med interactions

[nolacs22]

Does anyone out there know if it is ok to take probiotics while taking Harvoni? Also is aspirin safe to take? My doctor said "Do NOT take Tylenol period",it is poisonous to the liver.

[sabre]

Probiotics are not contraindicated with Harvoni. I don't see how they could interact with Harvoni given this 'good bacteria' already exists in a healthy GI system. But, who am I?

You could call the prescribing pharmacy or call Gilead and ask them directly.

[trixiedaisy]

Yes nolacs22 I agree with sabre!  When I first found about my Hep C my pharmacist  (was working with him at the time) told me do not take Tylenol ever again it is poison to your liver ! I also don't think probiotics wouldn't hurt but yes do talk to your gastro dr. or again your pharmacist. I have found over the years pharmacists do know more then doctors as far as meds and side effects!!! I call mine all the time. We have talked for so long now I swear he is going to invite me to the family reunion lol. You are lucky if that's all you take. I don't think you have anything to worry about but call your pharmacist or the pharmacist you got the Harvoni from. It will ease your mind. Good luck hun !   

[Lynn K]

Hi nolacs

As far as aspirin it depends how much liver damage you have and if you are in any danger of a GI bleed like I am because I have cirrhosis for 7 years now with portal hypertension.

For a patient with cirrhosis the recommendation is to avoid all NSAIDs Advil, Motrin, Aleve including aspirin because they can be very dangerous to a patient with advanced cirrhosis and result in a serious bleeding episode.

When I was diagnosed with cirrhosis my hepatologist said I need to only take Tylenol because of that danger of upper GI bleeding.

Tylenol is safe for people with liver disease as long as they do not exceed the recommended dosage 2000 mg/day. Less is better and also not every day so basically go easy on the Tylenol and don't take anything else is what I am told.

The problem is that Tylenol is in many combo medicines and without reading ingredients in combo medicines especially cold medicines it can be easy to take more than the recommended daily amount.

But your situation is different from my situation so always best to go with what your doctor recommends.

Here is a link titled "Pain Management in the Cirrhotic Patient: The Clinical Challenge"
Article by Mayo Clinic Proceedings

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861975/

Good luck on treatment
Lynn

[trixiedaisy]

Tylenol is safe as long as you take the recommended dosage of 2000 mg. per day??? Huh that is crazy to say. 2000 mg. would totally kill your liver! You ask any doctor that treats or knows about Hepatitis C and they will tell you DO NOT TAKE TYLENOL if you have Hepatitis C. Amen

[Philadelphia]

But if you have cirrhosis, Tylenol is safer than the other painkillers and is the painkiller recommended by GPs GIs and hepatologists. Other painkillers such as asprin have anti clotting properties and one of the great risks for cirrhosis is internal bleeding that can't be stopped.

Once you get to the cirrhotic stage, the rules change.

[Lynn K]

Well my link was from the U.S. national institute of health and that is the recommendatio  of my hepatologist who is the head if the liver center at a liver transplant hospital in Seattle and that is the maximum safe dosage of course you want to minimize whenever possible. But Advil, Aleve and aspirin are entirely too dangerous for me with ESLD cirrhosis.

Like Philedelphia says the rules change