Implications of using natural supplements and drugs together – Ask your pharmacist’s advice.

About 38.2 million American adults currently use plant-based supplements in addition to their daily dose of prescribed medications.  Herbs could be also described as drugs based on the actions they can create inside the body.  25% of all current drugs have been developed by isolating an active ingredient from an herb or plant. Many herbs are as potent as their drug counterparts. But don’t buy into the misconception that claim herbs are natural, so they must be safe for use. It simply is not true. This means that the potential for interaction in those individuals who take drugs as well as herbs can be very significant, perhaps even deadly. 

Herbs have long been considered the medicine of the planet. In many cultures, herbs remain the primary source of medicine. What worries many of our healthcare professionals is the use of herbs without understanding both their potential dangers and benefits.

According to a recent study at Yale School of Medicine (April issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment) Black cohosh, a plant commonly used by breast cancer patients to alleviate the menopause-like side effects of therapy, may alter the effects of anticancer drugs. According to lead researcher Sara Rockwell, professor of Therapeutic Radiology and Pharmacology, combining mainstream therapies with complementary and alternative medicine is common practice amongst cancer patients. But because many do not tell their physician, they are not alerted to possible interactions with drugs.

Doctors and pharmacists are doing their best to understand the implications of using both forms of therapy. When a prescription is filled, the information about an herb is usually not known or addressed. With current sales of herbs in the tens of billions, it has become all the more necessary that we understand these interactions.

It is known that some herbs will lessen or negate the effect of a medication. The same holds true for medicines that will affect herb use. For instance, an aspirin will negate the effect of Feverfew, an herbal approach to headaches.

Some prescription medications can interact with natural products and result in undesirable effects.  It is also possible for some prescription medications to cause the body to displace important nutrients and specific supplements may be recommended. Clinical research has revealed that many drugs contribute to the depletion of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and gastrointestinal flora.  These nutritional deficiencies may in turn interfere with all metabolic activity including immune function, digestion, DNA replication, glucose metabolism, cardiac function, neurological function, tissue repair and wound healing.

• Oral Contraceptives may cause your body to lose valuable vitamins and minerals.
  
  Research indicates that the use of oral contraceptives may cause your body to lose important nutrients including Vitamin B-2, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid. The sub clinical levels of these vitamins and minerals may lead to headaches, dizziness, vision impairment, anemia, fatigue and increased homocysteine levels.
  
  
• Taking Antibiotics can cause the depletion of important intestinal bacterial flora.
  
  Good bacteria, known as intestinal flora, help us process nutrients from our food and support our immune system.  Bad bacteria enter our body and can cause infections and other problems.  Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria but they cannot distinguish between those that are helpful and those that are harmful.  Research shows that the absence of good bacteria can cause problems with digestion, absorption of nutrients and disorders such as yeast infections.  Probiotic formula supplements with acidophilus and bifidus can replenish the good bacteria, promote the proper intake of vitamins and minerals and support the body’s immune system.
  
  
• Arthritis Medications can cause your body to lose important nutrients, including:
  
  Vitamin C – NSAID drug therapy (including aspirin) can cause urinary excretion of vitamin C.  This vitamin is essential for maintaining connective tissue and synthesizing collagen.
• Calcium – Corticosteroids can reduce dietary calcium, vital for nerve, muscle and bone function.  Low levels of calcium may cause aching joints, muscle cramps, extremity numbness and is commonly deficient in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers.
• Vitamin E – This antioxidant is essential in protecting the body’s cellular membranes.
• Zinc – Low serum levels of zinc are common in people taking corticosteroid medication and in those suffering from RA. This key mineral is a constituent in the enzyme synthesis of collagen.

Diabetic Medications can rob the body of important nutrients including:

Chromium - This mineral is essential in the body’s metabolism of glucose.  Research indicates that people with high insulin levels are likely to have low chromium levels.  When diabetics supplement chromium, both sugar and insulin levels decrease.
• Magnesium - Studies have demonstrated a relationship between magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance. Low dietary intake of magnesium may produce irritability and nervousness.
• Vitamin B-6 - Studies have shown that B-6 supplementation may help repair eye problems associated with diabetes.  Low levels of B-6 can create headaches, dizziness, numbness & irritability.

As you may know, there is more and more information becoming available regarding these products and how they should be used appropriately.  Our research indicates that some supplements and herbs can be VERY useful and may produce a significant improvement in overall health.  However, it should not be assumed that it is safe or appropriate to use these products casually. 

 Please come by or call for an appointment with our Wellness Consultants so that we may discuss this important issue.

In the pharmacy industry, there are new information services that are helping to educate us about these potential problems.  Your Healthcare provider has studied the current knowledge on this subject and can help you make sound choices for your healthcare, as well as inform your physician about herbs that may be a problem.

Stop by your pharmacy today, and bring all your medicines and natural products.  They will gladly check them for you, and make sure you are treating yourself well.

• Make sure all your healthcare providers, including your pharmacist know all of the medications you're taking. Your list should include not only prescription medications, but also over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies.
• When a new medication is prescribed, ask what it's supposed to do, if there are any interactions with any herbs you may be taking.
• Be honest with your doctor about what supplements or herbs you're taking.
• Get to know your healthcare provider. It is always a good idea to fill all your prescriptions at a single pharmacy.  If it is the same provider behind the counter every time, she/he is much more likely to catch a problem.