Every time you go to the doctor it seems like the 'fix' for what ails you is some sort of prescription or pill. It is supposed to help alleviate some problem or at least mask the symptoms of a chronic disease or ailment.
The problem is many of these prescription drugs can deplete the nutrients in your body and make it even harder for your body to function at optimum levels. And while some of these prescriptions are necessary most of them can do harm while they are supposed to be doing just good.
If you are taking a medicine (or drug or even consume alcohol) it is often necessary to supplement the body with extra nutrients to make up for the loss due to the drugs. Some of the medications that can affect levels of nutrients in your body, and in some instances cause overt deficiencies, are listed in the table below. The chart highlights the major nutrients that drugs can deplete from the body and lists the drugs/medicines that cause the deficiency.
This list is not a complete list of all the drugs available or being prescribed but it does give you a good idea of how much strain we put our bodies under when we add drugs into the mix.
| Vitamin A |
- Alcohol consumption (excessive and/or chronic) can deplete vitamin Astores from your liver and potentially cause a vitamin Adeficiency .
- Cholestyramine (Questran) reduces vitamin A absorption and levels in the serum, particularly when used long term.
- Colestipol (Colestid) decreases the absorption of vitamin Aand reduces levels of this nutrient in the serum.
- Large doses of Corticosteroids may decrease vitamin A levels in the blood, liver, thymus and adrenal glands.
- Mineral oil decreases the absorption of vitamin A and reduces levels of this nutrient in the serum.
- Neomycin (Neo-Fradin) can reduce the absorption and increase the elimination of vitamin A.
- Orlistat (Xenical): can reduce vitamin A levels.
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| Vitamin C |
- Aspirin or other salicylates with vitamin C can increase the excretion of this vitamin, and decreasing its absorption and proper utilization in the body.
- Estrogens and oral contraceptives can increase the elimination of vitamin C in the urine.
- Loop diuretics, such as Furosemide, Bumetanide, Ethacrynic acid, Torsemide, can increase the elimination of vitamin C in the urine.
- Nicotine can increase the elimination of vitamin C and decrease plasma levels of this essential vitamin.
- Tetracyclines can decrease blood levels of vitamin C.
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| Vitamin D |
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol) increases vitamin D metabolism and reduces vitamin D serum levels.
- Cholestyramine (Questran, LoCholest, Prevalite) can decrease vitamin D absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Cimetidine decreases the synthesis of vitamin D in the body.
- Colestipol (Colestid) can decrease vitamin D absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Corticosteroids increase the need for supplemental vitamin D.
- Isoniazid administration in children decreases blood levels of vitamin D.
- Mineral oil can decrease the absorption of vitamin D.
- Orlistat (Xenical) can reduce vitamin D levels.
- Phenytoin (Dilantin) and Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) can cause an overt vitamin D deficiency when used long-term.
- Phenobarbital (Luminal) can cause an overt vitamin D deficiency when used long-term.
- Rifampin (Rimactane) reduces vitamin D levels in the body.
- Stimulant laxatives can reduce dietary vitamin D absorption.
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| Vitamin E |
- Cholestyramine (Questran) can reduce the absorption of vitamin E from foods and lead to low levels in serum.
- Colestipol (Colestid) can reduce dietary vitamin E absorption and serum levels.
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid) can decrease levels of alpha- and gamma- tocopherol in the blood.
- Mineral oil can decrease the absorption of dietary vitamin E.
- Orlistat (Xenical) can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E.
- Rifampicin can reduce blood levels of vitamin D by up to 70% after 2 weeks of administration.
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| Vitamin K |
- Cholestyramine (Questran) can reduce the absorption of vitamin K from foods and lead to low levels in serum.
- Colestipol (Colestid) can reduce dietary vitamin K absorption and serum levels.
- Oral antibiotics can destroy beneficial intestinal bacteria responsible for producing vitamin K.
- Mineral oil can decrease the absorption of vitamin K.
- Orlistat (Xenical) can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin K.
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| Thiamin |
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
- Loop diuretics can deplete the body of thiamin which can affect heart function in some patients with congestive heart failure that use loop diuretics, such as furosemide, long-term.
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| Riboflavin |
- Metoclopramide (Reglan, Maxeran), when taken at the same time as riboflavin, can reduce the absorption of this B vitamin in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
- Oral contraceptives can reduce serum riboflavin levels.
- Phenothiazines can reduce levels of riboflavin in the serum and increase its elimination through the urine.
- Probenecid (Benemid) can reduce the body s ability to absorb riboflavin from the diet.
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| Vitamin B6 |
- Estrogens and oral contraceptives can impair the body s ability to metabolize vitamin B6, reducing levels of this B vitamin in the serum.
- Hydralazine (Apresoline) can increase the body s need for vitamin B6.
- Isoniazid (INH, Rifamate) can increase the body s need for vitamin B6.
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
- Penicillamine (Cuprimine) can increase the body s need for vitamin B6.
- Theophylline (Theo-Dur) adversely affects vitamin B6 metabolism and can reduce serum vitamin B6 levels.
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| Folate (Folic Acid) |
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol) can decrease folic acid levels in the body.
- Cycloserine (Seromycin Pulvules) can reduce the absorption and proper utilization of dietary folic acid.
- Furosemide (Lasix), if used long-term for hypertension, can decrease folic acid levels in the body .
