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Patients
Taking Prescription Drugs
Need to be Nutrition-conscious.
Prescription
drugs often become a necessary component of patients' health. And
that presents a new need -- the need for physicians and pharmacists
to discuss the possible ramifications of taking a prescription,
including nutrient depletion in the body.
Natural Medicine
Online offers a chart of the most commonly prescribed drugs and
their corresponding effects on body nutrient levels. Please use
this chart to educate yourself about the added importance of nutritional
supplements and natural medicines when taking prescription medications.
Top
Perscription Drugs
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Norvasc®,
Procardia®, and Adalat®
|
| Description: |
Types
of anti-anginal drugs used for heart disease. |
| Depletion: |
Procardia
and Adalat can cause potassium depletion (hypokalemia) |
| Interactions: |
Ingestion
of grapefruit or grapefruit juice has been shown to increase
the blood levels of these drugs and may increase side effects. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Krebs Magnesium- Potassium Chelates. |
|
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|
NSAIDS
including Aleve®, aspirin, ibuprofen, Feldene®, Indocin®,
Relafen®, Naprelan®, Naprosyn, etc.
|
| Description: |
Types
of anti-inflammatory drugs. |
| Depletion: |
Iron,
folic acid, zinc, vitamin C, and possibly vitamin B12. |
| Interactions: |
High
dosages of vitamin E (i.e.,>400 IU/day) can decrease platelet
aggregation. This may result in additive blood thinning effects
already present in NSAIDs. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Glucosamine
Sulfate, a high potency daily multiple vitamin for women or
men, and MSM. |
|
Premarin®,
Prempro®, and other estrogen hormones
|
| Description: |
Types
of estrogen replacement (HRT) used for menopause. |
| Depletion: |
Vitamin
B6, folic acid, niacin, and vitamin C. |
| Interactions: |
Red
clover extracts and soy isoflavones may interfere with absorption.Vitamin
D, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and ipriflavone may increase absorption. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
A high potency daily mutiple vitamin for women or women 45+
and standardized black cohosh. Standardized black cohosh is
effective for relief of menopause symptoms. |
|
Prilosec®
and other proton pump inhibitors
|
| Description: |
Types
of ulcer/gastric reflux medications (GERD) |
| Depletion: |
Vitamin
B12. |
| Interactions: |
May
decrease the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals
by blocking the release of stomach acid. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Vitamin
B12(Methylcobalamin) and a high potency daily multiple vitamin
for women or men. Gastro-Relief™ helps relieve acid indigestion. |
|
Prozac®,
Zoloft®, and other SSRIs
|
| Description: |
Types
of anti-depressants. |
| Depletion: |
Melatonin. |
| Interactions: |
Low
levels of B vitamins may reduce the effectiveness of these drugs. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
St.
John's Wort and 5-HTP should not be taken with any SSRI unless
under a physician's supervision. Melatonin and a complete daily
multiple vitamin for women or men. |
|
Synthroid®
and other thyroid hormone medications (Eltroxin®, Levo-T®,
Levothroid®, Levoxyl®, Euthroid®, Thyrolar®,
etc.)
|
| Description: |
Types
of thyroid hormone replacement. |
| Depletion: |
Calcium.
|
| Interactions: |
Iron
supplements and soy products taken at the same time as Synthroid®
may interfere with absorption. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Milk
thistle extract standardized to contain 70% silymarin. Thyroid
preparations are best taken on an empty stomach at the same
time every day. |
|
Vasotec®,
Capoten®, (Captopril), Prinivil®, Zestril®
|
| Description: |
Types
of (anti-hypertensives) medications for blood pressure. |
| Depletion: |
Zinc. |
| Interactions: |
These
drugs may increase blood levels of potassium above normal or
reduce potassium excretion in urine. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
A
high potency daily multiple vitamin for women or men. |
|
Albuterol
(Proventil®, Ventolin®)
|
| Description: |
Types
of bronchodilator (asthma). |
| Depletion: |
Magnesium
and calcium. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
A
high potency daily multiple vitamin for men or women and Krebs
Magnesium-Potassium Chelates. Bronchoril™ can help keep
airways free of mucus |
|
Amoxicillin
preparations including Augmentin®, Amoxil®, Polymox®,
Trimox®, and others
|
| Description: |
Types
of antibiotics. |
| Depletion: |
Biotin,
vitamin K, and possibly other B vitamins.
