Special Report - Nutrition News

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Special Report
Prescription Impact
On Nutrition
“Every person who takes
prescription drugs needs to
know about drug-induced
nutrient depletion, and
about how to effectively
balance this side effect with
appropriate nutrition from
foods and supplements.”
—Supplement Your
Prescription, Hyla Cass, MD
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Supplement
Your
Prescription
1
Introduction
Almost all commonly used
medications, even those purchased
over-the-counter, cause
....Page 3
2
Our Interview With
Hyla Cass, MD
Nutrition News editor Siri Khalsa
talks to Hyla Cass, MD, about
Supplementing Your Prescription
....Page 4
3
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Table of Contents
2
The Fix For Your Rx
• How Do Medications
Affect Your Nutrition?
• Why Is This A Problem?
• What Can You Do
About It?
Our formula is: Good Nutrition +
Supplements = Better Health
(with any condition). In this
....Page 7
Find out how to maintain
your health while taking
prescription drugs.
Read On....
Home Of The “Is It Healthy?” Game © Nutrition News www.NutritionNews.com
Supplement Your
Prescription
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Introduction
Almost all commonly used medications, even those
purchased over-the-counter, cause an important but little
known side effect. This side effect is nutrient depletion.
Many people who suffer from this kind of depletion think
their mounting health problems are a normal part of
aging. They make appointments with their doctors about
their new symptoms.
Commonly, more drugs are prescribed to stop the
symptoms. In general, this happens because most
physicians are unaware of the potential of
drugs to deplete nutrients.
Currently, nearly 50 percent of American
adults take at least one prescription
medication daily while over half of those
who are 65 and over take three. And,
our use of medication is increasing. In
2004, nearly $200 billion was spent on
prescriptions — an increase of 450 percent
over the amount spent in 1990.
Surprisingly, almost every prescription is harmful in some
way. In fact, over the last few years, more than a dozen drugs
approved by the FDA turned out to be so dangerous they were
withdrawn. (Some of these were used by millions worldwide.)
As Hyla Cass, MD, writes, “Any drug powerful enough
to have substantial effects on a disease process will be
powerful enough to cause harm.”
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© Nutrition
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It Healthy?”
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As it stands, there are currently 100,000 deaths annually
due to drugs. (And, these are drugs that were actually
taken correctly.) This statistic makes death from
medication the fourth leading cause of death in the
country.
Although it is highly unlikely that your prescription
will kill you, it can still harm you over time. Nutrient
depletion is one of the most ignored and likeliest of side
effects. As Dr. Cass puts it, “These subtle effects can
cramp your style in a big way. Get educated. — Read the
book!”
Which book? Supplement Your Prescription: What Your
Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition, published by Basic
Health Publications, 2007 ($14.95). This book is Dr. Cass’s
latest contribution to our health. As soon as I received my
review copy, I knew Nutrition News would interview
Dr. Cass.
Our Interview with Hyla Cass, MD
NN: Welcome, Hyla. I’m so happy to have you share your
new book with our readers.
HC: Thank you, Siri. It’s great to be here.
NN: With this book, you provide a real service to people
who are on prescription meds. What motivated you to
write it?
HC: In my practice, I deal primarily with drugs intended
for long-term use. These cause slow nutrient depletions
over time with serious side effects. The effects are so
subtle that mainstream medicine rarely traces them
back to the medication.
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Unfortunately, patients are generally told that
their symptoms are “part of the illness” and
then they’re given an additional drug (or two) to
deal with the new symptoms.
After seeing case after case of patients suffering
from nutrient loss due to their prescriptions,
I was compelled to write the book. After all,
there is a simple, natural, nutritional solution to
what appears to be a complex problem.
NN: Have you noticed any commonalities in the
cases?
HC: Yes. For one thing, most side effects are
dose-related. This is because the standard
starting doses of many top-selling drugs are
too strong for millions of patients. Medications
should always be started at the lowest
possible dose and built up gradually. In
addition, as I mentioned, many doctors simply
prescribe additional medications to get rid of
the symptom complaints.
This takes us to another problem: the mystery
of drug interactions. Medical science doesn’t
always know how drugs will interact in a
patient’s body. For example, a patient might
simultaneously be put on Lipitor to bring their
cholesterol down, prednisone for respiratory
relief, and Motrin for pain. How many of the
health problems that crop up in this patient are
caused by drug side effects and interactions? We
just don’t have any long term studies to tell us.
NN: You know, Hyla, this seems so contradictory.
Don’t most people expect to “get well” once
they start on a medication?
HC: That is a common misconception, Siri.
With the possible exception of bioidentical
Who Is
Hyla Cass, MD?
Dr. Cass is an often-quoted
expert in the field of
integrative medicine and
psychiatry. In her clinical
practice, writings, lectures,
and nationwide media
appearances, Dr. Cass
combines the best of leadingedge natural medicine with
modern science.
