Media release
For immediate release: Wednesday, 15 February, 2000
WARNING ON HERBAL REMEDY
People Living With HIV/AIDS Victoria today released a warning to all people
with HIV/AIDS who may be using St John's Wort (Hypericum) to treat mild to
moderate depression as well as using antiretroviral combination therapy.
"New research suggests that St John's Wort and some antiretrovirals are
metabolised by the same liver enzyme so the HIV medications end up being
dispersed in the body before they reach high enough levels in the blood to
stop HIV replication", said John Daye, President of People Living With
HIV/AIDS Victoria. "This is a real concern in the community as many people
with HIV do take medications and complementary therapies to treat
depression, and St John's Wort is one of the herbal remedies more commonly
used."
In particular, people with HIV who are taking both St John's Wort and the
protease inhibitor Indinavir (Crixivan) are warned that research has shown
the levels of indinavir are reduced by as much as 99 per cent, rendering
the medication ineffective and possibly encouraging resistance to the
medication. It is probable that all protease inhibitors and other HIV
medications known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors could
be affected in a similar way.
"While complementary therapies may be useful for many people with HIV/AIDS,
particularly in managing side effects and maintaining good nutrition, there
is a real need for people to do so in consultation with their doctor so
that these sorts of contraindications can be identified", Mr Daye said.
The warning was issued following reports from the internet and the medical
journal, The Lancet.
Further information:
John Daye, President :- 0412 052 233
Mark Boyd, Executive Officer :- 9865 6772, 0412 159 189
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