Interaction: The enzyme bromelain increases the absorption of
amoxicillin and other antibiotics. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Acidophilus
and bromelain. Lactobacillus acidophilus preparations can be
taken with antibiotics. |
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Claritin®,
Claritin®-D
|
| Description: |
Types
of allergy medications. |
| Depletion: |
None
known |
| Interactions: |
None
known |
| Nutritional
Support: |
A
high potency daily multiple vitamin for women or men. |
|
Coumadin®
(warfarin)
|
| Description: |
Types of anticoagulant therapy used for heart disease (blood
thinner). |
| Depletion: |
None
known. |
| Interactions: |
Vitamin
K may decrease the effect of Coumadin®. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Ginkgo
biloba extract, vitamin E, and aspirin may increase the effect
of Coumadin. A high potency, standardized grape seed extract
helps to maintain healthy blood vessels. Iron, magnesium, and
zinc may bind with Coumadin® and decrease its absorption.
Take any supplement containing these compounds at least two
hours before or after taking Coumadin®. |
|
Diuretics
including Lasix®, Aldactone®, Esidrix®, Hydrodiuril®,
Edecrin®
|
| Description: |
Types
of blood pressure medications also used for fluid retention. |
| Depletion: |
Potassium,
magnesium, and B vitamins (especially
thiamin). |
| Interactions: |
Diuretics
cause the body to excrete higher levels of potassium, magnesium,
and B vitamins. However, calcium levels tend to be preserved. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
A
high potency daily multiple vitamins for women or men. Potassium
supplementation is routinely provided by medical doctors when
they prescribe diuretics |
|
Glucophage®,
also DiaBeta®, Micronase®, Glucotrol®
|
| Description: |
Types
of oral anti-diabetic agents. |
| Depletion: |
Folic
acid and vitamin B12. |
| Interactions: |
These
drugs should be taken on an empty stomach. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Magnesium,
chromium, and a high potency daily multiple for diabetics. Diabetics
have higher needs for virtually all nutrients, especially vitamins
C, E, and B, magnesium, and chromium. |
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Lanoxin®
(digoxin)
|
| Description: |
Type
of inotropic heart medication. |
| Depletion: |
Magnesium, potassium, and thiamine. |
| Interactions: |
Low
levels of potassium increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. Siberian
ginseng should not be used with Lanoxin. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Krebs
Magnesium-Potassium Chelates, and high potency daily multiple
vitamin for women or men. Avoid licorice extract unless it is
deglycyrrhizinated. |
|
Lipitor®,
Mevacor®, Zocor®, Pravachol®, and other HMG CoA
Reductase Inhibitors.
|
| Description: |
Types
of anti-cholesterol medications. |
| Depletion: |
Coenzyme
Q10. |
| Interactions: |
Magnesium
may inhibit the absorption of these drugs. High doses of niacin
will increase risk for adverse liver effects and myopathies. |
| Nutritional
Support: |
Coenzyme
Q10 (softgel). Do not use concomitantly with red yeast rice
products unless under the supervision of a physician. |
Most people
are well-versed in the importance of vitamins, minerals, and herbs
to their health. Stress, environmental pollutants, and poor diet
all contribute to the depletion of nutrient levels in the body.
Unfortunately, most people are not aware of how prescription drugs
create drug-induced nutrient depletion. This is an important issue
that becomes even more important when a patient must take a prescription
for a chronic condition.
As America ages,
it's inevitable that more of the population will need prescription
drugs for chronic conditions. There's already an influx of prescriptions
for Americans' high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart
disease, and other health concerns. This is a prime opportunity
to educate your patients about the need for nutritional therapy
as an adjunct to taking prescription medications. Not only does
this benefit the patient, but also enables you to integrate natural
medicines into your clinic or pharmacy.
Consider that
anti-hypertensive medications for blood pressure, drugs that comprise
the sixth largest dollar-volume category of prescription drugs in
the U.S. in 1998, will deplete zinc in the body. This mineral is
crucial to the immune system and its many functions including wound
healing and infection fighting. A zinc deficiency can also cause
insulin resistance and sexual dysfunction.
Cholesterol-lowering
drugs such as Lipitor® and Zocor® comprise the third largest
category of prescription drugs in the United States in 1998 and
can easily deplete Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10). On the flip side, magnesium
may inhibit the absorption of these drugs. And even commonplace
NSAIDs deplete nutrients like folic acid And it's this deficiency
that poses greater risk for women because of the link to cervical
dysplasia and birth defects in their children. Other problems associated
with a lack of adequate folic acid include anemia, depression, elevated
homocysteine levels (and corresponding risk of cardiovascular disease),
and increased risks for developing breast and colorectal cancers.
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