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About Nigel Simmons
Expertise
I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised.
Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner.
I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question.
Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?
Experience
Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients
Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.
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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Pharmacology > Pharmacy > liv.52 herbal liver support
Expert: Nigel Simmons
Date: 3/11/2008
Subject: liv.52 herbal liver support
Question
can any of the things it's made off cause a flase positive urine for benzo's? caspers,wild chicory,black nightshade,arjuna,yarrow,negro caffee,tamarisk. thank you.
Answer
Robert
Given the apparent number of claimed false positive tests I am asked about, it is really impossible to give a confident answer to your question. Liv.52 is clearly a herbal product and as such may potentially contain products which may be sufficiently chemically similar to benzodiazepines to give a false result. Regrettably there is no way of predicting this, though the manufacturers of the test materials may have some information which could be made available if necessary.
My recommendation would be to avoid using the product unless it is actually prescribed by a doctor who is treating you. That way they can make a judgement about its value as treatment and will be able to confirm its use in medical reports etc. I would not recommend using the product off your own back, as it may be a problem and if so it would make any defense or proof of a false result more difficult.
Having briefly looked at the product's website, I note that the makers do make many claims of clinical benefits etc. but yet they appear not to have licensed it as a medicine which would give the product greater credibility as the proof required would probably be much greater than any of the research the makers cite. I am therefore very sceptical about such products and would not recommend them to individuals. Ultimately though the decision and risk is yours.
If you do decide to take the Liv.52, my advice would be to declare this in advance to the testers. In addition, I would recommend that you always see the sample tested in front of you with no others in the area to cause confusion. Ideally also get the details of the manaufacturer of the test strip and the batch number, as these may help if you do need to challenge an erroneous result. Keeping part of the sample for yourself (until the result is negative) would also allow you to get independent verification if you wanted.
Other advice would be to contact the manufacturers and ask them for information on false results with their product (your local pharmacist may do this if they won't talk directly to you); asking for an immediate blood test to confirm the result; and being extra careful to avoid any covert taking of drugs or other products without your knowledge. If you can, getting your prescriptions from a local pharmacy rather than mail-order will also give confidence that the products are not adulterated by a dubious manufacturer.
I hope this helps.
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