[r.sub.X] drugs: nutrient zappers - detecting nutritional deficiencies caused by drugs for treatment of heart diseases - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, 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 regimen that's right for you.

[r.sub.X] drugs: nutrient zappers

Drug                         Nutrient            Potential Deficiency
                              Depletion             Problems

ANTIHYPERTENSIVES
Hydralazine                  Vitamin [B.sub.6]   Sleeplessnesss, general
vasodilators (e.g.,                              fatigue, abnormal EEGs,
hydralazine HCL,                                 lowered immune
Apresoline, Hydralyn,                            function, nervous
Hydra-Zide)                                      disorders
                             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 (e.g.,        Calcium             Muscle cramps, heart
Lasix, Bumex, Edecrin,                           palpitations, high
Demadex)                                         blood 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 [B.sub.1],
                             Vitamin [B.sub.6]   Weight loss, cardiac
                                                 edema, altered heart
                                                 rate, enlarged heart
                             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
(e.g., HydroDIURIL,          Potassium,           sections above.
Zaroxolyn, Lozol)            Zinc, Co[Q.
                              sub.10]

Potassium-sparing            Calcium             See calcium above.
diuretics (e.g.,             Folic acid          Anemia, depression,
Dyrenium, Aldactone)                             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 (e.g.,         Co[Q.sub.10]        See co[Q.sub.10] above.
Lopressor, Inderal)
Antiarrhythmics (e.g.,       Folic acid          See folic acid above.
Quinidex, Procanbid)         Co[Q.sub.10]        See co[Q.sub.10] above.
                             Magnesium           See magnesium above.
Calcium channel-             Folic acid          See folic acid above.
blockers                     Co[Q.sub.10]        See co[Q.sub.10] above.
(e.g, Procardia, 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 [Iova-
statin], Lipitor, Zocor)
ANTICOAGULANTS, ANTIPLATELETS
Coumadin (e.g., war-         Vitamin K           See vitamin K above.
farin sodium, aspirin)