She is a former faculty
member at the UCLA School
of Medicine and the author
of several groundbreaking
books, including Natural
Highs (Avery, 2003) and 8
Weeks to Optimum Health
(McGraw-Hill, 2004). She
has also authored several
books in the User’s Guide
to.... series (Basic Health
Publications).
For more information,
see her website:
www.drcass.com.
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hormones, drugs do not “correct imbalances” or
nudge a malfunctioning body system back to its perfect
function.
For a drug to be approved by the FDA, it has to target a
specific pathway or function in the body. However, it’s
just not possible to target a single reaction in the body
without tipping others into imbalance. No matter how
specific a drug is designed to be, it will have effects
that go beyond its intended actions. This leads to side
effects, including that of robbing the body of important
nutrients.
To affect health, the body must be approached as a
whole. It operates as a fine-tuned interplay among
various systems. First, treatment should address the
deepest root cause, and then be as safe and natural
as possible. Medication should be kept at the lowest
effective dose. This greatly decreases or eliminates
side effects.
I want to say here that not all doctors lack
knowledge of nutrition or of alternative care
approaches. Many patients would rather take a pill
than change their behavior. This will remain true
for some even when they understand the risks.
NN: Dr. Cass, how do medications cause nutrient
depletion?
HC: There are five major ways this happens. They are
explained fully in the book. And, then, there are a
number of other possible depleting factors. [See sidebar
“How Medications Deplete Nutrients” p.11.]
NN: We often suggest a combination of nutrition and
nutritional supplements to address various conditions.
HC: Yes, in my practice, I use many nutritional protocols.
They include a number of nutrients that provide condition
specific natural alternatives to medications.
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This is not to say that drugs don’t have their place.
However, I devote a chapter each to the nutritional
adjuncts to drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, acid reflux, heartburn, constipation,
arthritis, and depression. I also include supplement
programs.
Plus, I’ve written a chapter about depletions related
to less commonly used medicines. These include drugs
for obesity, epilepsy, AIDS, contraception, menopausal
symptoms, bipolar disorder, gout, and cancer.
My final chapter covers a phenomenon known as
polypharmacy, which means taking multiple drugs. I
discuss some general principles to help people optimize
their prescription use. Finally, a resource section is
included to help the reader access more information. I
believe that by learning about drug side effects and
nutrient depletions, you’ll have the tools to best
approach the issue, whether you’re treating yourself or
helping someone else.
NN: On behalf of all of us, thank you, Dr. Hyla Cass.
The Fix For Your Rx
Siri Says: Our formula is:
Good Nutrition + Supplements = Better Health
(with any condition). In this section, we first emphasize
good nutrition. Secondly, we talk about the signs and
symptoms of depletions in specific conditions. In general,
for each condition, we have chosen the depletion side
effect of the most widely used drug. Then we introduce
Dr. Cass’s supplement protocol for preventing the loss of
nutrients and replacing those that may have been lost.
7
Good nutrition is always the first line of defense against
nutrient depletion. As Dr. Cass writes, “Depressed, tired,
foggy-brained individuals are often told by their
doctors that they need an antidepressant. All many
of them really need is a steady supply of real food
to get their brains and bodies back on track.”
Over time, scientific research has demonstrated
several long term outcomes of healthy eating.
Good nutrition can: • Improve your mood.
• Increase your mental and physical stamina
and your overall health.
• Enhance your concentration, memory,
and overall mental ability.
• Reduce your stress level.
Diet is the bottomline. Years of poor eating can cause
subclinical nutrient deficiency or general long term
nutritional imbalances. This can be going on long before
you begin to take any prescription drugs.
The key to good nutrition is eating foods that are whole,
fresh, and lively. If this describes your diet, you are
on the right tract. A jillion issues of Nutrition News
have been dedicated to right eating. A jillion books and
articles abound to give you guidance if you need it. Take
on the undeniable importance of healthy eating. Don’t
forget to exercise. Drink plenty of water.
Now, let’s go on to....
Supplement
Your Prescriptions
Behind all the specific supplement recommendations
is the expectation that you are following a basic
supplement program. This one comes from Dr. Cass:
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Good
Nutrition
8
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a high potency multivitamin-mineral formula, 1-3 grams of
vitamin C, 30 mg of CoQ10, a probiotic (containing 1 billion
live bacteria per dose), an antioxidant formula, and 1 gram
of fish oil taken twice daily.
In this section, we cover the protocols for countering nutrient
depletions for the most commonly used drugs in the following
conditions: diabetes; high cholesterol and high blood
pressure; arthritis; GI function (acid reflux, heartburn, and
constipation); and antidepressants. In her book, Dr. Cass
includes a discussion of many more drugs in each category,
plus a supplement program for the condition. (She has also
written chapters covering antibiotics, drugs for birth control,
bipolar disorder, cancer, and more.)
