Supplements and meds - possible interactions

[curtis_lee]

Hi guys,
I was diagnosed few months ago and I'm currently in my second month of treatment with Truvada + Prezista/Norvir. Things are going quite well so far, no noticeable side effects excluding some emotional issues though I can't really attribute this to the pills.
Anyway... after the first month of treatment I decided to resume taking my vitamins plus few minerals as I used to do before. I checked several drug interaction websites to make sure the supplements didn't interfere with the treatment and could not find any interactions so far. However my human brain (you know how it is with these beautiful but imperfect devices) won't stop pushing those little anxiety-driven pop-up messages every few minutes, telling me I might be possibly throwing my therapy through the window. My supplements list is as follows:

- Vitamin C;
- Vitamin D3;
- Vitamin E (natural)
- Vitamin A (as fish liver oil (I know... oxidation and stuff..))
- Co Q10
- Selenium;
- The occasional Calcium (as an oxide) or Magnesium + Vit B complex tablet.

I do take those four or five times above the RDA. I try to follow the 6 hours before or 2 hours after the ARV meds rule. However I'll appreciate if anyone can provide any information or personal experience with taking those kinds of supplements and my combination of pills Is it possible that these vitamins/mineral still interact with the Truvada/Prezista/Norvir?

Also, I used to take amphetamines before. I would really appreciate if anyone can share their personal experience with amph (or Adderall as is one of their brand names  in US) and HIV meds. Though they are completely illegal in my country, I can barely do anything for longer than two hours if not on them. Otherwise I can only ride my bike all day long which is generally ok but it does not bring me any cash.

I have tons of other questions but I'll ask them one by one. Sorry for my English as I am not a native speaker and thank you in advance. Hugs and kisses

[kentfrat1783]

Hi Curtis_lee,

I was just Dx'd back in May so I am new to all of this as well. 

Just a few things I have learned/do:

1) My ID doctor doesn't want me to take anything without him first knowing about it.
2) From what I've read (and sorry I can't point to the article right now) that said some herbals could interfere with the ART medications.  I am not sure if this is true but I play on the side of caution now.
3)  I can't talk about the amphetamines but does your doctor know you did or are taking it.  If it is legal in your country I would just let them know.  Then again even if it wasn't legal I'd still let them know. 

A lot that I have learned is it may or may not interact with the ART Rx's but could cause odd blood test results where if the doctor isn't aware of you taking them could cause alarm where none is needed.  Are you able to talk with a Pharmacist about interactions or potential side effects? 

Wish you the best,
Kenneth

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
How are you getting on in terms of labs? What was your VL and CD4 levels like?

I don't know why you are taking the supplements, or why you are taking such high dosage but if you are worried about interactions or side effects from the high dosage of vitamins and supplements you should talk to your doctor or a qualified pharmacist.

For myself I also check an online interaction checker but I do follow up with my doctor. https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html 

Jim

[curtis_lee]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies.

@kentfrat1783
Haha I got my first reactive result in May though it took several weeks to get all confirmatory tests reactive and get diagnosed. I hope you're coping well with it.
I'll try to talk to the doctors in the ID clinic next month when I go for my third round of pills (they make us go every month for the Rx). But I'm sure they'll say sth in the lines of "Don't take anything, you don't need supplements" and the conversation will be over. The general opinion about supplements here is pretty low.
I asked them about amph and they said it was ok yet after I started treatment I did not stop taking the former right away and I felt as if they were ten times more potent then before.

@JimDublin
Hey hi,
I started treatment with a VL of 7000 and CD4 count of 950. Doctors said I was in good health (as my other lab results (CBC, kidney and liver function etc.) were in norm and I had no co-infections). I'm still waiting for the results of last month's blood work.
I'm not sure I can justify the usage of every supplement in the list but I'm scared of losing bone density and having my skin aging prematurely.
Thanks for the link. This is one of the web-sites I use to check for interactions.

Regads,
CL

[harleymc]

If you are eating fresh and varied foods, you shouldn't need all those supplements.

