Supplements and Drug Interactions: What You Need to know

For many, dietary supplements and vitamins are household staples. About half of all people in the United States take multivitamins, and twenty percent of adults also use herbal supplements. Taking one's vitamins is widely considered to be imperative for maintaining good health. Many children are advised to take their vitamins to grow up strong. But as we grow and change, many people will end up taking medications for various medical conditions, and these may end up interacting with the supplements they take.

Though supplements are often considered to be forces of good, the interactions they can have with other drugs may end up causing significant problems in a patient's body. For this reason, physicians should be sure to ask their patients about any supplements they may be taking, and bring these to the attention of a pharmacist, to ensure that their patients are safe from any unexpected changes in the effectiveness of their medications.

Understanding Drug and Supplement Interactions

When drug interactions are involved, it is important to remember that not every interaction will affect the body in the same way. Some herbal supplements are dangerous because they can decrease the efficacy of one's medication, or drastically increase the efficacy of a certain drug. These can be especially dangerous in the case of diabetes, for example. If a patient takes an herbal supplement to decrease their blood sugar (such as ginseng) and combines that with a prescribed medication for the same effect, the result may be a dangerous drop in blood sugar, much more drastic than intended.

Though herbal supplements may seem like a safe addition to one's health regimen, very often they may be an example of "too much of a good thing." Our bodies require balances to function efficiently. On the flip side, some supplements may counteract the efficacy of certain prescription drugs. Though a certain drug and supplement may seem completely unrelated to one another, there is still a chance that their components can reduce the strength of other medications. No matter how innocuous a supplement may seem, regardless of if they are dietary or herbal, they all should be brought to the attention of a physician and pharmacist. Both of these medical professionals have patients' best interests at heart and can determine a plan that best fits a patient's lifestyle.

Examples of Supplements and Interactions

Elderly individuals, pregnant mothers, and other people with multiple conditions should be especially wary, since they are more likely to be taking multiple medications, and the addition of any supplements could be especially dangerous. Some common herbal supplements that may have effects on medications include:

• Echinacea: This traditional supplement is often used to relieve cold or flu-like symptoms.
• St. John's Wort: This herbal remedy has many uses, but is commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. But when taken in conjunction with antidepressants, it has been shown to exacerbate those conditions.
• Iron: When taken with certain antibiotics, iron supplements can actually decrease the absorption of iron in the body.
• Calcium: In conjunction with certain corticosteroids, calcium supplements can inhibit the body's ability to absorb calcium, and subsequently lead to increased risk of bone damage.

Though many supplements are considered natural and risk-free, it is best to always inform a medical professional of any and every supplement one may be taking. While the motivation behind taking herbal and dietary supplements is to improve one's health, an uninformed patient may be putting themselves at risk if they don't bring their supplements to the attention of their physician or pharmacist.

Physicians should encourage their patients to keep a detailed list of all the supplements they may be taking or have recently taken, and consult a pharmacist about any possible interactions or risks posed by them. With both physicians and pharmacists involved in this discussion, patients can receive the most comprehensive care possible.