Drugs and Supplements

I just read an article about the interactions of drugs and supplements, which concerned me. It seems that 40% of Americans take some form of dietary supplements, which include vitamins, minerals, and herbs in pill or capsule form. That percentage goes up dramatically for those over 50, many of whom are also taking drugs prescribed by their medical professionals.

Apparently there are a lot of supplements that significantly change the way drugs are absorbed in the body, either negating them entirely or making them a lot more potent -- and either extreme could be deadly. A recommendation that was made was to check with a naturopath who specializes in supplements... to see what you really need, and what simply looks as if it might help based on the label.

Another thing to do, that I learned from a rheumatologist, is to keep a list of all drugs and supplements that you are taking, with amounts, frequencies, and who prescribed them and when. Such a list should be posted on your refrigerator at home, and a copy kept in a pocket at all times... and updated as you run out of something or purchase something else. This list could save your life, if you collapse in the street and have to be taken to a hospital by ambulance -- the EMT in the ambulance needs to know what you already have in your system, even before you get to an Emergency Room, and if you are unable to speak, that list in your pocket could make the difference between life and death.