Drugs are listed in my signature (except I am now off Rifampin.)
I also take
-Mag Tab SR (8 pills / day) -Grapefruit Seed Extract (500mg / day) -Milk Thistle 2x / day -Oil of Oregano 2x / day -Alpha Lipoic Acid 2x / day -High Quality Multivitamin -Super B Complex 2x / day -Fish oil - 2 capsules / day -Ester C 2x / day
I usually take all of these together, 3 hours after my ABX. So that is usually mid morning and right before bed. (10 am and 10 PM give or take). I usually take a large amount of Probiotics (Theralac, Florastore, PB-8) with lunch and at random times throughout the day.
My question is..can you be on too many supps and can they interact with Abx? Because of my high liver counts, I just purchased some "Liver Care" from my local health food store (contains caper bush, chicory, black nightshade, arjuna, yarrow, tamarisk, and cassia occidentalis linn.)
I also got some olive leaf extract (Eclectic Institute brand).
I showed them to my wife and she asked if my LLMD knew about these and if my doc approved. I said "no."
So..I assume I can take these without problems with my meds. SHould I talk to my LLMD, or are these safe to add in your opinion?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Milk thistle can't be taken with Mepron/Malarone, but the rest look fine to me (of course, I'm not a doctor).
You could run it by your LLMD ..... but if he's not open to supps, I'd be hesitant to.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Mostly, this is all concentrated food, nutrients.
I'm familiar with all except the Liver Care. I'd want to research each ingredient in that. I recall some caution with cassia - but - it depends on how much of the overall formula that is. And, I forgot why a caution flag went off in my memory bank about that.
SGK is right about milk thistle and mepron but I don't see that you are takng mepron (did my eyes miss that?) or her comment may have just been a good note for us all to remember.
And, for the very reason that Milk Thistle can't be taken with mepron (or too close in time), other liver support, too, can decrease the therapeutic levels of mepron or other Rx. Taking several hours apart, is best. Liver support of some kind is essential.
"Liver Care" may be redundant with Milk Thistle already on board so, after study of each ingredient in LC, you may want to alternate those.
Oil of Oregano can be a bit rough on the gut but if you do well, it's very good.
OLE is very good for many things. Eclectic is an excellent brand.
You may not need both OLE and Oil of Oregano. You might rotate and double up during any cold or flu or other challenge.
Basically, yes, it seems like a lot of stuff to swallow but we really do need the concentrated nutrients to help support our organs.
It's a good idea to lay off of all stuff one day a week and then for a full week now and then - and to rotate. You might want to consult a LL ND, or a LL L.Ac. Both are trained in herbs. There are also links at this thread where you can search out herbs and other supplements: ----------------
Topic: How to find a LL ND (naturopathic doctor), acupuncturist, etc. -
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Thanks folks, as usual.
Will lay off the Liver Care for now.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I'm not sure about this but am too tired to search. There are 2 -3 herbs that can stain the colon.
I think cassia o. might also called senna. That may stain the colon and could result in problems getting a good view of colon tissue if you need a colon screening. You might want to be sure before you take that "Liver Care"
BoxerMom would know. I hope she comes along. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I take more than you do.... Sometimes I do worry that I'm taking too many things!!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Six, your old LLMD has no issues with milk thistle and Malarone taken at same time. They recommended it to me.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Interesting, seek. He didn't tell me to take it, but my liver enzymes weren't high. They are said to interact.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If you think you take too many supplements, you might want to read chapter one from this book. It explains why so much specific support is required, and how that all works.
I finally just read this chapter. Excellent. It's about time I got the book.
This book is based on interviews with 13 Lyme-Literate Health Care Practitioners. Each practitioner is given one chapter in which to share their healing strategies
Chapter 1, by SH -
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Just want to add that you ALWAYS want to take your supplements with food unless the supplement or herb specifically says to take on an empty stomach.
If you take them alone, they generally will be useless. Supplements are generally elements found in food--vitamins, minerals, and so on. But food has so many other things (other vitamins and minerals, for example) in it that are needed as catalysts to the vitamins and minerals found in the supplements.
For example, vit D needs magnesium and other things to be useful to the body. And on and on. When you eat food, you naturally are getting some of everything you need for the vitamins and minerals to work.
So, don't waste your money by taking a handful of supplements and no food with it.
Based on the time of day you are taking them, it seems like you may be taking them alone. You can take them with the probiotics if you like, but just be sure you eat some food also.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Well...timing is a bit difficult. I need to space out my vitamins / herbs with my abx because I'm on a lot of anti-yeast supplements (oil of oregano, GSE, etc). I had originally been taking my probiotics with them, but then worried the GSE / Oil of O would somehow kill the probiotics as well.
So..I take ABx at 6 and 6 give or take. Supplements are always 3 hours later (9 and 9). It is not during meal time. I have always taken them alone.
Maybe I'll try a snack of sorts.
THanks Keebler...I actually ordered that book last week. Shipped yesterday from Amazon.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I take my supplements with food .. a.m. and p.m.
Then I take olive leaf extract or other yeast killers in between meals.
I take probiotics first thing in the morning one hour before I eat. (one says take with food and the other without food... so I do that)
[sometimes I will take them an hour or two before I get up for the day.... if I wake up early]
I take round 2 of probiotics about an hour before I go to bed or mid-evening.
Hope that plan gives you some ideas, bcb.
Thanks for the info on the book, Keeb.
Posted by Maradona (Member # 24552) on :
GSE and grapefruit juice effects many medication and can effect your liver enzymes to GSE decreases P450 3A4 enzymes in the liver enzymes increase many medication in your body increasin concentration of them.And can be very bad in some med combinations like macrolides Erthromycin ,biaxin ,azithromycin)with statins(atrovastatin) and if in top of this you add GSE high chances of rhabdomyolisis damage of muscle that can send in kidney failure. Just be very carefull what you take with GSE.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I take much more than you are taking. I just hate the idea of swallowing it all - have literally gagged on it.
Just want to add for future reference, that Co Enzyme Q 10 cannot be taken with mepron
I recently started olive leaf extract and it seems to be helping the coating on my tongue. I take the liquid form and hold it in my mouth for a minute before swallowing - wretched taste but does the job.