Question
Will these supplements be OK to take with my HIV treatment?
24 July 2009. Related: All topics, Supplements and herbs.
Will these supplements be OK to take with my HIV treatment: garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, cayenne, cardiosterol
Answer
Garlic is fine, as long as you are not on protease inhibitors (in particular saquinavir). Generally, however, it is good to avoid it if you use a PI, as it may reduce the drug concentration.
Ginger is fine. Especially, if you have problems with the stomach while on medicines.
Ginkgo biloba is fine too, but people with low platelets, as well as people prone to sudden bleeding or women with heavy menstruation, is better to avoid it. This is because it prevents platelet clumping.
Cayenne is generally fine, but should be avoided with ACE inhibitors, stomach acid reducers, aspirin, blood thinning medicines and theophylline.
Finally, I have not heard of any studies re: cardiosterol. If you decide to use it, then you should do that with caution and if you notice anything unusual, you should contact your doctor ASAP.
Hi Alex, yes you can drink clove tea. Some ARVs interact with magnesium. The magnesium can prevent all of the ARVs being absorbed. To avoid this interaction you can take them at opposite ends of the day e.g., ARVs in the morning and magnesium/supplements in the evening.
Hi I’m on ARV treatment can I drink clove tea and also can I have magnesium citrate / or /glicinate as well
Hi Ads, yes you can. There is no interaction between these supplements and your HIV treatment.
Hi.
Can I use whey protein and Casein supplements while I am using Raltegravir and Truvada?
Thank you
Hi Lemah, yes you can take them together. There are no interactions between Atripla and Magnesium Glycinate.
Can I take Magnesium Glycinate with Atripla at night? It has proved to be the only thing that helps me sleep better when I tried it the other day. But I don’t want to reduce my immunity if its an issue to the ARVs
Hi Joe, there are no interactions. You can eat as much garlic as you want while using Atripla.
Are there any interactions with fresh garlic and atripla?
Hi Mark,
Yes, it’s OK to take these supplements with your meds, there won’t be an interaction.
Hi there!
I’m on HIV medication (lamivudine, efavirenz and tenofovir). I just want to ask if I could take echinacea and astragalus while taking HIV meds? Thank you