interferon.  It sure worked for Cocksparrow after repeatedly failing TX. Of course, he also worked hard on reducing his insulin resistance also before his final successful TX.

[willbb]

Thanks for that and congratulations on your 1YR,it sure gives us newcomers hope!!

[pilgrim1951]

I used MT for about six months, along with other products prescribed by my clinical nutritionist, until I started tx.  I was G1b and had a viral load of 1,200,000 before starting therapy.  I was in the phase III trial with telaprivir, but received the placebo and had to treat for the full 48 weeks.  I was UND at week 12 (with my own pcr) and have remained clear until my 1 year post EOT pcr.  Wishing you success with your battle.  

[uncledudeness]

for almost 5 months prior to the screening, i had been taking 12, 600mg (3-5% silymarin) of MT. I stopped right before the screening, under my Hepa's direction. He's not a fan of MT, due to no FDA/scientific proof of it's effectiveness. my ALT/AST's didn't budge (299/187) from March to Sept. I started on the MT again, mainly because I feel better when i take it, and i don't get as many flare ups of the Petechiae/Purpura on my legs. everyone is different and response will vary.

from what i have read and what others have said, taking MT while on tx is not a good thing...

[willbb]

After reading my prev. post it read that I was considering not taking it   I meant the MT  not the study.  My typing skills are kinda right up there with my cooking skills!!

[willbb]

I was also at first rejected for this study because of high enzymes,but interesting that at  that time my hepa told me to double up my mt to see if they would come down. I did that and within  4 wks. the enz were half the prev reading. Needless to say at that time I was a big fan of the mt. Don" really know if had anything to do with such a big red. or not? I am considering now that I am in the study of not taking it. That study is still recruiting for your info so maybe you can still get in! Good Luck

[uncledudeness]

I went thru the screening process for BMS and my Hepa said that I would have to stop taking the MT. i was rejected due to my high enzymes. it's odd that your doctor said you can continue with MT while on the trial. there is another member here that is on the trial.

good luck with it.

[willbb]

Thanks again,and congrats on being UND at 3 mo. post! I feel good about being in the trial
and am going to give this my best shot!

[paen53]

I took (1) 175 mg. cap. three times a day. To be honest, I can''t remember where exactly I came up with that dose back in 2004 - I've read of several higher since then but that's what I did and do feel comfortable with for my personal use. I'd ask your Dr. what dose he/she would recommend as long as they're OK'ing it.

Hey, and good luck with the trial. Chin up!

[willbb]

Thanks for your replys,gives one food for thought?

To: paen53
So did you take the mt for the duration of tx and how many mg

[paen53]

My Dr. recommended I continue the milk thistle I had been taking prior to tx. I was a bit leary of doing so because I thought it might protect my liver so well it would render the meds ineffective. In the end I nixed the sam-E they suggested, but stayed with the MT. Can't say whether it helped or not to any degree of certainty, but my liver (and me) survived the dose of meds I was on and so far, I'm UND at three months post.

[nygirl7]

From what we have always heard - milk thistle is OK before and after (once you are SVR but not right away) but not DURING treatment as it can make the meds ineffective (and that is the last thing you want in this world!).

But we aren't doctors (but that is what most of the doctors have always said anyway).

Kind of a good way to think of it is, if you aren't sure it's not going to hurt - don't take it.  You want every drop of the meds to do their job at all times.

Good luck I hope you get the good stuff!