Question
Will herbal remedies interact with my ARVs?
25 October 2016. Related: All topics, Drug interactions, Supplements and herbs.
I am positive and am currently taking anti-retrovirals: truvada and neviraprine and also aciclovir for herpes management.
I am interested in taking a course of homeopathic remedies which are classed as narayani remedies. The first remedy is a kidney & liver cleanser. This contains: Benzoic acid, bereris, cantharis, erbium, ocinum canum, cardus mar, chelidonium, china, lycopodium, mercurius, phosphorus and parathyroid.
The Second remedy is silica terra, which is flint.
The main reason for this was due to recurrent chest infections, leading to steroid treatment, which never really seemed to clear up the problem. I am asthmatic and have experienced it in chronic form as a child and had frequent attacks. I find that stress has been a large factor in how quickly/ slowly I recover from a cold or chest infection and if highly stressed and have found my energy levels quickly depleted from it.
Apparently all energies of the stated substances are very safe, however, I wanted to check if there would be any conflict with my medication and wanted to keep my status as confidential.
I hope you can help with my query and matter of confidentiality.
Many thanks.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Herbal supplements and products can have interactions with ARVs. Therefore, please ask your pharmacy or HIV doctor first before you take them.
Hi Angeliine, thanks.
Please talk to your doctor about your concerns. I am sorry but none of the marketing around drink like this have any evidence of benefit. This one also includes minerals that should not be taken at the same time as the most widely used HIV meds (dolutegravir/TLD).
Looking online it is expensive and you would be much better spending your money on a regular balance diet that can help with diabetes and lowering sugar. Your doctor should have more info on this too.
This link has info on food for type-2 diabetes:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/increased-blood-sugar-levels-and-risk-of-type-2-diabetes
“Dietary advice involves reducing processed sugars, refined and fast foods, white flour and potatoes as they all cause quick sugar ‘highs’. Complex carbohydrates (wholemeal bread, wholemeal and al-dente pasta, porridge, most vegetables) are better as they provide energy more slowly with less impact on sugar levels.”
I am hiv positive and taking ARV and diabetic medicine. Do supplement drinks like Jigsmur help in lowering blood sugar and does it also help in liver disease?
Hi Amanda, please see a doctor about any skin problems. Whoever told you about needing to clean your stomach is talking nonsense. Eating a balanced diet is all your need for your stomach to work properly but this isn’t linked to your skin troubles.
Hi I am hiv positive and I have pimples that are itching and burning I my face, was told to clean my stomach and I bought a remedy to clean my stomach.
I just want to know if it’s safe for me to drink it while I am drinking my ARVs
Plz help this thing in my face has taken my self confidence and I don’t know what to do with it anymore.
Hi Lucy, no this is not possible. As long as baby had had a test 6 weeks after the last time she had breastfed there is no risk of testing positive.
After breastfeeding there is no further exposure to HIV your daughter will experience. This is why the last test after breastfeeding is conclusive for a babies HIV test result.
Am HIV positive and gave birth to my daughter 2009 since she was born she was negative..is it possible that she can be positive after she was testing negative when she was young?
Hi Lucy, as with all supplements it is advised to take them at the opposite end of the day to when you take ARVs e.g., ARVs in the morning and supplement (Sela blood cleaning) in the evening. This gap in when you take both is long enough to prevent any risk of interaction.
I am taking ARvs..is it ok if l drink Sela blood cleaning?
Hi Gekwu, what is the name of the ARVs you are taking? and what antibiotics have you been taking/for how long?
Have you discussed with your doctor that they are not working?
What herbal medicine do you want to take?
Hi I’m currently taking ARVs, can i take harbal medicine for staphylococcus because all antibiotics am taking seems not to be working on my stap