Milk Thistle Interactions with Drugs

bartlow · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 24

I`ve read that the seeds of the milk thistle plant are used to protect the liver from damage caused by hepatitis viruses, alcohol and other. Sylibin and sylimarin in milk thistle stimulate the repair of the liver. But, I heard that some compounds in milk thistle can have some other effects and would like to hear something about milk thisle interactions with drugs.

tank · Newbie Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 17

Hi. Milk thistle can increase levels of some drugs and can also lower those levels. Many meds for people with AIDS, for example, are processed by this liver enzyme. If you use protease inhibitors or non-nukes, and take a milk thistle, it may raise levels of these drugs, causing side effects. Levels of meds such as methadone, heart drugs, antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, anti-psychotics and sedatives, may be increased if you are also using milk thistle. Also, milk thistle can lower levels of anti-parasite drugs (such as Mepron), sedatives (Ativan) and hormones – estrogen.

Milk Thistle Interactions with Drugs

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