Diabetes
Dr. Cass reports that junk food accounts
for 90 percent of diabetes diagnoses,
affecting nearly 200 million people
worldwide. Metformin (also as Glucophage,
Glucophage XR, and Glucovance) is the most
popular oral antidiabetic drug in America.
In 2006, nearly 35 million prescriptions were
written for just one generic form of the drug.
Metformin depletes vitamin B12 and folic acid. It also
reduces a substance called intrinsic factor, needed for the
proper absorption of B12 by the small intestine. One study
showed that patients on metformin had average B12 levels
only half those of people not on medication. The longer the
drug is used, the lower the B12 levels. This drug may also
deplete the body of the antioxidant and heart protector
coenzyme (CoQ10).
Take daily: B12, 200 - 1000 mcg; folic acid, 400 - 800
mcg; CoQ10, 30 - 200 mg. (Sublingual forms of B12 are
better absorbed.) In addition to these imperative nutrient
replacements, Dr. Cass includes a Diabetes Supplement
Program for you.
9
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High
Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure
10
Both of these conditions can be improved by lifestyle changes,
diet, and supplements. Statin drugs are the most prescribed
meds for lowering cholesterol. One of them, Lipitor, is the top
selling drug on the planet, a $20 billion dollar a year industry.
Dr. Cass writes that you may benefit from statins if: 1) you are
diabetic; 2) you have had a heart attack; 3) you have heart
disease but have not had a heart attack.
She also acknowledges that blood pressure lowering drugs may
be necessary. HBP is dangerous and damages
the artery walls. However, drugs for both high
cholesterol and HBP cause nutrient depletion. Once
“No matter what
again, Dr. Cass includes a diet and supplement
program to improve these conditions.
condition you find
Statins deplete the body of coenzyme Q10, a
yourself wrestling
substance necessary to heart health. Studies
with, know that
have shown increased risk of heart failure in
statin users. Cass writes that this is likely related
excellent nutrition
to the CoQ10-depleting effect of the drugs. This
and specific
depletion can also result in muscle pain, weakness,
and lack of energy. Do not ignore these signs, AND
supplementation
Do Not Take Statin Drugs Without Supplementing
will help any
CoQ10! Take 100 to 300 mg of CoQ10 daily. It is
better utilized when taken with a meal or a food
person, ill or well,
containing oil.
to get the most
Noting that there is a huge volume of drugs for
out of life.”
hypertension, Cass writes that thiazide diuretics
are usually the first-line therapy.1 These drugs
— Dr. Cass
deplete magnesium, potassium, zinc, sodium,
and CoQ10. Take magnesium, 250 - 500 mg;
potassium, 100 mg; zinc, 25 mg; and CoQ10, 100300.
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Arthritis
11
In this chapter, Dr. Cass discusses both rheumatoid and
osteo- arthritis. She takes on NSAIDs, the non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to
relieve the muscle and joint pain of these
diseases. (The OTC drugs include Aleve,
Motrin, and Advil). Further, she explains the
heart failure connected to VIOXX, and reveals
how all NSAIDs can affect heart health as well
1. They decrease appetite in general
as putting us at risk for ulcers and internal
or increase your appetite for
bleeding.
unhealthy foods.
2. Reduce the absorption of
Paradoxically, these drugs also inhibit the
nutrients in the gastrointestinal
action of enzymes that are needed to create
(GI) tract.
healthy cartilage. This means the very
substances used to relieve arthritis pain
3. Increase the rate at which the
accelerate the progression of the disease.
body breaks down a nutrient.
NSAIDs deplete folic acid and vitamin C. Take
4. Block the action or formation of
500-1000 mg of vitamin C and 400-800 mcg
nutrients at the level of
of folic acid.
individual cells.
5. Increase the amount of nutrients
Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and
flushed out of the body through
Constipation
the kidneys.
These are problems that are intimately
Dr. Cass discusses 8 more depleting
connected with what you choose to put
factors. Among these are prein your mouth every day. Further, as with
existing GI problems that reduce
NSAIDs (above), the drugs used to relieve the
the ability to absorb nutrients
symptoms often result in making the problem
(e.g., inadequate stomach acid, a
worse. Unfortunately, this is another situation
common problem in older people);
in which many people choose to continue to
alcohol abuse or use of recreational
squelch their symptoms rather than get to the
drugs; use of multiple medications,
root cause of the problem by changing their
which increases the risk of
behavior.
depletion; and poor diet.
Regarding heartburn and acid reflux, we’ll
look briefly at antacids and H2 blockers.
Antacids include Mylanta, Maalox, Tums, and Rolaids.
