Whether you’ve been prescribed an antibiotic or rely on long-term prescriptions, some medications can impact your body essential nutrients and leaving you feeling flat.
To clue you up on the link between prescription medicine and nutrient deficiency, we have identified some common types of medications and the key nutrients you could be lacking when taking medication long-term.
1. Cholesterol Medication:
Many of these drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme used to make cholesterol, in turn managing blood pressure. The downside? This enzyme is also needed to make coenzyme Q10, which is important for energy production, heart health and brain function.
2. Stomach acid lowering medicine:
Many people take medication to help control acid reflux and often take these medicines for a long period of time. This can result in low stomach acid levels that affect the breakdown of our food and nutrient absorption and may lead to lower levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and water-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin B and C.
3. Antibiotics:
Antibiotics can affect the ‘good’ bacteria in your digestive system. Taking a probiotic with and after a course of antibiotics can help maintain the balance in your gut after a course of antibiotics.
4. Birth control:
Oral contraceptives are popular with women across the globe and are often taken for long periods of time.
Oral contraceptives are also associated with the depletion of B vitamins (which are important for energy, mood and a healthy nervous system) as well as vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and folic acid.
Are you taking medication and want to keep your nutrient levels in check? Check with your Doctor or Pharmacist to see if taking a supplement alongside your medication would be beneficial for you.
