Before you pop that pill…: the most common drugs—from aspirin to estrogen—may be sabotaging your healthy diet. Here's what to do about it

Natural Health, Dec, 2001 by Chris Meletis

... Read This Chart

If You Take This Drug             You May Lack

An Acid Blocker | People take     Copper, Folic Acid, Iron,
acid blockers to relieve pain     Vitamin [B.sub.12], Vitamin D
and irritation from gastric
acid. They include cimetidine
(Tagamet), lansoprazole
(Prevacid), omeprazole
(Prilosec), and ranitidine
(Zantac).

An Analgesic | These drugs        Folic acid, Iron, Vitamin C,
relieve pain from arthritis and   Zinc
other ailments. They include
aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen
(Advil), indomethacin
(Indocin), naproxen (Aleve),
and nabumetone (Relafen).

An Antibiotic | Antibiotics       Folic Acid, Vitamin [B.sub.6],
treat infections and acne. They   Vitamin [B.sub.12], Vitamin C,
include tetracycline,             Vitamin K
erythromycin, cephalexin, and
penicillin.

A Beta Blocker | These drugs      Coenzyme [Q.sub.10] (Co[Q.sub.10])
lower blood pressure and
relieve angina (chest pain).
They include propranolol
(Inderal) and timolol
(Timoptic).

Diabetes Medicine | Metformin     Magnesium, Vitamin [B.sub.12]
(Glucophage), the diabetes
drug with the most evidence for
nutrient depletion, lowers
blood sugar levels.

Estrogen Replacement | Estrogen   Vitamin [B.sub.6]
replacement can alleviate
menopause symptoms. Drugs
include conjugated estrogens
(Premarin), estradiol
(Climara), and brand names
Estrace and Estraderm.

An Oral Contraceptive | Birth     Folic Acid, Magnesium,
control pills help regulate a     Vitamin [B.sub.6], Vitamin C,
woman's monthly cycle, reduce     Zinc
symptoms of endometriosis and
fibroids, and prevent
conception. They include brand
names Micronor, Norinyl,
Ortho-Novum, Ovral, and
Triphasil.

A Steroid | The class of          Magnesium, Vitamin [B.sub.6],
steroids called corticosteroids   Vitamin C, Vitamin D,
treats asthma, autoimmune         Vitamin K, Zinc
diseases like rheumatoid
arthritis, skin disorders, and
ulcerative colitis. They
include becolmethasone
(Beconase), dexamethasone
(Decadron), hydrocortisone
(Hytone), prednisone
(Deltasone), and triamcinolone
(Azmacort).

A Tricyclic Antidepressant |      Coenzyme [Q.sub.10]
People with mild to moderate      (Co[Q.sub.10])
depression take these
antidepressants. They include
amitriptyline (Elavil),
desipramine (Norpramin),
doxepin (Sinequan), and
imipramine (Tofranil).

If You Take This Drug             Why This Could Harm You

An Acid Blocker | People take     * Copper and folic acid are
acid blockers to relieve pain       crucial for overall cell
and irritation from gastric         health.
acid. They include cimetidine     * Iron and vitamin [B.sub.12]
(Tagamet), lansoprazole             help produce blood; vitamin
(Prevacid), omeprazole              [B.sub.12] encourages proper
(Prilosec), and ranitidine          nerve function.
(Zantac).                         * You need vitamin D to absorb
                                    calcium; when calcium is
                                    deficient, bones will thin.

An Analgesic | These drugs        * Folic acid is crucial for tissue
relieve pain from arthritis and     healing and overall cell health.
other ailments. They include      * Iron helps your body build blood.
aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen        * Vitamin C and zinc are valuable
(Advil), indomethacin               for immune function, wound
(Indocin), naproxen (Aleve),        healing, and healthy hair and
and nabumetone (Relafen).           skin.

An Antibiotic | Antibiotics       * Folic acid and vitamins [B.sub.6]
treat infections and acne. They     and [B.sub.12] are essential for
include tetracycline,               nerve health and overall cell
erythromycin, cephalexin, and       health.
penicillin.                       * Vitamin C strengthens immune
                                    function and helps heal wounds.
                                  * A lack of vitamin K can increase
                                    bruising and bleeding.

A Beta Blocker | These drugs      * A chronic deficiency of Co[Q.
lower blood pressure and            sub.10] can weaken your heart.
relieve angina (chest pain).        Co[Q.sub.10] helps produce
They include propranolol            energy and bolsters immune
(Inderal) and timolol               function.
(Timoptic).

Diabetes Medicine | Metformin     * Magnesium produces energy and
(Glucophage), the diabetes          prevents muscle cramps.
drug with the most evidence for   * Without sufficient [B.sub.12],
nutrient depletion, lowers          people with diabetes are more
blood sugar levels.                 prone to develop severe
                                    neuropathy (nerve pain).

Estrogen Replacement | Estrogen   * Vitamin [B.sub.6] ensures proper
replacement can alleviate           nerve function, prevents
menopause symptoms. Drugs           depression, and helps process
include conjugated estrogens        hormones in your liver.
(Premarin), estradiol
(Climara), and brand names
Estrace and Estraderm.

