Starting Harvoni

[suec]

Is anyone taking metformin for type 2 diabetes with harvoni? wondering about other vitamins, milkthistle and antibiotic if necessary while on treatment? thanks

[lporterrn]

A good place to check for potential drug interactions is http://www.hep-druginteractions.org/interactions.aspx However, a potential interaction isn't always bad and it does not mean to stop taking meds just because they may interact. 

There is a potential interaction with metformin, so check with your doc and pharmacist about how much time you need if any between taking these meds. In this case, the interaction may merely mean that your blood glucose will need more frequently monitoring.

When I was on Harvoni, I stopped all herbs and the only supplements I took were a mulitvitamin with no iron, vit D, and calcium. I took these at lunch and dinner - my Harvoni at breakfast. 

Antibiotics are generally OK, but you need to look up the specific drug to be sure

[Mugwump]

Is anyone taking metformin for type 2 diabetes with harvoni? wondering about other vitamins, milkthistle and antibiotic if necessary while on treatment? thanks

A great many things effect the liver in many different ways including common spices such as tumeric which has the compound berbarine which is know to be quickly taken up by the liver. On the west coast of N. America there is a natural wild ginger which has many different chemical properties some of which could in theory adversely interact with some drugs. St Johns Wort is a well known folk medicine that can have adverse reactions to certain drugs such as ribaviron and is contra-indicated while you are on treatment with Harvoni which contains a similar viral inhibitor to ribaviron.

Some mushrooms that are used in Chinese medicine are contra-indicated and could effect the efficacy of your treatment because compounds within them could cancel out the active compounds in many medications.

There are compounds in many common seasonings that in large enough quantities would be dangerous to eat, nutmeg being one that could cause liver failure if used in large enough quantity.

Essentially many common food seasonings and even some vegetables are toxic if taken to excess and knowing what will react and what level is safe is not a simple matter.

In conclusion it is far better to not take chances on having an unknown reaction happen when you are taking any strong medication like the ones used to treat HCV or to experiment with folk remedies while in treatment that is proven to work while the individual eats normally.

Over the years I have found the folk remedies have not killed me but they certainly did not do anything to aid in the elimination of HCV from my body!

I am not at all saying there is no plant product on the planet that in theory could do the work of the drugs currently produced to treat hepatitis. Just if there where it would not be a secret and be shrouded in mystery the way the folk remedies created from plants like milk thistle and St Johns Wort and a host of other so called "natural" medicines.

Eric