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HIV NUTRITION UPDATE
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 4
HIV Drugs and Herb Interactions

 

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It is not surprising that even after the use of HAART became common, many people with HIV infection continued to use herbs. Since drug therapies do not cure the disease, herbs are still taken to provide additional protection from the virus and to restore damaged immune functions. Herbs are also considered as a possible means to minimize medication side effects. The situation surrounding HIV infection appeared brighter in the late 1990s. The virus was better controlled by medications. Herbs seemed to help alleviate a variety of symptoms as well as reduce the anxiety of taking medications considered as toxic substances by many people.

Herb-drug Interactions

What did come as a surprise was news—emerging first in 1999 and formally published in 2000—that a very popular herb, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), appeared to lower Indinavir blood levels significantly. (1) This herb had been used primarily for its anti-depressant actions. In laboratory tests it was also reported to possess HIV-inhibiting action, which attracted HIV-positive patients to the herb even more. The reports of Indinavir interaction were soon accompanied by other reports suggesting that St. John’s Wort interacted with a very wide range of drugs, from birth control pills to warfarin, with the same potential adverse consequence: lowering the drug dosage to an ineffective level. (2)
 
 
 

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5/15/2005