Medications prescribed by your physician may work better with certain herbs and nutrition. This article addresses some of the common prescriptions and the nutrients with which they interact with. Thus properly informed you can have the best outcome of your treatment and benefit from both mainstream and complementary medicine.

Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medication. Most people know that antibiotics can disturb the natural bacteria of the gut but there has been some confusion whether to take acidophilus while taking the antibiotic. I recommend taking a dairy free acidophilus at a different time of day than the antibiotic and for at least two weeks after the prescription is finished. If diarrhea developes or persists a longer prescription of acidophilus may be necessary to re-establish healthy flora in the gut. Look for one that will provide one billion colony forming units per day. Take without food for better absorption.

Antacids neutralize stomach acid and often contain calcium, aluminum and magnesium hydroxide. Aluminum may increase the urinary and stool loss of calcium and it is a toxic mineral implicated in some of the research as a cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. They may interfere with the absorption of other drugs and nutrients such as folic acid, copper and phosphate. Calcium carbonate found in some antacids is considered by naturopathic physicians to be of little benefit as it is not an easily digested form and it lowers hydrochloric acid production in the stomach thus inhibiting the absorption of calcium. Long term antacid treatment should be supplemented with a good multivitamin/mineral to prevent nutrient malabsorption.

Acetominophen found in Tylenol and other pain medications has been found to be liver toxic if used in large doses for over a year. Vitamin C in 3000mg per day has been found to prolong the time Acetaminophen stays in the body theoretically allowing people to reduce the dosage. Milk thistle and NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) has been shown to reduce the liver toxic effects of this drug. Moderate to high doses of Acetominophen can cause liver damage in those with alcoholism.

Oral contraceptives deplete the body of folic acid (possibly increasing the risk of PAP changes), magnesium, B vitamins and zinc. Smoking and using oral contraceptives greatly increases the risk of heart attacks and other circulatory diseases. Iron levels in these women may increase as their monthly blood loss is greatly reduced and should be monitored, as they may not need iron containing supplements. Taking a good multivitamin/mineral possibly without iron should protect women against these deficiencies quite easily.

Caffeine is a common ingredient in pain relief medication. It is known to reduce the absorption of calcium and is felt by many naturopathic physicians to put more stress on the adrenal glands and cause magnesium and B vitamin deficiency as well.

Thyroid medication has been found to increase urinary loss of calcium. It has not been shown whether calcium supplementation is helpful or not but bone densities should be evaluated regularly. I recommend supplementing just to be sure and calcium should always be with magnesium, both in the citrate form. Iron deficiency causes low thyroid hormone production in the body. Determine if there is an iron deficiency and if iron is needed don’t take it at the same time as your medication. Soy also interferes with thyroid supplementation so consume it at least 3 hours after the medication.

Always consult with your naturopathic or medical doctor about these concerns before trying to treat yourself so that you get the right dosages and recommendations. With the right information you will get the best mileage out of your medication.

This information does not take the place of a medical consultation with your MD or ND nor is it meant for you to change your medical treatment program without consultation. References available upon request.
Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine for 15 years and is currently practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com

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