Drug & supplement interaction

Milk Thistle + Indinavir

Indinavir brand name: Crixivan.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Minor

Indinavir falls into 3 drug categories that Milk Thistle can interact with; the most serious is rated minor. Theoretically, milk thistle might increase the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodUnlikely
Interactions3
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Milk Thistle and Indinavir

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Milk Thistle interacts with whole categories of medication. Indinavir falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Milk Thistle in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Minor).

Minor

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Indinavir

Indinavir falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Milk Thistle interacts with.

Theoretically, milk thistle might increase the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates. However, this effect does not seem to be clinically significant.
In vitro research shows that milk thistle can inhibit P-glycoprotein activity and 1 case report from the World Health Organization (WHO) adverse drug reaction database describes increased abdominal pain in a patient taking milk thistle and the cancer medication vincristine, a P-glycoprotein substrate, though this patient was also taking methotrexate. However, a small pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers shows that taking milk thistle (Enzymatic Therapy Inc.) 900 mg, standardized to 80% silymarin, in 3 divided doses daily for 14 days does not affect absorption of digoxin, a P-glycoprotein substrate.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence B

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for indinavir (Crixivan): it's moved around the body partly by a transporter called P-glycoprotein, and milk thistle might block that transporter a little. In theory, that could let slightly more indinavir get absorbed, which could mean more of its usual side effects like nausea, belly discomfort, or kidney stone symptoms (back or side pain, painful urination). Indinavir is an active drug, not a prodrug, so blocking that pump would tend to raise its levels, not lower them.

The reassuring part: this is mostly theory. A human study using a similar P-gp drug showed no real change, so for most people this is unlikely to cause trouble. Still, since you're managing HIV, it's worth a quick check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding milk thistle.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gurley, B. J., Barone, G. W., Williams, D. K., Carrier, J., Breen, P., Yates, C. R., Song, P. F., Hubbard, M. A., Tong, Y., and Cheboyina, S. Effect of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) supplementation on digoxin phar
  2. Derosa G, Romano D, D'Angelo A, Maffioli P. Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum fixed combination (Berberol(®)) effects on lipid profile in dyslipidemic patients intolerant to statins at high dosages: a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Phyto PubMed
  3. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Indinavir also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

It is unclear if milk thistle inhibits CYP3A4; research is conflicting.
While laboratory research shows conflicting results, pharmacokinetic research shows that taking milk thistle extract 420-1350 mg daily does not significantly affect the metabolism of the CYP3A4 substrates irinotecan, midazolam, or indinavir. However, 8 case reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) adverse drug reaction database describe increased toxicity in patients taking milk thistle and cancer medications that are CYP3A4 substrates, including gefitinib, sorafenib, doxorubicin, and vincristine.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the good news on this pairing. Indinavir is cleared from your body by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, and the worry was that milk thistle might slow that enzyme down and let indinavir build up. In theory that could mean more side effects like kidney stones, belly upset, or that yellowing of the skin and eyes indinavir is known for.

But the actual human studies looked at this directly. People taking milk thistle extract (420 to 1350 mg a day) showed no meaningful change in how their body handled indinavir. The lab results are mixed, but the real-world data is reassuring. Still, since indinavir is a key part of your HIV treatment, mention any supplement to your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Venkataramanan R, Ramachandran V, Komoroski BJ, et al. Milk thistle, a herbal supplement, decreases the activity of CYP3A4 and uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase in human hepatocyte cultures. Drug Metab Dispos 2000;28:1270-3. DOI
  2. Piscitelli SC, Formentini E, Burstein AH, et al. Effect of milk thistle on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir in healthy volunteers. Pharmacotherapy 2002;22:551-6. PubMed
  3. Sridar C, Goosen TC, Kent UM, et al. Silybin inactivates cytochromes P450 3A4 and 2C9 and inhibits major hepatic glucuronosyltransferases. Drug Metab Dispos 2004;32:587-94. PubMed
  4. van Erp NP, Baker SD, Zhao M, et al. Effect of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) on the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan. Clin Cancer Res 2005;11:7800-6.
  5. Budzinski JW, Trudeau VL, Drouin CE, et al. Modulation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cell monolayers by selected commercial-source milk thistle and goldenseal products. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;85:966-78.
  6. Doehmer J, Weiss G, McGregor GP, Appel K. Assessment of a dry extract from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for interference with human liver cytochrome-P450 activities. Toxicol In Vitro 2011;25:21-7. PubMed
  7. Jalloh MA, Gregory PJ, Hein D, et al. Dietary supplement interactions with antiretrovirals: a systematic review. Int J STD AIDS. 2017 Jan;28(1):4-15. PubMed
  8. Kawaguchi-Suzuki M, Frye RF, Zhu HJ, et al. The effects of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) on human cytochrome P450 activity. Drug Metab Dispos. 2014;42(10):1611-6. PubMed
  9. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed
Minor

