DearPharmacist » Vitamins

Micronutrient Testing: Find Out if You Are Deficient in Vitamins & Minerals

suzy — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:26:38 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,

I started taking 5 new supplements but I’ve been noticing occasional butterflies in my chest, hair loss, heartburn and muscle twitching. I think it’s related to my vitamins because when I stop them, the symptoms goes away. Should I stop? –T.E., Manhattan

Answer: Yes, and then find out what specific nutrients your body need -don’t just use a shotgun approach. I’ve been very supportive of nutraceuticals over the years, but moderation is key. The problem is that most doctors don’t know how to test a patient for nutrient deficiencies, so you are forced to guess what you need. Misinformation abounds.

Nutritional deficiencies can actually be tested with special “micronutrient” blood tests. There are three tests that I’ve taken myself: “Comprehensive Nutritional Panel” by SpectraCell Labs, “NutrEval” by Genova Diagnostics and the “Cardio/ION” from Metametrix. Practitioners with appropriate health licensure can become providers with these companies and order tests immediately.

Why the big deal? I’m talking to doctors now: Your patients are taking vitamins, minerals and antioxidants behind your back and they email me seeking guidance “because my doctor doesn’t believe in vitamins!” If your patients are supplementing indiscriminately, they could be harmed. You can help them with micronutrient testing. Here are some examples which demonstrate the value of the information provided by this type of testing:

Zinc- A trace mineral. Too much can cause metallic taste sensations, nausea and copper deficiency. Too little could cause shortness of breath, hearing loss, infertility and prostate/erectile problems.

Copper- A trace mineral. Overload is sometimes tied to use of estrogen drugs or low zinc levels. It can lead cause migraines, mental racing, anxiety, depression, frequent colds and interestingly, chocolate or avocado cravings. Deficiency can cause anemia, fatigue, arthritis and reproductive problems.

L-Serine- An amino acid. Deficiencies are sometimes related to a rare metabolic disorder and have been associated with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, seizures, stiffness/weakness or muscles. Excessive serine can cause immune suppression or psychological symptoms.

Vitamin K- A vitamin that you need to keep from bleeding to death as it allows blood to clot. An excess can cause health problems, as the liver can only store so much of it. Inadequate K results in bleeding gums, easy bruising, bone loss and higher cancer risk.

Niacin- A “B” vitamin. Too much causes diarrhea, itching or nervousness. Deficiencies may be associated with high cholesterol, indigestion, burning mouth syndrome, canker sores, fatigue or anemia.

Glutathione- An antioxidant. Too much can cause stomach upset, but more often, a person has too little which may contribute to liver damage, joint pain, neurological symptoms like Parkinson’s and higher cancer risk.

Glutamine- An amino acid which protects the brain and gut. Having too much is rare. Low glutamine however, can lead to leaky gut, food allergies, Crohn’s disease, poor wound healing, skin rashes and arthritis.

Did You Know?

A new study proves that women can slash their risk of stroke by 30 percent, just by walking two hours each week!

How Drug Muggers Can Slowly Steal the Life Out of You

suzy — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:52:12 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,

I bought your Drug Muggers book and learned that coffee is stealing iron from my body. I’ve had chronic fatigue for years, and now that I’m supplementing with the iron, I’m feeling MUCH better, so thank you! I’m not giving up coffee though. Suzy, would you be willing to share more drug muggers, as a public service, because some people can’t afford to buy your book, but they really need your help. –K.M., Kansas City, Kansas

Answer: Yes, of course and I’ve been sharing this information freely since 1999. The drug mugging effect can explain everything from nagging aches to life-threatening diseases. Replenishing the missing nutrient(s) might be just what the doctor should have ordered!

Most people don’t know this but years ago, I asked major publishers to make a book out of this information, but none understood the importance of it, and some felt it would step on pharmaceutical toes. So I spent my own savings to publish “Drug Muggers” and now that book is sold at Amazon.com, NaturalNews.com and my own website, www.DearPharmacist.com where I offer free articles on the topic. For now, here are some very common ‘diseases’ that might be due to to the drug mugging effect:

Depression, osteoporosis or irregular heartbeat- It could be caused by a deficiency of the mineral magnesium. Common drug muggers include female hormones, diuretics, raloxifene, tea/coffee, anti-inflammatories and aspirin.

Bald patches, loss of taste/smell, erectile dysfunction or chronic diarrhea- It might be zinc deficiency. Common drug muggers are anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antacids, ulcer/heartburn meds, diuretics and estrogen drugs used for birth control and menopause.

Leg cramps, muscle spasms, memory loss or fatigue- May be a deficiency of CoQ10 (ubiquinol). This life-sustaining antioxidant gets demolished by hundreds of medications including statin cholesterol drugs, metformin, anti-depressants, beta blockers and diuretics. I’ve posted a “Big List of Drugs that Mug CoQ10” for free at my website.

