Drugs, Vitamins, and Supplements: Adverse Interactions

Something comes up, you make an appointment, then a doctor gives you a new prescription. A run to the pharmacy, follow the directions, and you’re on your way to health. We live in amazing times--what could be simpler?

Well, it may not be quite that simple. An important question to ask yourself is whether you have taken the responsibility to discuss all the medications as well as the supplements that you take with your doctor.

Seems obvious that we should do so, but many of us do not, and some doctors do not make it an easy task. Even when we try to remember this important rule, if we are taking many supplements we might forget one.

Risks related to the side effects of modern medications continue to present problems for both patients, particularly the elderly and children, and doctors. We need a plan, a method that we have put in place before the need to know about adverse interactions between our drugs, vitamins, and supplements comes up.

How important is it to be sure that your doctor or pharmacist compares your prescriptions with your supplements in order to check for adverse interactions? The answer: it is extremely important.

However, even if you are careful to keep an updated list and take it to both your doctor and pharmacist when you get sick, you need to remember that this is not a fool proof method for preventing problems.

You need to take more responsibility in the matter. If you Google "drugs nutritional supplements vitamins herbal interactions" you can begin research on your medications that will help you stay alert to any potential problems.

Several vitamin companies offer information on their sites that can help you check out side-effects caused from prescriptions and supplements that do not play well together. These sites offer you important information that your doctor may not be thinking about when you are given a prescription.

Many even have lists of commonly prescribed medications to make your search as easy as possible. Here are some examples to get you thinking about your needs and help you determine how much research you should do.

• You will be told not to take aspirin products if you are going to have certain medical tests or surgery, but did you know that taking bromelain or papaya enzymes can create the same problems that aspirin creates for those tests and surgery?

• Are you aware that drinking grapefruit juice with many medications can cause a wide variety of side effects and that some of those side effects are very serious ones?

• Do you know that consuming caffeine products while taking some asthma medications can increase the chance of a toxic side-effect?

• Do you know that extra fiber in your diet reduces the effects of some pain-relieving drugs as well as some drugs used for heart conditions?

• Are you aware of how important is it for you to know that you absolutely should not take garlic supplements if you are taking diabetes medications?

There are a lot of questions we should ask before we take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as dietary supplements, herbs, minerals, and vitamins. It takes some time, but it may save your life.

Think twice, do the research, and get answers from medical professionals. Take responsibility for your own health and life when it comes to making decisions about medications.

Checking on how foods you commonly eat may benefit or harm you as they interact with the medications and supplements you take is also important. As well, some foods can help relieve specific symptoms, so a little research in that area can be very beneficial.

However, always check with your doctor when making changes in your lifestyle that relate to your medical well-being.

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