milk thistle and PBC?

[FarahS]

hi - just wondering if anyone take milk thistle with PBC? if so does it matter what stage your PBC is?

[Buddy2017]

Hi , I know there are mixed thoughts about Milk Thistle , I just remember on my first hospital visit 12 years ago that my Consultant told me I should not take it . Sorry , I didn't ask why as I was overcome with all the information he was giving me .

[gillrich in reply to Buddy2017]

Me too told not to take this

Pbcfoundation.org.uk is the best place for up to date and accurate information information

[FarahS in reply to Buddy2017]

thank you for this…I went to buy it and it’s been sitting in my cupboard so will refrain….xx

[Mofusdog in reply to Buddy2017]

When I first saw a hepatologist I was taking milk thistle. He said it was a waste of money. After my pbc stabilized with urso and was getting blood tested every three months I stopped taking it to see if it made a difference. It didn't. The hepatologist was correct. It was a waste of money.

[butterflyEi]

I have also heard no to Milk Thistle. What is known though is that we can be deficient in vitamins A D E K and a good multi vitamin will have all of that in them and more such as CoQ10. I use a vitamin D spray with K as K helps D absorption.

[TracG]

Many years ago when I was first diagnosed I was told by my consultant not to take it. He said there is no confirmed evidence that there are any advantages. He was mainly concerned that if I did take this it would be difficult to monitor my condition. Tests results and symptoms could be altered therefore true liver condition and treatment may be compromised.

[YvonneGS]

My consultant said it did not hurt, but also did not help with the PBC, so not to bother.

[sistergoldenhair]

Hi, I started taking milkthistle shortly after I was dx in 1995. Through the years all my doctors were aware and did not ask me to stop. I also took the other recommended medications. I was dx around stage 3 and told I would need a transplant in 10-20 years. I remained relatively healthy until 2011. Then little by little I started having other issues that go along w/PBC. In late 2017 I started getting pretty bad, could no longer drive or do alot of things. Long story short, Washington state would not keep me on the transplant list so I called the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. I was accepted by them and received a transplant in March of 2019, they told me I would be dead w/in a year if I didn't have one. I think the milkthistle helped me as far as slowing down things. I mean it took 23 years for me to get sick enough for a transplant. My daughter was dx last year, however she has no actual signs, all her liver panels are great and she has nothing on her liver. I advised her to take the milkthistle also, it is known for rejuvenating the liver. Just my thoughts though, I am not a doctor. Wish you all the best.

[Jlruggie]

I used to. Alp, AST and cholesterol were still high and I read milk thistle does nothing for liver so I stopped