February 21, 2000 – Researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center have discovered that St. John’s Wort greatly decreases the effectiveness of an antiviral drug prescribed to treat HIV and AIDS.
The discovery is published in The Lancet February 12. “When St. John’s Wort and indinavir, an HIV protease inhibitor are taken together, the levels of unguins of indinavir drop dramatically and rapidly.” In fact, it appears that some compounds in St. John’s Wort are metabolized in the same way as indinavir, resulting in faster elimination of indinavir from the liver.
Patients participating in the research saw their indinavir level drop by 49-99%. This medicine is one of a class of antiviral agents used to treat HIV infection and which slow the progression of the disease. However, too low levels of indinavir can lead to drug resistance and reduce the effectiveness of other protease inhibitor drugs.
In view of this finding, the researchers recommend that most people taking anti-HIV drugs refrain from consuming St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) at the same time.
HealthPassport.net
Source: National Institutes of Health – NIH Clinical Center Study Demonstrates Dangerous Interaction between St. John’s wort and an HIV Protease Inhibitor. February 10, 2000
