Herb could hurt people with HIV.Saint-John's-wort has been widely touted as a natural alternative for treating mild depression. But for people with HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. , the herbal supplement may do more harm than good. The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory against taking the supplement with protease inhibitors Protease Inhibitors Definition A protease inhibitor is a type of drug that cripples the enzyme protease. An enzyme is a substance that triggers chemical reactions in the body. or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Definition This type of drug interferes with an enzyme that is key to the replication (reproduction) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). . The warning comes after research published in the February 12 issue of the medical journal The Lancet showed that Saint-John's-wort, when used concurrently with the protease inhibitor indinavir indinavir /in·di·na·vir/ (in-di´nah-vir) an HIV protease inhibitor that causes formation of immature, noninfectious viral particles; used as the sulfate salt in the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. (Crixivan), reduces the amount of indinavir in the bloodstream--increasing drug resistance and treatment failure. |
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