Question

Is there an interaction between Biktarvy, Aloe, and Ginseng?

23 January 2022. Related: All topics, Drug interactions.

Hi everyone, I’ve just found that my shampoo and soap are made with ginseng and aloe vera. I discovered It yesterday. I found different opinions and studies about interactions with my meds (Biktarvy) and these two products (ginseng and aloe).

Is It safe to use them (shampoo and soap) or should I worry about a possible interaction?

I’m worried because cleaning myself with these products, I could ingest some accidentally or they remain/absorbed by my skin.

Liverpool University Site say there are no interactions. Other sites/studies say the opposite. Thank you very much!

Answer

Answer: Josh Peasegood

Hi, how are you doing?

It is safe to continue using your shampoo and soap while they contain these ingredients. You are right in that the Liverpool interaction site mentions there are no interactions. It states that there is not a clinically significant interaction.

There has been no direct research to observe any interactions but how the drugs are metabolised, interactions can be worked out. Ginseng is metabolised differently to the medications in BIktarvy preventing an interaction. Aloe has a potentially weak interaction with how Biktarvy is metabolised by not a big enough interaction to cause an effect.

In your case, the accidental ingestion of these two products would be in tiny quantities. It would never be big enough to cause an interaction with other meds.

You can check the website here for details.

Josh.