What are my medications doing to my body?

Have you every wondered “Why do I feel yucky?”  We sometimes dismiss it as, “I am just tired”, or ” I am just not right and I don’t know why.”  Let’s take a look at some of our prescription medications and see what they may be depleting our bodies of…..

Corticosteroids:  Examples – Pulmicort, Flonase, Fluticasone, Flovent, Nasonex, Mometasone, Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, and others.   DEPLETES – Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Folic Acid, Vitamins C & D

Asthama Inhalers:  Examples – Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, Albuterol, ProAir, etc.   DEPLETES – Potassium

Birth Control Meds:  Examples – Too many to mention.   DEPLETES – Magnesium, Folic Acid, Vitamins B2 & B6

ACE Inhibitors: Examples - Benazepril, Lotensin, Enalapril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Quinapril, etc.  DEPELETES – Zinc     Caution –May increase Potassium levels.

Statins:  Examples –  Zocor, Simvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravachol, Pravastatin, Mevacor, Lipitor, Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lescol, Rosuvastatin, Crestor, Vytorin.  DEPLETES – CoEnzyme Q10

Beta-blockers: Examples -  class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">Coreg,  class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">Carvedilol, Inderal, Propranolol, Betapace, Sotalol, Corgard, Nadolol, Sectral, Acebutolol, Lopressor, Toprol XL, Metoprolol, Zebeta, Bisoprolol, Tenormin, Atenolol and others.  Beta-blocker EYE drops:  Examples – Betagan, Levobunolol, Optipranolol, Metipranolol, Timoptic, Timolol, Ocupress, Cartelol, and others.  DEPLETES – CoEnzyme Q10

Bone building meds:  Examples – Fosamax, Alendronate, Boniva, and others.  DEPLETES – Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium

Proton Pump Inhibitors: Examples - Prilosec,  Omeprazole, Prevacid, Lansoprazole, Kapidex, Dexlansoprazole, Nexium, Esomeprazole, Protonix, Pantoprazole, Aciphex, Rabeprazole.  DEPLETES – Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Folic Acid, Vitamins B1 and B12.

This is not a complete list, but it gives you an idea of what effects that long-term use may have on your body.  Some of you will need supplements.  Some of you are saying to yourself—So? 

The So is – loss of calcium may lead to osteoporosis, or bone pain, or even fractures.  It’s probably not that you fell and your hip broke.  It is more likely that your hip broke and then you fell.

Loss of B vitamins and folic acid – brain function is slowed and breathing may become more labored.

Loss of magnesium may result in leg cramps or aches.

Let’s take care of the nutritional issues and our body will usually take care of itself.

When conventional medications do not help….

Well, I have had my 2nd cortisone injection at the base of my thumb.  Maybe it has helped a little.  I still believe that my cholesterol medication ( a statin) is aggravating the inflammation.  I have been taking the OPC-3 nutritional supplement twice a  day and I believe it has helped me better than anything else I have tried.  I have done my research and used my background as a pharmacist to evaluate the literature and science behind the different products.  I have found that there are two companies that make sense.  One is Juice Plus and the other one is nutraMetrix.  They don’t make silly “cure” claims and they are both nutritionally based.  I do believe that if our bodies are nutritionally balanced we have a better chance to prevent chronic diseases.  If we already have a chronic condition or disease, then our goal is to lessen complications and to feel and actually be as healthy as possible.  I have never been one to jump on the supplements bandwagon for curing anything.  Think about this—If it is possible to take certain nutritionally based products and your body repairs itself as much as possible—-could you decrease or eliminate some of your prescription medications?  The answer is –Yes, to the decreasing and Possibly, to the eliminating some prescription medications.  You and your physician always need to work together.  You could save yourself money over the long run, you could decrease or even eliminate bothersome side effects, and you will feel better physically–all by being nutritionally balanced.  I was skeptical and I always will be.  I have had success with the OPC-3 and will continue to take it twice a day.  I can pick up a glass again and I am able to hold a pen and write again without excruciating pain.   You owe it to yourself to check it out and see if the nutraMetrix products will help you as well.  I am a health care professional and I am now a distributor of nutraMetrix products.  Feel free to use my website to link to nutraMetrix and take the free nutraphysical.  www.nutrametrix.com/medadvocate

And the winner(s) are…..

Okay, I have done my research on supplements.  My criteria was the following: 

Does it make sense?

What scientific research has been completed?  Is it reliable information?

Are the claims emotionally based or physically based?

 

I have concluded that if the product is nutritionally based then you will probably (there are no absolutes) see a benefit from the product.  You still need to do your own research on the company and the products.  Don’t accept as fact claims of “cures”.  If everything could be fixed with a supplement then we would all have perfect health.  That just isn’t so.  Do the best you can with your food choices and exercise regularly.  I do believe if you are on certain medications that you do indeed need certain supplements to ward off some unpleasant side effects and to help your body.  Our bodies were made to work and be nutritionally balanced.  We know that we don’t eat right all of the time and we do have some risk factors for disease or we already have the disease.  If your body is nutritionally balanced then it can help heal itself in a lot of situations.  Remember, “They said” and “I heard” are the two biggest liars in the world.  When you start a regimen–do you really know what you need or are you guessing?  Most any nutritional supplement that you take will take three months to really kick in.  You will probably notice some improvement in about a week.  It is also possible that the improvement is slow and not noticed until you decide to quit taking the supplement(s) after 3 or 4 months to see how your body is doing.  Testing that way is good.  Yes, I believe a positive attitude helps & some state it is a placebo effect.  I disagree.  There are two products that I see as nutritionally balanced, have the research to back it up, and just plain makes sense.  They are Juice Plus and NutraMetrix. 

I should tell you that as a health care professional I have signed up to be a distributor of nutraMetrix products.  NutraMetrix also has a DNA Gene SNP test that is available.  The test is sent off to a CLIA approved lab and you get a “book” based on your DNA of what nutritional supplements will help you.  You only have to have the DNA Gene SNP done ONE TIME.  Your DNA does not change.  You will receive a one months customized nutritional supplements at no charge.  Whether you purchase nutraMetrix supplements or decide to use another manufacturer’s supplements it will be worth the information you receive from the Gene SNP test.  How much money are you spending on supplements?  What if you knew what would be best for your body and did not waste money on things you really don’t need?    That’s my advertisement. 

If you want to take just an on-line Nutra-Physical test at no charge- Go to

www.nutrametrix.com/medadvocate