Prescription and over-the-counter drugs help millions of people with devastating diseases and chronic conditions. But in the process, these medications can also deplete the body’s natural stores of vitamins, minerals, and hormones—the very nutrients you need to keep energy levels high, fend off infections, and be healthy.
Pharmacist Suzy Cohen calls these medications ‘Drug Muggers’ and it’s essential to replenish what a drug mugger steals from your body in order to feel your best and avoid side effects. Not understanding the drug-mugging effect may lead to new “diseases”, more medication, and possibly catastrophic health consequences.
Here are a just few examples of Drug Muggers:
- Proton Inhibitors: (aka acid reflux medications) depletes minerals (zinc, magnesium, selenium, potassium, calcium, iron) and B vitamins. That’s a lot of nutrients! Possibly contributing to thyroid problems, anemia, anxiety, and dementia which is why it’s one of my least favorite medications.
- Statins: deplete CoQ10 and something called EGG which affects our aging process (not in a good way), mitochondria health, energy, hormone levels and bone and heart health. I’ve written a prior post on this.
- Birth Control pills: increases requirement of magnesium and can change your gut microbiome-think needing a probiotic.
- Beta Blockers for high blood pressure also depletes magnesium, which ironically relaxes our circulatory system, heart and mind.
- Steroids: Deplete calcium, selenium, zinc, Vitamin K and D and can set up a person for osteoporosis.
- Chemo: Vitamin C, glutathione, NAC, antioxidants.
Many over the counter medications can also cause harm to either tissue or interfere with your body’s ability to remove toxins.
- NSAIDS: even baby aspirin can harm the stomach lining. Something as simple as zinc carnosine (it must be in this specific form) can come behind and restore the lining.
- Tylenol depletes us of something called glutathione which is our master detoxifier. Supplementing with glutathione and its precursors is important if taking Tylenol which seems to be the preferred painkiller by doctors.
I’m guessing that most of you were not aware that your requirement for micronutrients increased while taking these medications. And why should you be? Your doctor often doesn’t know either.
So why am I talking about this? It’s really important to understand the side effects along with the nutrient depletion your medications can cause and properly supplement to prevent developing yet another ‘disease’.
This is just one reason why I’ve starting offering Supplement Review Consultations. Frankly, there’s just a real need for these reviews but most folks don’t realize it.
Taking medication and want to make sure you’re supplementing to cover any deficiency? Need a tune up? Been using the same supplements for years? Taking a ton of supplements and are wondering if you can scale back. Then book a Supplement Review with me.
I have plans for new clients and existing clients. click here to schedule your Supplemental Review.