I've had several low haemoglobin levels over a couple of years and have had low vitamin D levels diagnosed by blood test.  I supplement for only my diagnosed deficiencies with one extra that's good for people with low animal protein diets.

I'm a vegetarian who has a dairy intolerance so I also supplement with  B12.

Taking above RDAs can block uptake of other vitamins and minerals, more is not better.


if you want to keep your bones strong, do resistance training ( weights, body weights or elasticised bands) make sure you incorporate some jumping into your daily routine. the stress from the impacts of landing will make you lay down calcium in your bones. I start the day with 100 star jumps.

[mecch]

I do take those four or five times above the RDA.

Also, I used to take amphetamines before. I would really appreciate if anyone can share their personal experience with amph (or Adderall as is one of their brand names  in US) and HIV meds. Though they are completely illegal in my country, I can barely do anything for longer than two hours if not on them. Otherwise I can only ride my bike all day long which is generally ok but it does not bring me any cash.

Hello
1) 4x 5x the daily dose - of completely unnecessary supplements.  Why? Do you have a poor diet? 

I will relate to you the STRICT order given to me by HIV specialist who is a professor at Geneva Hospital and Med school, as well.  Stop immediately with the anti-oxidants. Your Co Q10.  My Doctor feels they are dangerous and possibly feed pre-cancerous cell. Just stop.  Plus they are expensive.

2) Consider reducing all your supplements to, say, a multivitamin and mineral. Really that should be enough and eat well.

3) I am happy to confirm that i take dexmethylphenidate - Focalin, and have previously had Adderall. Both were approved by GP, HIV doc and Psychiatrist (MD) as safe with my combo - Isentress Truvada and now Triumeq.

[curtis_lee]

If you are eating fresh and varied foods, you shouldn't need all those supplements.

Hi, Harleymc,
Thanks for your reply.
I think I have a varied and healthy diet though there is still room for improvements. May be I should stop the supplements, do some testing just to know my baseline levels, retest in an year and then see whether I need them or not (or bring the results to a doctor).

if you want to keep your bones strong, do resistance training ( weights, body weights or elasticised bands) make sure you incorporate some jumping into your daily routine. the stress from the impacts of landing will make you lay down calcium in your bones. I start the day with 100 star jumps.

Hm this is a good advice. I don't know why I did not think of it even though I knew long time ago I had to "train" my bones to keep them solid enough. I hope this will be enough to counteract the Truvada's effect on density though.

Hey Mecch,
Thanks for your replies too.

I will relate to you the STRICT order given to me by HIV specialist who is a professor at Geneva Hospital and Med school, as well.  Stop immediately with the anti-oxidants. Your Co Q10.  My Doctor feels they are dangerous and possibly feed pre-cancerous cell. Just stop.  Plus they are expensive.

As per my quick google-based research it turns out some anti-oxidants are a double-edged sword as they may help cancerous or pre-cancerous cells survive (at least regarding lung cancer and vit. E) and they are not really recommended for ex-smokers like me. Thanks for pointing this out for me.

3) I am happy to confirm that i take dexmethylphenidate - Focalin, and have previously had Adderall. Both were approved by GP, HIV doc and Psychiatrist (MD) as safe with my combo - Isentress Truvada and now Triumeq.

Dexmethylphenidate - is this stuff as effective as Adderall? I think it might be legal here and I may be able to get an actual prescription for it though it seems to be much more expensive than a*phetamines. I know it is not related to the topic but I still needed to ask.

Regards,
CL

[mecch]

The drug is name-branded as Focalin, and I take the XR - it is time released and I find it more or less the same as other ADHD drugs.  I take a medium dose 7 days a week but only if I remember to take it in the morning.  I won't take it in the afternoon Sun-Thurs, because I risk having difficultly winding down at night. I might take it in the afternoon on Friday or Saturday because it doesn't matter if I stay up later. 

I think there are generics of Focalin and in the regular and time-released formulations.