Depending on the medication used, the results can be serious. In addition, warfarin (a prescription blood thinner), ginkgo biloba (an herbal supplement), aspirin, and vitamin E (a supplement) can thin the blood. Taking any of these products together may increase the chance of internal bleeding or stroke. Dietary supplements are products made to provide the body with the nutrients it lacks, Walls explains.
Supplements can interfere with the prescription medications you're taking, she says. Chemical interactions can be minor or dangerous. They can weaken your medications and make them less effective, or they can make your prescriptions more powerful. Supplements may have health benefits, but they can also have health risks.
For example, sometimes the ingredients in certain supplements can alter laboratory tests or have negative effects during surgery. The risks that can arise when taking supplements may be increased if you take more than one supplement. Here are some supplement combinations to talk to a healthcare provider about and what you might need to do if you take both. Calcium is another important mineral for bone health.
It can be found in foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese. In the USA. In the US, 30% of men and 60% of women consume less calcium. A supplement may be required if dietary intake of the mineral is insufficient.
Not getting enough calcium can lead to reduced bone strength and osteoporosis. Taking both minerals together may reduce magnesium absorption if you take very high doses of calcium (2600 mg per day). It is recommended that people at high risk of magnesium deficiency who take calcium supplements take calcium at bedtime instead of during meals. This is because taking the calcium supplement during a meal could negatively affect the amount of magnesium you eat in your diet.
The mineral copper is involved in energy production and helps create connective tissue, which gives structure to the body. People with cardiovascular diseases can take copper supplements, as they have been shown to help change blood lipid levels, reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The supplement has also been used in Alzheimer's disease, as copper deficiency has been observed among people with this condition. Iron is a mineral that is an essential part of red blood cells that transfers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Iron supplements are generally recommended for people who have iron deficiency anemia, cancer, and certain gastrointestinal disorders, as well as for those who are pregnant. Green tea has become popular for drinking and drinking as an extract. It has been touted to help improve mental alertness, alleviate digestive symptoms and headaches, and protect against cancer and heart disease. Drinking green tea with iron may reduce mineral absorption.
While the effect may not be significant for most people, if you take both, you may want to consider taking them at different times. Taking ashwagandha with anti-diabetic medications aimed at lowering blood sugar levels could increase the risk of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Some herbs have been shown to help control diabetes, but taking them together with medications that also do so can cause blood sugar levels to be too low. Animal research suggests that ashwagandha may lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, putting people who take medications to lower blood pressure at risk of hypotension (blood pressure that is too low).
Human research has shown that ashwagandha can boost the immune system. In addition, animal research has shown that ashwagandha can decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide, a drug used to treat cancer and nephrotic syndrome. Certain antibiotics, specifically quinolone antibiotics (such as Cipro) and tetracycline antibiotics (such as acromycin and sumicin) interact with zinc in the gastrointestinal tract and do not allow both zinc and the antibiotic to be absorbed. If you need to take both, take the antibiotic at least two hours before or four to six hours after taking the zinc supplements.
Zinc decreased the absorption and action of penicillamine, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. If you need to take both, zinc supplements should be taken at least two hours before or after taking penicillamine. Also known as anticoagulants, these drugs prevent blood clots from forming. Some cases of minor bleeding and decreased production of the protein prothrombin (one of many factors that help blood to clot) have been reported in people taking melatonin with warfarin.
An anticonvulsant is a type of medication given to people who may experience seizures. It is believed that melatonin may reduce the effectiveness of anticonvulsants. There is also some clinical research to suggest that melatonin may increase the frequency of seizures, especially in children with neurological impairment. Some research suggests that oral contraceptives may increase levels of melatonin, thereby increasing the effects and potential adverse effects of melatonin supplements.
Possible adverse effects of melatonin include headache, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. This popular supplement is a plant native to Europe that has yellow, star-shaped flowers. The supplement tends to be taken to help with mental health conditions such as depression. St.
John's Wort has been associated with potentially serious interactions with certain drugs. If you are not sure about the combination of supplements or the combination of supplements and medications you are taking, you should ask a health professional to evaluate the combination for possible dangers. And if you're thinking about starting to take a supplement, you should also check with a healthcare provider to let them know what other supplements and medications you're taking. This is especially true for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as for children, as these groups may be more susceptible to potential harm.
Taking a supplement that claims to help with certain health conditions can be as easy as buying something online or at a local health and wellness store. However, if you take more than one or take a supplement while taking a medication, there may be a risk of negative interactions. Symptoms of negative interactions may include fatigue, yellowing of the skin, and severe muscle pain. If you experience any adverse reactions while taking a supplement, you should consult a healthcare provider.
If you're thinking about starting a new supplement, you should visit a healthcare provider to find out what's best for you and to tell them about any other supplements or medications you're taking. Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health. National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. How to report a problem with dietary supplements.
This means that it could make the drug less effective or cause drug interactions that cause unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects. In short, if you're taking medications, don't assume you can add whatever vitamins and supplements you want. Both bular diuretics, such as furosemide, and thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide, can also lower magnesium levels, so your doctor may recommend that you take magnesium supplements while you are taking these drugs. While the amount of potassium found in over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements is unlikely to cause significant interactions, the pharmacist should warn patients of the possibility of an interaction, especially if the patient is at risk of kidney failure.
If you're taking a prescription blood thinner, such as warfarin, or even a daily aspirin, be very careful about the vitamins and supplements you take. However, you may lean too far in the other direction if you take vitamins or supplements that also lower your glucose levels. Some supplements can have negative interactions with medications you must take before, after, or during surgery, and your regimen may need to be changed for the time being. You probably already know that certain medications don't mix, and you probably know that supplements can have properties similar to those of medications.
Unfortunately, there isn't enough clinical evidence to know exactly how these supplements interact with all medications or with each other. People take vitamin C supplements for a number of reasons, including to help fight infections, reduce pain after surgery, or lower blood pressure. They're safe for most people, but when taken with supplements or vitamins, the results can be risky. Any medication that increases potassium levels in the body has the potential to interact with supplemental potassium.
If you are taking any type of supplement or combination of supplements and experience negative side effects, you should stop using the supplement and consult a healthcare provider. .
