Do Prescription Drugs Deplete Your Body of Nutrients? Dr. Sean Breen Explains

Many times, doctors prescribe drugs without thinking about the consequences of how they can deplete the body of valuable nutrients. Ironically, many of the same side effects listed on the package insert of the drug mimic the same signs and symptoms of the nutrient deficiency. It is amazing how little training doctors receive in drug-induced nutrient depletions. In this post I am going to go over some of the most common drugs and what nutrients they deplete. 

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) deplete the body of B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium, tyrosine, selenium and zinc.

Anti-diabetic drugs deplete the body of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin B12.

Cholesterol lowering drugs (such as Simvastatin), deplete the body of CoQ10.

Beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure deplete the body of melatonin and CoQ10.

Benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety (Xanax for example), deplete the body of melatonin.

Antiulcer medications (Prilosec, for example), deplete the body of B12, folic acid, vitamin D, Calcium, iron, zinc and protein.

Antibiotics deplete the body of B-Vitamins and Vitamin K.

So what does this mean? If you are taking a statin drug to treat cholesterol, then you should also take 200mg of CoQ10 every day. If you are taking antibiotics, then you should take probiotics and B vitamins. By doing so, you will minimize many of the side effects of the drug. If you are taking medications, require that your doctor inform you of what nutrient depletions it may cause (he/she likely won’t know). At least he/she may look it up, and understand the collateral damage caused by his prescriptions.

If you would like to schedule a consult with the Breen Center for Optimal Health, simply give us a call at 877-721-0047.