[r.sub.x] drugs: nutrient zappers

Vegetarian Times, Feb, 2001 by James LaValle

It's sad but true: At some point in our lives, many of us will be taking prescription medications to prevent or treat heart disease. While drugs can reduce high blood pressure, control cholesterol levels and dilate arteries, they can also deplete vital nutrients. This chart has been designed to alert you to potential deficiency symptoms that you should be on the lookout for.

Talk to your health care practitioner about having your levels tested and designing a compensatory supplement regiment that's right for you.

                       Nutrient       Potential
Drug                   Depletion      Deficiency Problems

ANTIHYPERTENSIVES

Hydralazine            Vitamin        Sleeplessnesss, general
vasodilators           [B.sub.6]      fatigue, abnormal EEGs,
(e.g., hydralazine                    lowered immune function,
HCL, Apresoline,                      nervous disorders
Hydralyn,
Hydra-Zide)            Co[Q.sub.10]   Low energy, high blood
                                      pressure, congestive heart
                                      failure (CHF), angina,
                                      mitral valve prolapse,
                                      stroke, cardiac arrhythmia,
                                      cardiomyopathy, gingivitis,
                                      lowered immune function

Loop diuretics         Calcium        Muscle cramps, heart
(e.g., Lasix, Bumex,                  palpitations, high blood
Edecrin, Demadex)                     pressure, brittle/soft
                                      bones (bone loss if not
                                      treated), tooth decay,
                                      insomnia

                       Magnesium      Muscle cramps/spasms/
                                      tremors/weakness, low
                                      exercise tolerance,
                                      insomnia, loss of
                                      appetite, nausea,
                                      vomiting, cardiac
                                      arrhythmia

                       Vitamin        Weight loss, cardiac
                       [B.sub.1],     edema, altered heart
                       Vitamin        rate, enlarged heart
                       [B.sub.6]

                       Vitamin C      Bleeding gums, skin
                                      discoloration, bruises,
                                      poor wound and fracture
                                      healing, joint pain,
                                      loose and decaying teeth

                       Potassium      Muscle weakness, nervous
                                      irritability, mental
                                      disorientation

                       Zinc           Poor wound healing,
                                      dermatitis, blunted
                                      sense of taste, night
                                      blindness (due to vitamin
                                      A interaction), hair loss,
                                      lowered immune function

Thiazide diuretics     Magnesium,     See appropriate sections
(e.g., HydroDIURIL,    Potassium,     above.
Zaroxolyn, Lozol)      Zinc,
                       Co[Q.sub.10]

Potassium-sparing      Calcium        See calcium above.
diuretics (e.g.,
Dyrenium, Aldactone)   Folio acid     Anemia, depression,
                                      spina bifida in offspring
                                      of affected mothers

                       Zinc           See zinc above.

CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS

Cardiac glycosides     Calcium        See calcium above.
(e.g., Lanoxin,
digoxin)               Magnesium      See magnesium above.

                       Phosphorus     Bone loss (due to altered
                                      calcium metabolism),
                                      generalized muscle
                                      weakness, cardiac
                                      myopathy, shortness
                                      of breath

Beta-blockers          Co[Q.sub.10]   See co[Q.sub.10] above.
(e.g., Lopressor,
Inderal)

Antiarrhythmics        Folic acid     See folic acid above.
(e.g., Quinidex,
Procanbid)             Co[Q.sub.10]   See co[Q.sub.10] above.

                       Magnesium      See magnesium above.

Calcium                Folic acid     See folic acid above.
channel-blockers
(e.g., Procardia,      Co[Q.sub.10]   See co[Q.sub.10] above.
Adalat)
                       Magnesium      See magnesium above.

CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS

Statin drugs/HMG-CoA   Co[Q.sub.10]   See co[Q.sub.10] above.
reductase inhibitors
(e.g., Mevacor
[lovastatin],
Lipitor, Zocor)

ANTICOAGULANTS ANTIPLATELETS

Coumadin               Vitamin K      See vitamin K above.
(e.g., warfarin
sodium, aspirin)