Prescribed Drug Interactions and Supplements

Not all drugs produce reactions, but enough of them do provide sufficient reasons to examine some of the more frequently used medications.

If long-term therapy with drugs is necessary, as with aspirin for arthritis, it may be well to consider adding the depleted nutrients as supplements to the diet. People taking daily quantities of aspirin may need to take increased amounts of vitamin C. Excessive intake of vitamin C (which is an acid) may reflect in the development of kidney stones. It may also seriously deplete vitamin B-12, the anemia preventative vitamin, in the body. The safest, most effective way to increase vitamin C in one's diet is by the simple addition of citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes and even potatoes. By obtaining the vitamin from common foods you are protected from the danger of overdose and the unnecessary expense of a bottle of pills.

Here is a list of commonly used drugs and their nutritional side effects:

Antacids: Decreases iron absorption, supresses serum phosphate levels.

Aspirin: Causes larger amounts of vitamin C to be excreted by kidneys.

Cholestypamine

Questran

Cuemid: Decreases iron and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K) absorption. '

Calchicine (Benemid): Decreases vitamin B-12 (cobelamine) and serum dissaccharides, especially lactose (sugar).

Corticosteriods: Changes glucose metabolism, causes sodium retention and dreases calcium absorption.

Cyclosterine (Seramycin): Increases need for vitamin B-G ami depresses niacin levels.

Dilantin: Increases need for folkacid.

Estrogens (female hormone): Decreases glucose tolerance, increases sodium retention, elevates triglyceridc blood levels.

Griseofulvin: Increases fat adsorption.

Iron Salts: Increases absorption of vitamin C, but decreases phytates.

Isoniazid: Increases need for vitamin B-6and decreases niacin.

Metolazane: Depresses potassium levels.

Neamycin: Decreases lactose and depresses all intestinal absorption.

Oral Contraceptives: Decreases blood levels of vitamin C, B-12, B-2, B-6 and iron. Increases vitamin A absorption. but hinders folic acid. Changes tryptopha n metabolism.

Thalidone: Decreases blood potassium and chloride levels.

Thiazides: Decreases blood potassium.

Phenobarbitol (barbiturates); Increases need for vitamin D and folkacid. - .

Sulfadiazine : Produces crystallization of large doses of vitamin C in bladder.

If you are taking any of these drugs yon may want to check with your doctor concerning possible nutritional supplements. Do not make arbitrary decisions to supplement on your own.