Supplementary Teatments and Medical help

[mike716]

This is an attempt at starting a sort of thread dedicated to the topic of supplementary medicines and the medical supervision needed to use them correctly before, during and after antiviral treatment.

There are a lot of people with HCV who self-prescribe herbals and botanical treatments and who use dietary supplements, often without the aid of medical supervision because they can't find a doctor who will help them. I am one of those, and I am very uncomfortable with the situation.

I recently had a long exchange of posts with Marcia2202 about a Dr. Zhang, who purports to offer Chinese supplements to antiviral treatment, but who wouldn't or couldn't explain what effect they might have on the antivirals. This is no good. When this happens, we are stuck either using the sepplements without controls, or abandoning what might be helpful substances for fear they will interfere with the SOC.

Gauf, in this forum, seems to be prescribing a whole slew of supplements for himselfa and apparently has quite a lot of experience in this area, but I can't help wondering if he is getting medical support and help with things like dosing of the supplements and timing vis-a-vis his ongoing antiviral treatment, as well as questions like drug conflicts and supplement side effects.

In my opinion there is an urgent need for collaboration between us patients on the subject of supplementary medicines and herbal treatments, and a search for and sharing of information about MDs who are amenable to helping HCV patients with them.

If others besides myself are interested in this idea, let's keep this thread open and active for such information. I invite anyone who can provide it to post it here. The first question is: are there any MDs willing to help us use supplements? If so, who are they? How can we contact them?

Mike

[Mary4now]

Isn't there some contraindication with SamE if your taking AD's?

[mike716]

Thank you both for replying and for the URLs. I will check them out thoroughly.

What about naringenin (contained in grapefruit), the Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (fish oil), and glycyrrhizin? Do you know if any tests have been done on these substances vis-a-vis SOC, or even general contraindications? I have read they are good for the liver, but I wonder what the cons are?

Anybody else out there know where to get expert info on side-effects and/or SOC contraindications on supplements? It's kinda scarey starting all of a sudden to take stuff every day that you haven't got much info about.

Also, being a New Yorker, I'd really like to know if there is an M.D., especially a hepatologist, in this area who isn't against supplements and who might be willing to advise on dosages. My doctors in Buenos Aires won't discuss the subject. I believe they have no idea about supplements and don't like to admit it.

Mike

[gauf]

The supplement question has been discussed at length in the past. The current regimen I and others are taking have studies to back up there efficacy.  A hepatoligist and world renown hepatitis researcher (vetted by this board), has given his precious time and knowledge to this subject. He approves of these supplements only because he has reviewed at length the studies and potential benefits of this regimen for those of us with liver damage. These supplements are also considered GRAS as they can do no known harm in recommended quantities.  I am no expert by any stretch and have been on the regimen 6 mos. All I can say is my LFTs' and WBC has improved drastically. I diet and exercise as well, and believe that combo has helped my situation. (I am stage 4)

Having said that, you are quite right to question anything you put into your body. I did not do this blindly. I researched these studies and talked at length to HR.  I always try to refer those interested in this regimen to check out the previous posts and to google the actual studies.  I am just a guy trying to save his life here Mike, as I am sure you are as well. I have heard both pro and con comments on Dr. Zhang but have no real opinion on his regimen because I am not on it.

Anyway my friend Cocksparrow has provided a very good link on the supps I take if you wish to persue:  

Read these links, Helps explain what each does.
http://www.smile.org.au/OtherMedicalTherapies/HepatitisC.htm
http://www.smile.org.au/OtherMedicalTherapies/HepatitisCRef.htm

Hope this helps.

[CockSparrow]

Any Doctor who is a member of http://www.americanantiagingsociety.com/ should be able to help with supps. Me and Gauf are both taking the same kind of supps adovcated in the above link.

Or you could just treat yourself. So long as you monitor what the supp is doing your own doc will get the idea.

One thing dont take anything that hasnt been explicitly studied with IFN during Tx.
Milk Thistle is a good example of what I mean. Does it help improve results or does it reduce your svr chances. Answer not sure. May help May not. Not enough evidence either way. so dont take it.
NAC ALA SAMe PPC Vit C&E should be ok though.
CS