Cell damage, high homocysteine, cataracts, macular degeneration, liver problems- It could be tied to low glutathione, a powerful antioxidant needed to detoxify poisons in your body. Acetaminophen is a possible drug mugger of glutathione.

Pins and needles nerve pain, depression, fatigue, anemia, weight gain- This could be related to a deficiency of B vitamins. Your stash gets depleted by female hormones (menopause and birth control), antacids, ulcer meds, diuretics, raloxifene, cholestyramine, diabetic drugs, tea/coffee.

If you read this and just said, “Aha!” then get approval from your doctor to supplement, or order “micronutrient” testing. For pennies a day, you can get your life back! If you decide to wait and see if I’m right (and not replenish what the drug mugger is stealing), then expect these so-called side effects to get diagnosed as a new disease. You’ll get on a medication merry-go-round and it’s a hard ride to get off.

Did You Know?
Dulcolax Balance is a new OTC product used to promote regularity and it’s similar to Miralax.

Suzy’s Safety Checklist to Use Herbal Medicine and Drugs

suzy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:50:05 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,
I take 8 different medications and 6 supplements each day. I worry constantly that they will interact. Please tell your readers what some of the most common interactions are?

–K.S. Decatur, Illinois

Answer: Clip this article, or forward it to someone you care for, because it just might save a life. I’m going to give you a ‘safety checklist’ of common drug-herb interactions, and there is a huge section devoted to this in my book, Drug Muggers.

Alcohol- The world’s most famous liquid muscle relaxant, alcohol slows the heart rate down. If you combine it with sleeping pills or narcotic pain-relievers, it can stop the heart! It’s also dangerous to combine it with beta blockers (blood pressure meds).

Grapefruit- a delicious fruit that when juiced, provides powerful anti-cancer flavonoids and antioxidants. Like a few other fruits, it can block a biochemical pathway in the liver that causes the levels of medications to rise (rather than getting broken down and cleared out of the body). Some drugs that interact with grapefruit include oxycodone (Percocet), estrogen-containing hormones, most statin cholesterol drugs, sildenafil (Viagra), diazepam and some antihistamines. The interaction may occur even if you wait several hours after your medication.

Ginkgo biloba- famed for it’s ability to sharpen memory by increasing blood flow to the brain. If you are taking a blood thinner, like warfarin, aspirin or Plavix, then you may experience enhanced blood-thinning effects which may lead to easy bruising and internal bleeding.

Pomegranate or grapefruit juice- Chock full of antioxidants and heart-healthy nutrients, but it might spike the level of sex pills (Cialis, Levitra or Viagra) causing headache, indigestion, flushing, heart palpitations or visual disturbances.

Stinging nettle- It helps men with prostate problems and women with overactive bladder. Thing is, it has this lovely benefit of slightly lowering blood sugar. If you take stinging nettle while also taking diabetic medication, your blood sugar may drop too low so monitor carefully or avoid the herb.

Iron or zinc supplements- Wonderful to help improve immunity and rev up thyroid production, but these can block the actions of many popular antibiotics including Cipro and Levaquin.

St. John’s wort- Fantastic for boosting mood and reducing pain. It can increase levels of other drugs, causing them to spike so high that you get dangerous side effects. This doesn’t mix well with digoxin, omeprazole (Prilosec), MAO anti-depressants, oral contraceptives, alprazolam (Xanax), and drugs used for HIV/AIDS.

Ginseng, ma huang or bitter orange, caffeine- Found in many diet pills, these stimulate the body so avoid if you take breathing medications such as inhalers (bronchodialators) or theophylline.

Arginine- Very popular natural amino acid that helps erectile dysfunction and improves blood flow to the heart. It’s wonderful that arginine also reduces blood pressure, but if you take this with nitroglycerin or isosorbide drugs, it can result in dangerously low blood pressure.

Antidepressants Might Lose Effect, Try Something Natural

suzy — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:28:42 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,

I take Zoloft for depression. It doesn‘t seem to work as well anymore. I also have a chronic illness, which I’d rather not disclose. Can Zoloft lose it’s effect like this?
M.B., Sanibel, Florida

Answer: Yes. Sometimes we grow tolerant to a drug so it seems like the magic effect is gone. Or a drug could remain fully potent, while the body continues to decline because underlying imbalances do not get corrected. Chronic illness often goes hand in hand with poor sleep, stress and pain so treating these will also help improve depression. Since Zoloft isn’t helping anymore, try 5-HTP, a natural over-the-counter antidepressant.

Our body make 5-HTP which gets converted to serotonin, our “happy” brain chemical. 5-HTP is particularly good at balancing mood, improving sleep and reducing pain. It cuts carb cravings, reduces appetite and helps migraines. Each dose of 5-HTP should be taken 2 hours before meals with a snack or with orange juice. Caution: Don’t take 5-HTP with other antidepressants or if pregnant or nursing. And don’t overdue it. When starting, go slow and move upward towards a total daily dose of 300 – 600 mg per day.