Prescription Medication and Nutrient Depletion
I came across an interesting study done in 2005 in Minnesota showing an increase in the use of prescription drugs as one ages. The survey results are staggering. Two-thirds of seniors in their 50′s are on prescription medication and the numbers get worse as one ages. So those of us who are not on any prescription drugs are in the minority. Drugs can produce undesirable and even tragic results, but we don’t think often about the nutrients they deplete.
2005 Survey of Older Minnesotans (Statewide Population 50+)
Take Prescription Drugs on a Daily Basis
| Age | Total Weighted # | Take Prescription Drugs Daily | No Daily Prescription Drugs |
| 50-59 | 40,638 | 59.9% | 40.1% |
| 60-74 | 33,418 | 78.2% | 21.8% |
| 75+ | 21,107 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
Age Differences Statistically Significant
http://www.mnaging.org/advisor/survey/SOM2005Tables.pdf
Prescription drugs have side effects. Ever notice the small print accompanying all prescriptions? Ever notice the last words of TV commercials for prescription drugs? More importantly, though, we don’t realize the nutrients that it depletes from our bodies. Check out this table taken from Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, 2nd ed.
| Medication (RxDrug) | Nutrients Depleted | |
| Antacids | Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac | Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Zinc |
| Prevacid, Prolosec | Vitamin B12 | |
| Antibiotics | General Aminoglycosides (tentomycin, neomycin, streptomycin), Cephalosporins, Penicillins | B Vitamins, Vitamin K Friendly beneficial intestinal bacteria |
| Tetracyclines | Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamin B6 | |
| Anti-Diabetic Drugs | Micronase, Tolinase | Coenzyme Q10 |
| Glucophage | Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid | |
| Anti-Depressants | Adapin, Aventyl, Elavil, TofranilPamelor,Sinequan, Norpramin | Vitamin B12, Coenzyme Q10 |
| Anti-Inflammatories | Aspirin & Salicylates | Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Iron, Potassium |
| Advil, Aleve, Anaprox, Dolobid, Feldene, Lodine, Motrin, Naprosyn, Orudis, Relafen | Folic Acid | |
| Betamethasone, Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisoone, Prednisone | Vitamins C, D, Folic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc | |
| Cardiovascular Drugs | Apresoline | Vitamin B6, Coenzyme Q10 |
| Catapres, AldometCorgard, Inderal, Lopressor | Coenzyme Q10 | |
| Betapace, Tenormin, Sectral, Blocadren | Coenzyme Q10, Melatonin | |
| Diuretics | Lasix, Bumex, Edecrin | Vitamins B1, B6, C, Magnesium Calcium, Potassium, Zinc, Sodium |
| Enduron, Diuril, Lozol, Zaroxolyn, Hygroton | Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc | |
| Lescol, Lipitor, Mavacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor | Coenzyme Q10, Sodium | |
| Cholesterol Lowering Agents(Statins) | Lescol, Lipitor, Mavacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor | Coenzyme Q10 |
| Colestid, Quetran | Vitamins A, B12, D, E, K, Beta-Carotene, Folic Acid, Iron | |
| Ulcer Medications | Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac | Vitamins B12, D, Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Protein |
| Prevacid, Prilosec | Vitamin B12, Protein | |
| HTR – Hormone Replacement Therapy | Evista, Prempro, Premarin, Estratab | Vitamins B2, B6, B12, C, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Zinc |
| Oral Contraceptives | Norinyl, Ortho-Novum, Triphasil, etc. | Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, C, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc |
Prescription drugs are expensive. In many cases, generics are not available. Consumer Reports has a free service where you can check on best buys for drugs you may be taking.
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/drug-report-archives.htm
If you are on prescription medication(s), one of the best and least expensive vitamins on the market today that would help you replace the lost nutrients is VitaOne. Click here for complete information.
Tagged with: Adapin • Advil • Age Differences • Aldomet • Aleve • Aminoglycosides • Anaprox • Anti Depressants • Apresoline • Aventyl • B Vitamins • Betamethasone • Betapace • Blocadren • Bumex • Calcium Magnesium • Cardiovascular Drugs • Catapres • Cephalosporins • Coenzyme Q10 • Colestid • Corgard • Cortisone • Crestor • Dexamethasone • Diabetic Drugs • Diuril • Dolobid • Drug Interaction • Edecrin • Elavil • Enduron • Estratab • Evista • Feldene • Gentomycin • Glocophage • Hydrocortisone • Hygroton • Inderal • Intestinal Bacteria • Lasix • Lescol • Lipitor • Lodine • Lopressor • Lozol • Mavacor • Methylprednisolone • Micronase • Motrin • Naprosyn • Neomycin • Norinyl • Norpramin • Nutrient Depletion • Ortho-Novum • Orudis • Pamelor • Penicillin • Penicillins • Pepcid • Permarin • Pravachol • Prednisone • Prempro • Prescription Medication • Prevacid • Prilosec • Prolosec • Q10 Vitamin • Quetran • Relafen • Salicylates • Sectral • Sinequan • Spprin • Statewide Population • Streptomycin • Tagamet • Tenormin • Tetracycline • Tofranil • Tolinase • Triphasil • Zantac • Zaroxolyn • Zocor
Filed under: Drugs • Senior Health
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Thank you for sharing that information about nutrient depletion. Quite often the risk/benefit ratio needs to be seriously examined. And many elderly people have too much respect for their medical practitioners to ask about side effects and alternatives, they just take what is prescribed. Perhaps nutritional support should be prescribed at the same time.
You’re absolutely right and your suggestion is a good one. And then there’s the insurance factor — those with prescription drug insurance would prefer to simply use their insurance to buy the drug(s).
Thank you for details. It helped me in my assignment
Great! Glad it was helpful.
Good luck,
Nora