INDINAVIR (Crixivan)

3 of 3
Theoretically, milk thistle may induce cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes and increase the metabolism of indinavir; however, results are conflicting.
One pharmacokinetic study shows that taking milk thistle (Standardized Milk Thistle, General Nutrition Corp.) 175 mg three times daily in combination with multiple doses of indinavir 800 mg every 8 hours decreases the mean trough levels of indinavir by 25%. However, results from the same pharmacokinetic study show that milk thistle does not affect the overall exposure to indinavir. Furthermore, two other pharmacokinetic studies show that taking specific milk thistle extract (Legalon, Rottapharm Madaus; Thisilyn, Nature's Way) 160-450 mg every 8 hours in combination with multiple doses of indinavir 800 mg every 8 hours does not reduce levels of indinavir.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence B

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist of it: indinavir is an active HIV medicine on its own (not a prodrug), and your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to clear it. The worry on paper is that milk thistle might speed up that enzyme a little, which could lower how much indinavir stays in your blood. If levels dropped too far, the concern would be weaker control of HIV over time.

The good news is the evidence here is shaky and reassuring. One study saw a small dip in trough levels but no real change in total drug exposure, and two other studies found no meaningful effect at all. So this is mostly theoretical and unlikely to cause problems. Still, since keeping HIV suppressed matters so much, I'd run any milk thistle plan past your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Piscitelli SC, Formentini E, Burstein AH, et al. Effect of milk thistle on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir in healthy volunteers. Pharmacotherapy 2002;22:551-6. PubMed
  2. Jalloh MA, Gregory PJ, Hein D, et al. Dietary supplement interactions with antiretrovirals: a systematic review. Int J STD AIDS. 2017 Jan;28(1):4-15. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Milk Thistle Also Interacts With Other Medications

Milk Thistle has 254 moderate, 699 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Indinavir one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 254 Minor 699 No known interaction 1,877 (incl. Indinavir)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Milk Thistle

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Milk Thistle. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Milk Thistle or Indinavir

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Milk Thistle or Indinavir, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Indinavir

This page covers Milk Thistle only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Indinavir page lists 150 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 109 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Indinavir page

“St. John's wort can drop indinavir (Crixivan) levels far enough to cause HIV treatment failure and viral resistance, which is why this list calls for real care before adding any supplement.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Indinavir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Milk Thistle as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 4,560 real supplement products containing Milk Thistle, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Milk Thistle. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Indinavir too, on top of Milk Thistle — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Milk Thistle and Indinavir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Milk Thistle
Top 5%

#49 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Indinavir
Top half

#918 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Milk Thistle

What is Milk Thistle?

Milk Thistle
  • Liver health and protection
  • Hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Gallbladder problems
  • High cholesterol
  • Type 2 diabetes support

Milk thistle is a popular herbal supplement most often used for liver health, and its main active component is a group of compounds called silymarin. While it is generally well tolerated, the scientific evidence that it meaningfully improves liver disease or other conditions is mixed and far from conclusive. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a liver condition or take other medicines.

Read the full Milk Thistle monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Indinavir

What Is Indinavir Used For?

Brand name: Crixivan

  • Indinavir is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Indinavir is in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although indinavir does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people.

See full Indinavir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Milk Thistle

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Milk Thistle — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
254Moderate
699Minor
1,876No known interaction
254 Moderate 699 Minor 1,876 No interaction
Moderate

254 interactions

Showing 60 of 254 moderate interactions — see all 254 on the Milk Thistle page.

Minor

699 interactions

Showing 60 of 699 minor interactions — see all 699 on the Milk Thistle page.

No interaction 1,876 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Milk Thistle against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,876 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Milk Thistle list.

See the full Milk Thistle interactions page
See every supplement checked against Indinavir, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Milk Thistle monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Indinavir supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Indinavir, ranked by severity Indinavir drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Milk Thistle and Indinavir Together: Common Questions

Can you take Milk Thistle with Indinavir?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Milk Thistle and Indinavir?
Indinavir belongs to more than one drug category, and Milk Thistle interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Milk Thistle and Indinavir interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Indinavir and Milk Thistle?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.