- Metformin (Glucophage) can decrease folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in the serum
- Methotrexate prevents the body from utilizing dietary folate properly.
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
- Oral contraceptives can impair dietary folic acid absorption and reduce serum folic acid levels.
- p-Aminosalicylic acid (PAS, Aminosalicylic acid) can decrease folic acid absorption if taken at the same time.
- Pentamidine (NebuPent) decreases dietary folic acid absorption and reduces levels of folic acid in the serum.
- Phenobarbital (Luminal) and Primidone (Mysoline) can reduce the absorption of dietary folic acid and reduce serum folic acid levels.
- Phenytoin (Dilantin) can reduce serum folic acid levels.
- Pyrimethamine (Daraprim) can reduce serum folic acid levels.
- Thiazide diuretics, when used long-term for hypertension, can decrease folic acid levels and increase homocysteine levels.
- Trimethoprim (Trimpex) can cause folic acid deficiency if used in high doses, or if used long-term.
- Triamterene (Dyrenium) can decrease the utilization of dietary folic acid and reduce serum folic acid levels.
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| Vitamin B12 |
- Alcohol, if consumed excessively for more than 2 weeks, can decrease absorption of vitamin B12.
- Colchicine can reduce dietary vitamin B12 absorption.
- Colestipol (Colestid) can reduce dietary vitamin B12 absorption and serum levels
- Extended release potassium chloride (K-Dur) can reduce dietary vitamin B12 absorption and serum levels.
- H2-Blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine
- (Pepcid), if used long-term in high doses, may lead to iron and B12 malabsorption.
- Metformin (Glucophage) can decrease folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in the serum
- Nicotine can reduce vitamin B12 blood levels.
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
- Oral contraceptives can reduce vitamin B12 serum levels.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors, such as Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Omeprazole (Prilosec), Rabeprazole (Aciphex), and Pantoprazole (Protonix, Pantoloc), can decrease the absorption and proper utilization of vitamin B12 in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Zidovudine (AZT, Combivir, Retrovir) can cause subnormal B12 concentrations in people with AIDS taking these medications, possibly predisposing them to anemia.
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| Biotin |
- Primidone (Mysoline) and Carbamazepine (Tegretol) may reduce biotin absorption.
- Phenobarbital (Luminal), and Phenytoin (Dilantin) can reduce the absorption of dietary biotin and reduce serum biotin levels.
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| Pantothenic Acid |
- Oral antibiotics can destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a decrease in the production of B vitamins.
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| Calcium |
- Corticosteroid use, particularly long-term, can cause osteoporosis and calcium depletion.
- Loop diuretics and Thiazide diuretics can increase urinary calcium loss and reduce serum levels.
- Mineral oil can reduce dietary calcium absorption
- Stimulant laxatives can reduce dietary calcium absorption.
- Tetracyclines can reduce the body s ability to absorb dietary calcium, and decrease levels of this mineral in serum.
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| Iron |
- Antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, etc.), when taken with iron, may decrease the absorption of this nutrient.
- H2-blockers, such as Cimetidine (Tagamet), Ranitidine (Zantac), Famotidine
- (Pepcid), taken long-term and at high-doses, can lead to iron malabsorption. Proton Pump Inhibitors, such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Rabeprazole (Aciphex), and Pantoprazole (Protonix, Pantoloc), if taken with iron, can decrease the absorption of this nutrient in the gastrointestinal tract.
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| Phosphorous |
- Antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, etc.) can bind with phosphate in the digestive tract, decreasing its absorption in the body.
- Cholestyramine can decrease phosphorus levels in the body.
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| Magnesium |
- Digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps) can increase urinary magnesium loss.
- Estrogens and oral contraceptives may decrease serum magnesium levels.
- Loop diuretics and Thiazide diuretics can increase urinary magnesium loss and reduce serum levels.
- Penicillamine (Cuprimine) can reduce magnesium levels in the serum.
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| Zinc |
- Captopril (Capoten), when taken for hypertension, increases the elimination of zinc through the urine.
- Deferoxamine (Desferal) increases the elimination of zinc through the urine.
- Loop diuretics and Thiazide diuretics can increase urinary zinc loss and reduce serum levels.
- Penicillamine (Cuprimine) can deplete zinc from the body and decrease levels of this mineral in serum.
- Tetracyclines, except Doxycycline (Vibramycin), can reduce the body s ability to absorb dietary zinc, and decrease levels of this mineral in serum.
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| Selenium |
- Oral contraceptives can decrease selenium levels in the blood.
- Prednisone, when taken in high doses for rheumatoid arthritis, can reduce selenium levels in the blood.
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| Copper |
- Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen) decreases the absorption of copper.
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| Chromium |
- Corticosteroids can cause a chromium deficiency and/or hyperglycemia, both of which can be reversed with chromium supplementationt.
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Remember, It's your health and therefore your job to protect it. Don't rely only on doctors to know everything. Do some research and give your body everything it needs in order to stay as healthy as possible. You will thank yourself later...
Drugs of all types whether they are prescription drugs or not can impact our bodies and quite often create unwanted side affects. Some of these affects come about because the medicine affects our body's ability to absorb or maintain proper levels of one or more of the essential vitamins and nutrients we need everyday.
That is why a good diet and nutrition and now days supplementation are so important. Giving your body the essential minerals and vitamins it needs is the best way to keep it healthy. If you do that you might even be able to get off a few of those prescription drugs.
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