Interesting Harvoni/Milk Thistle Info

[andyhawaii123]

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would pass this piece of info on.... My Liver Center Pharmacologist recommended I suspend the Supplementation of Milk Thistle while on my 24 week course of Harvoni. He said it can interfere with the chemical actions of the Harvoni.  For whatever that's worth to anyone.....

Wishing everyone the best, and thanks so much for so many who responded and added to my "Harvoni Progress" Post...you guys are great!

Andy

[Dancer1934]

Congratulations, Andy.  Hope you have a long and disease-free life.  I know you're 51 and are Hep C free.  Keep it up.  I was diagnosed in 1994 at age 60; back then the side effects seemed worse than the cure. Now they have made great inroads in curing HepC, 20 years too late. Have you had a problem retaining fluid?  My albumin level is half what it should be; I've gained 40 lbs.due to fluid retention.

[beenthereback]

my hepatologist said 1 only vitamin & supplement was A

[andyhawaii123]

Hi, and than you all for your usual insightfully, helpful information. Ya know I asked the Liver Center Pharmacologist if Milk thistle really works. He just smiled and said " I've seen no data, no reputable trials, or evidence that it is beneficial to the Cirrhotic Liver. and just kinda rolled his eyes and said...."but almost everyone in the Liver Center Program takes it...I really couldn't say"  I always swore by it, and with my constantly improving conditions, just assumed it was kick'n in somewhere, somehow. I must admit though, I have always been skeptical of all "supplements", especially since the won't even tell you specifically what they will do on the label. Like its some big secret at $20-30 buck a month per supplement. If you take several supplements, that's a lot of money for  "maybe...maybe not" products.

With regard to the Tylenol... I kicked myself off the Morphine and Oxy's last winter (didn't want to replace on addiction with another) Tramadol, the strongest non-opiate didn't do a thing for me, and my doctor has alays said I can take SOME Tylenol: Max - 2000mg per day, and only 500mg at any one dose. I rarely take it...I do take Neurontin (Gabapentin)  500 mg x 6 daily for pain and mood....and it works very well at relaxing and taking the biting pain down a few notches.

Thanks again everyone.

Wishing you the best,

Andy

[Ekkiemom]

Hi Andy.....YEP milk thistle is wonderful but as we treat we cannot use any herbal supplements at all. I was taking Reishi mushroom and Graviola (soursop) tincture but also was advised to stop 10 days prior to starting Tx
Wishing you well while on Tx and speedy SVR to you. It will be done before you know it. Kick some dragon butt!
Peace
Deb

[susan400]

For what it's worth.., I've never been big on Milk Thistle.  I tried it early on and it interfered with my asthma and caused me to wheeze, so I stopped it.  There really isn't any scientific evidence that it does anything to cure you of Hep C.  It is a nice thought that somebody could take an herb and have it get rid of Hep C, it that was the case, some drug company would have been adding it into their treatment. But, if you like it and it's working and it's not causing you any harm and your doctor supports you in using it, go ahead. Who am I to judge?  Susan400

[flyinlynn]

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