Donna Sweet, M.D.Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Hello,
I am currently taking Kaletra, Viread and Sustiva. I just bought some
natural pills to help with hemorrhoids. They contain whitch hazel leaf, horse
chestnut leaf and ginger root. Is there any interaction with the HIV meds that I
am taking? DO you think it will be safe for me to take?
Thank You
Donna Sweet, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
I know of no drug interactions from the use of witch hazel leaf, horse chestnut leaf and ginger root, however, there is really very little is known about herb-drug interactions. Research on herbal therapies is not nearly as advanced as research on pharmaceutical drugs. Herbal products are not studied or monitored for safety and potential interactions to the same extent as prescription drugs. Studies of prescription drugs rarely consider potential interactions with herbs.
General caution should be taken when considering the use of herbs
in conjunction with HIV therapy (or any other drugs) when any of
the following situations are present:
1. The herbal therapy can change digestion, kidney or liver
functions
2. The herbal therapy is reported to have similar side effects to
the drug therapy
3. The herbal therapy and the drug therapy are used to treat the
same condition
4. There is underlying impairment or damage to the stomach, liver or kidney as a result of illness or adverse drug reactions
There are known drug interactions with antiretroviral therapy from a number of herbs. Information regarding some of these interactions can be found from the New Mexico website: http://www.aidsinfonet.org/topics.php or from the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS fact sheet on herb-drug interactions. This can be found on their website at: http://www.catie.ca/supple-e.nsf
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