Hi Denny,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Those are great ideas to maintain a low sodium intake. When you use No-SALT do you have a concern for high potassium intake? I heard that it would do hard to the kidney. Considering the TDF I am taking also have side effects on kidney, I am not sure if it is a problem. If this is not a big concern, I think it is a very good solution to use No-SALT sometime to have a better taste.
Iāve heard conflicting things about it but I use very little. Itās not suitable for soups or anything as it dissipates so I only use it on a few items. I also understand sweets need to be regulated for kidney issues as well. I watch this but not as much as Iāve never really been a dessert eater.
I drink protein shakes with skim milk as I was told by gp and liver specialist to take as much protein as possible to make up for the minimal caloric intake.
Denny
Thanks, Denny. I agree with you that not all foods need to be seasoned with salt. So it should be good if we use the potassium replacement moderately. I donāt have much sweet things either so sugar is not a concern. For protein, yes, I just watched a video from a MD in Michigan University talking the high protein intake and cirrhosis. It is important to take more protein to maintain a good muscle mass.
Iām in a pretty good place now. I never held anything against whoever gave this to me and I still donāt. But itās what itās done to aspects of my life that haunted me for some time. Now Iām just glad to be alive after coming so close to taking my life in my darkest hours. Things could always be worse ā¦and they ARE for so many around the world.
Hang in there, geomoā¦
Denny
Hello everyone.
Iām on Tenofovir disoproxil 245mg. I was wondering is NAC safe to take along with it?
Hi @desolation_jones,
Welcome to the community. Use caution when taking any supplements. Their safety and efficacy is difficult to ascertain at times so patients are encouraged to be careful around this stuff. NAC is supposed to provide antioxidants, but there are plenty of readily available fruits and vegetables that are high and rich, and maybe healthy as well for the body. For $20 plus you can get some delicious fruits out there lol. Just my opinion. Best, Bansah1
Hey @Bansah1 and others!
The seems to be a lot of evidence that it would be at least beneficial to take NAC when suffering from a liver disease.
N-Acetylcysteine Improves Liver Function in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Role of N-acetylcysteine in non-acetaminophen-related acute liver failure: an updated meta-analysis and systematic review
The Use and Potential Benefits of N-Acetylcysteine in Non-Acetaminophen Acute Liver Failure: An Etiology-Based Review
Early treatment with N-acetylcysteine in children with acute liver failure secondary to hepatitis A
Thanks for sharing, but if you remember I didnāt say donāt take it. I advised that you exercise caution about supplements and that if you need antioxidants there are unprocessed and noncommercialized fruits and vegetables full of it out there. Best, Bansah1
Yes, I understood your response. Iām mainly trying to figure out if itās safe to take NAC with tenofovir and if anyone has positive experiences with it. I already eat (what I believe is) a healthy diet. I am vegan and always try to choose a diverse and organic option. I smoke, but I am trying to quit. Itās strange, I contracted hepatitis B from unprotected sex, but I also have a history of mental health and addiction issues (bipolar disorder, ADHD, and a multi-substance addiction to both benzodiazepines and stimulants, which I have stopped), yet quitting smoking has clearly been the hardest addiction to overcome. In addition, I walk daily, more or less 10 kilometers, and practice meditation every day. One of my meditation practices is the so-called āGuru Rinpoche and Mandarava long life practice,ā but I would like to support this by taking supplements that are liver-friendly. Both of these approaches are speculative according to modern medicine, if not pseudo-scientific, but I would encourage everyone to also try alternative methods for managing chronic hepatitis B. AND OF COURSE, to take the medications prescribed by Western medicine as well. All the best to everyone, and thanks for the responses.
Great questions. Indeed, NAC has been shown to be helpful with acute liver failure in preventing death. However, no evidence is there to show that NAC will be beneficial for chronic conditions such as HBV infection.
Also, these studies are using direct injections of NAC in clinics rather than dietary supplements. It is unclear whether supplements with NAC in them 1) actually have NAC in them, as they are unregulated; 2) have enough NAC in them to convey therapeutic doses of the compound into the liver; 3) are effective at all.
Hope this puts some context around your decision,
Thomas