Starting Wormwood

Just want to know if I should take it with my antibiotics or away from them? If away how long?

Artemisia annua. I take Doxy and Rifampin.

I take artemisinin with my ABX. Should I stop? Doc never mentioned this. Does it need to be taken on an empty stomach?

Artemesia annua and extracts of artemesia differ, but you should check into it carefully and then verify the evidence yourself.

It's reported that:
"CYP2C19 is increased by rifampin and artemisin (a derivative of the herb Artemisia annua, a natural anti-malarial herb that may be used in the treatment of Babesiosis). "

"The cytochrome P450 (CYP) system is extensively involved in drug metabolism and may be strongly inhibited or stimulated by drugs, foods or dietary supplements. CYP enzymes are most active in the liver, intestines, lungs and kidneys. Humans have over 20 different CYP enzymes, all of which contain iron and which all use oxygen to change the structure and function of the drugs they metabolize. The most important CYP's for drug metabolism are designated CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4. This classification system is not based upon biological function but upon similarity of amino acid sequences in the structure of the enzyme. CYP oxidation of drugs may produce metabolites that are less active or more active than the parent compound. The exact effect of inhibiting or stimulating any CYP enzyme will therefore depend upon the specific clinical circumstances and cannot necessarily be predicted from experiments done in a test tube. "
mdheal.org/articles/word2/lymedruginteractions2.htm

The king said...
I'm waiting to hear from my doctor on this even though I was told it was ok. In other words no one knows for sure what it will do to me. Either increase or decrease effectiveness.

It depends on if they are inhibitors or enhancers. (Those may not be the correct words)

dogsblood said...

Girlie said...
Most abx are fine with Artemisinin.

There was a thread on here about combining meds that were in the P450 group.

Rifampin and Artemisinin both are.
But if the half life is short enough on one of them then it should be okay if you separate them by a couple hours.
When I take Artesunate with Rifampin I take the Artesunate first (half life of one hour) and wait a couple hours before taking the Rifampin.

BUT - I know some LL Dr.s who do not seem to be concerned with the P450 interactions and prescribe them to be taken together.

I haven't been told to take Artemisinin on empty stomach but that may be better for absorption.

What abx are you taking with the Art?

Because it's whole herb...it may be okay.
Why not take the Artemisia and wait an hour or so...before taking the Rifampin. That should help.

FYI - It seems that some LLMD's don't worry about it - I have seen some protocols with Artemisinin and Rifampin together...FWIW

Rifampin, Bactrim, Zithro, Tinidazole as far as Rx.