Medicines and Drugs

MEDICINES AND DRUGS - HOW THEY AFFECT OUR DIET

Chemical Robbery

Many of the drugs prescribed by doctors, and medicines bought over the counter, can have damaging effects on our stores of vitamins and minerals. So it is important to understand when there may be a need for extra supplements to compensate for these losses.

Apart from those included in the following list, you should know that everyday substances can also be a problem. Both nicotine and alcohol, for example, have a really bad influence on your vitamin levels.

ANTACIDS - can interfere with the absorption of vitamins A and the B complex as well as the minerals calcium, magnesium, Iron and phosphorus.

ANTIBACTERIALS - Isoniazid, the standard drug for the treatment of TB, causes pyridoxine deficiency. Supplements are usually given (if not ask your doctor, especially since treatment may last for a year or more, and certainly not less than 6 or 9 months).

ANTIBIOTICS - in general these interfere with the B complex and vitamin K, partly because they destroy some of the natural bacteria in the gut which are involved in vitamin B synthesis.

ANTI-CANCER - Methotrexate interferes with Folic acid absorption, and may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and diarrhoea. It also causes malabsorption leading to a loss of folic acid. Patients treated with methotrexate should not self-medicate with over the counter preparations containing folic acid, as this may interfere with the effectiveness of the drug.

ANTI-COAGULANTS - including warfarin, aspirin and all their relatives, affect vitamin K.

ANTI-CONVULSANTS - interfere with the body's absorption of vitamins B6, D and K as well as folic acid. These drugs are normally taken for very extended periods of time as in the treatment of epilepsy. Phenytoin (also used to treat irregular heartbeats) interferes with the absorption of calcium.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES - Sulfasalazine produces Folic acid loss. According to Smith and Bidlack, "Even though folacin deficiency is common in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease, folacin absorption appears to be further diminished by the use of the anti-inflammatory agent sulfasalazine. Patients need to be encouraged to eat a varied and adequate diet rather than using folacin supplements".

ANTI-MALARIALS - can also act against Folic acid and long term use of Pyrimethamine (Daraprim, Fansidar, Maloprem) may cause megaloblastic anemia.

ANTI-ULCER - these are drugs which reduce the stomach's production of acid and can cause poor absorption of vitamin B12.

CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING - Cholestyramine produces malabsorption of iron, betacarotene, vitamins A, D, K, and Folic acid when used for long periods of time.

DIURETICS - Many of these drugs deprive the body of vitamin B complex, potassium,Magnesiumand zinc.

DRUGS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Hydralazine lowers the level of vitamin B6 in the body.

LAXATIVES - by speeding up the bowel function many nutrients, both vitamins and minerals, can be lost, especially calcium and phosphorous. Long term laxative abuse as seen in eating disorders is a common cause of drug induced malnutrition. Vitamin D can be severely affected by regular use of laxatives and this is of great importance to women at risk of osteoporosis, as vitamin D is essential to the absorption of calcium. Linseeds and linseed extracts have become a popular form of laxative in recent years, unfortunately they have an adverse effect on the fat soluble vitamins A, D and E, leaching them out of the body.

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AGENTS - The contraceptive pill is a major factor in nutritional status. It adversely affects folic acid, vitamins C, B1,2,6 and 12 and vitamin E.

SLEEPING PILLS AND ANTI-DEPRESSANTS - Barbiturate-type sleeping pills affect the uptake of vitamin D. Anti-depressants interfere with the chemical process of B2 absorption and with the uptake of the minerals Zinc and magnesium.

TRANQUILLIZERS - Stelazine is detrimental to vitamin B12 absorption.

Chemical robbery is insidious. It creeps up without warning, and can have a very negative impact on your health. The last thing you need if you are taking some form of medicine for an existing illness.

Forewarned is forearmed. These are the most common culprits, so if you need to use them, at least you can take the right steps to keep you on the path to a speedy recovery.
 
 
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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.