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Health Function Guide
Natural Medicines
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Dr Morrow
Physicians Only

 

Drug-Mineral Interactions

    Minerals play a major part in many different physiological processes in the body.

    It is sometimes difficult to ingest and utilize enough minerals.

    A major obstacle of mineral absorption is prescription drugs.

There are three mechanisms by which drugs and minerals interact:

1) malabsorption (of either the drug, nutrient or both),

2) mineral depletion and retention and

3) simultaneous antacid ingestion.
   
(Thomas, 1995)

    These interactions can be especially dangerous for women over the age of 25 who supplement their diets with minerals to prevent bone loss.

    The following list is a compilation of the effects of various drugs on calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc. The trace elements, however, do not have interactions that are "clinically significant." (Thomas, 1995)

Calcium

  • Malabsorption occurs with Colchicine, Corticoids, Diphosphates, Furosemide,
    Methotrexate, Neomycin, Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, Primidone and Tetracuclines.
  • Hydrochlorothiazide depletes calcium levels.

Magnesium

  • Malabsorption occurs with Furosemide, Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin and Tetracycline.
  • Ethanol and Hydrochlorothiazide deplete magnesium levels.
  • Nitrofurantoin causes a simultaneous antacid-induced interaction.

Iron

  • Malabsorption occurs with Cholestyramine, Colchicine, Methyldopa, Neomycin,
    Penicillamine, and Tetracylclines.
  • Aspirin and Indomethacin cause iron depletion.

Potassium

  • Malabsorption occurs with Bisacodyl, Colchicine, Furosemide, and Neomycin.
  • Aspirin, Ethanol, and Hydrochlorothiazide cause potassium depletion.
  • Triamterene causes potassium retention.

Zinc

  • Furosemide, Penicillamine and Tetracyclines cause malabsorption.
  • Ethanol and Hydrochlorothiazide cause zinc depletion.

    (compiled from Thomas, 1995)

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