Medications and Nutrient Deficiencies
Did you know that in the last 30 days 50% of the population has used at least 1 prescription medication?
These medications can be helpful for numerous ailments, and also contribute to nutrient deficiencies. Here is a look at the most common deficiencies that can affect your body, your brain, your mental health with the most common prescription medications
1. Cholesterol lowering medications are the #1 prescribed medication. This class of meds called Statins can cause deficiency in vitamin D and CoQ10 both of which are important for a health. CoQ10 is important for keep your mind clear, energy up and mood up.
2. Oral birth control cause deficiencies in B6, folate, B12, Calcium and Magnesium. Low B6 and magnesium can lead to increased PMS symptoms including anxiety, depression, agitation and more pain.
3. Tylenol depletes glutathione levels. Glutathione is a critical antioxidant in the body and protects all of our cells from damage. We have seen an association between low glutathione levels and increase in anxiety, OCD and panic.
4. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) these are used for treatment of heartburn and GERD. Common medications in this category are Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and Protonix. These medications can be helpful for reduction of symptoms of heartburn but are not recommended for long term use. These medications cause Vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium deficiencies. B12 deficiency is associated with neurological problems (memory, brain fog) and mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety, insomnia and chronic fatigue.
5. Citalopram (Celexa):
Melatonin- A 47% increase in melatonin suppression was observed after administration of an acute dose of citalopram, with all participants showing more suppression after citalopram administration. Further, melatonin onset occurred later under normal room light with citalopram compared to placebo.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30219986/
6. Fluoxetine (Prozac):
Melatonin- The results confirm our previous findings of a decreased 24-h production of melatonin (p < .05; two-way ANOVA with repeated measures) and of an increased circadian secretion of cortisol (p < .01) in OCD patients with respect to matched controls, and show, for the first time, that these hormonal alterations do not significantly change after 2 months of fluoxetine administration, in spite of a good clinical improvement.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8848522/
7. Sertraline (Zoloft):
Folate- Leucovorin appears to be modestly effective as an adjunct among SSRI-refractory depressed individuals with normal folate levels. The application of leucovorin as an adjunct in the setting of refractory depression deserves further study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12046638/
8. Gabapentin:
Folate- Treatment with most of the commonly used AEDs is associated with reduced folate or vitamin B12 serum levels and is a risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia. Oral substitution is effective to restore vitamin, MCV, and homocysteine levels.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21246600/
Vitamin B12- Treatment with most of the commonly used AEDs is associated with reduced folate or vitamin B12 serum levels and is a risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia. Oral substitution is effective to restore vitamin, MCV, and homocysteine levels. If you are on these medications check with your doctor about the right supplements for you to help prevent deficiencies.
I didn't know that oral birth control causes those deficiencies. I wonder if non-oral but still hormonal birth control does too.