An Oral Contraceptive | Birth     * Too little folic acid can
control pills help regulate a       increase the risk of abnormal
woman's monthly cycle, reduce       cells in the cervix. Folic acid
symptoms of endometriosis and       is also crucial for tissue
fibroids, and prevent               healing.
conception. They include brand    * Magnesium produces energy and
names Micronor, Norinyl,            reduces muscle cramps.
Ortho-Novum, Ovral, and           * A vitamin [B.sub.6] deficiency
Triphasil.                          increases your risk of depression
                                    and nervous system ailments like
                                    carpal tunnel syndrome.
                                  * You need vitamin C and zinc for
                                    immune function, wound healing,
                                    and healthy hair and skin.

A Steroid | The class of          * Magnesium produces energy and
steroids called corticosteroids     prevents muscle cramps.
treats asthma, autoimmune         * A vitamin [B.sub.6] deficiency
diseases like rheumatoid            can increase risk of depression
arthritis, skin disorders, and      and nervous system ailments like
ulcerative colitis. They            carpal tunnel syndrome.
include becolmethasone            * Vitamin C and zinc are valuable
(Beconase), dexamethasone           for immune function, wound
(Decadron), hydrocortisone          healing, and healthy hair and
(Hytone), prednisone                skin.
(Deltasone), and triamcinolone    * When vitamin D is deficient,
(Azmacort).                         bones may thin.
                                  * A lack of vitamin K can increase
                                    bruising and bleeding.

A Tricyclic Antidepressant |      * A chronic deficiency of
People with mild to moderate        Co[Q.sub.10] can weaken your
depression take these               heart. Co[Q.sub.10] helps
antidepressants. They include       produce energy and bolsters
amitriptyline (Elavil),             immune function.
desipramine (Norpramin),
doxepin (Sinequan), and
imipramine (Tofranil).

If You Take This Drug             How To Protect Yourself

An Acid Blocker | People take     EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Black
acid blockers to relieve pain     beans, broccoli, organic milk,
and irritation from gastric       oysters, and whole wheat.
acid. They include cimetidine     TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400
(Tagamet), lansoprazole           mcg folic acid, plus 250 mcg of
(Prevacid), omeprazole            vitamin [B.sub.12] and a
(Prilosec), and ranitidine        multivitamin with 1 mg copper and
(Zantac).                         200 IU vitamin D.

An Analgesic | These drugs        EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Cabbage,
relieve pain from arthritis and   citrus fruits, kale, lentils, lamb,
other ailments. They include      and pumpkin seeds.
aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen        TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400
(Advil), indomethacin             mcg folic acid and a multivitamin
(Indocin), naproxen (Aleve),      with 250 mg vitamin C and 15 mg
and nabumetone (Relafen).         zinc.

An Antibiotic | Antibiotics       EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE:
treat infections and acne. They   Asparagus, broccoli, brown rice,
include tetracycline,             fish, walnuts, and white beans.
erythromycin, cephalexin, and     TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400
penicillin.                       mcg folic acid, plus 250 mcg
                                  vitamin [B.sub.12], 250 mg vitamin
                                  C, and 100 mcg vitamin K. Avoid
                                  vitamin K if you take the
                                  blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin).

A Beta Blocker | These drugs      TAKE DAILY: 50 to 100 mg Co[Q.
lower blood pressure and          sub.10] two hours before or after
relieve angina (chest pain).      taking medication.
They include propranolol
(Inderal) and timolol
(Timoptic).

Diabetes Medicine | Metformin     EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Beet
(Glucophage), the diabetes        greens, cashews, eggs, organic
drug with the most evidence for   meats, and tofu.
nutrient depletion, lowers        TAKE DAILY: 250 mg magnesium and
blood sugar levels.               250 mcg vitamin B12.

Estrogen Replacement | Estrogen   EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Brown
replacement can alleviate         rice, lentils, peanuts, and wheat
menopause symptoms. Drugs         germ.
include conjugated estrogens      TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex.
(Premarin), estradiol
(Climara), and brand names
Estrace and Estraderm.

An Oral Contraceptive | Birth     EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Black
control pills help regulate a     beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
woman's monthly cycle, reduce     pecans, soybeans, shellfish,
symptoms of endometriosis and     spinach, and wheat germ.
fibroids, and prevent             TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400
conception. They include brand    mcg folic acid and a multivitamin
names Micronor, Norinyl,          with 250 mg magnesium, 250 mg
Ortho-Novum, Ovral, and           vitamin C, and 15 mg zinc.
Triphasil.

A Steroid | The class of          EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS LIKE: Barley,
steroids called corticosteroids   oats, organic milk, lentils,
treats asthma, autoimmune         peppers, and tofu.
diseases like rheumatoid          TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex; 1,000 mg
arthritis, skin disorders, and    calcium; a multivitamin with 250 mg
ulcerative colitis. They          magnesium, 250 mg vitamin C, 400 to
include becolmethasone            500 IU vitamin D, and 15 mg zinc;
(Beconase), dexamethasone         and 100 mcg vitamin K. Avoid
(Decadron), hydrocortisone        vitamin K if you take the
(Hytone), prednisone              blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin).
(Deltasone), and triamcinolone
(Azmacort).

A Tricyclic Antidepressant |      TAKE DAILY: 50 to 100 mg Co[Q.sub.
People with mild to moderate      10] two hours before or after
depression take these             taking medication.
antidepressants. They include
amitriptyline (Elavil),
desipramine (Norpramin),
doxepin (Sinequan), and
imipramine (Tofranil).