How Medications
Deplete Nutrients
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12
These neutralize stomach acids and often cause constipation.
H2 blockers block the production of histamine, a chemical
which signals the stomach to produce acid. H2 blockers include
Tagamet and Zantac. Dr. Cass warns that you should not use an
H2 blocker to treat heartburn for more than two weeks without
checking in with your doctor.
A little known fact is that stomach acid not only helps us
digest our food, it helps to kill off bacteria, viruses, and other
microorganisms than can otherwise cause
serious infections, such as pneumonia.
For antacids, take calcium, 1000-2000 mg;
folic acid, 400 mcg; phosphorus, 700 mg;
B12, 200 mcg; vitamin D 600-1000 IU; and
zinc, 25-50 mg.
The Truth About the Drug
Companies: How They Deceive
For H2 blockers, take calcium, 1000-2000
Us and What to Do About It.
mg; vitamin B12, 200 mcg; and vitamin D,
Marcia Angell, MD (Random
600-1000 mg.
House, 2004). Former editor of
In an interesting discussion of normal
the NEJM.
elimination and of constipation as a
Overdosed America. John
diagnosis, Dr. Cass remarks that unless you
Abramson, MD. (Harper
have diarrhea, there are no known nutrient
Perennial, 2005). Member of
depletions relative to laxative substances.
the clinical faculty at Harvard
Medical School.
Antidepressants
Over Dose: The Case Against the
Because Dr. Cass is a psychiatrist, she
Drug Companies. Jay S. Cohen,
has a uniquely practical understanding
MD. (Tarcher/Putnam, 2001).
of these medications. She opens with a
Nationally recognized expert on
reminder: “The truth is, rather than
medications and side effects.
being crazy, neurotic, or hopelessly
psychologically damaged, you may simply
be deficient in certain nutrients.” Diet is
discussed as it relates to the production of
neurotransmitters. She also discusses mood stabilizers.
From Dr. Cass’s
BookShelf
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13
Today, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants
is the SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, typified by
Prozac. There are no nutrient depletions known. Nor are there
any known for the newer “atypical antidepressants” such as
Wellbutrin and Effexor.
On the other hand, tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil,
deplete B2 and CoQ10. Take B2, 25 mg; CoQ10, 30-100 mg.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Nardil, deplete
B6. Take B6, 25-50 mg daily. (There may be sufficient in your
multi.)
Footnotes:
1 These include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), hydrocholorothiazide (Hydrodiuril),
metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn). Incidentally, current laws allow drug makers to hold sole rights to sell a
new drug for 20 years, after which generics can be made and sold at much lower prices.
Special Report
DEFEATING DIABETES NATURALLY
Some 42,000 male MDs
participated in the famous
Harvard Physicians Health
Study. In one sub-study,
their diets were classified
as “prudent” or “Western”.
The Western diet increased
the risk of developing type
2 diabetes by 50 percent.
In those with low physical
activity, it increased by
100%. In men who were also
overweight, the diabetes
risk rose to 1100 percent!!!
Defeating Diabetes
Top 10
Nutritional
Supplements
For Women
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With each Special Report,
Nutrition News features
two additional titles to
support our main topic.
With Prescription Imact,
we recommend perusing
“Defeating Diabetes”
and “Women’s Top 10”.
A Natural
Approach
To
Defeating
Diabetes
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Related Resources
Special Report
WOMEN’S SUPPLEMENTS
The Office of Dietary
Supplements of the National
Institutes of Health has found
that the use of supplements
is associated with individuals
who “maintain a low body
mass index (<25), engage
in greater physical activity,
enjoy excellent or very good
health, have never smoked
or are former smokers,
and drink wine.” These
people are playing The “Is It
Healthy?” Game, and making
supplement use a part of
their positive lifestyles.
Women’s Top 10
User’s Guide to Vitamin C: Learn What You Need to Know About How
Vitamin C Can Improve Your Total Health
(Basic Health Publications User’s Guide) Hyla Cass
User’s Guide to Ginkgo Biloba
(Basic Health Publications User’s Guide) Hyla Cass
For more healthy opportunities, see next page.
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Meet Siri
Copyright: Nutrition News, Siri Khalsa. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
ISSN 2328-7446
Nutrition News © 2013 Home of the “Is It Healthy?” Game
The “Is It Healthy?” Game
The game where everyone who plays wins.
It’s an invitation to the party of your life! Join Us.
Nutrition News is published by World Be Well Publishing.
World Be Well Publishing specializes in compelling content about
nutritional research and trends in optimal health and vitality.
Siri Khalsa, Editor in Chief
Gurumantra S. Khalsa, Publisher
Elaine Starling, Executive Publisher
Laura Brunell, Graphic Design
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Special Report - Nutrition News

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