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Drugs:
A Definition
Sensitivity & Tolerance
Contraindications
Maintaining Records
Articles
Additional Information
Drugs:
A Definition
When
most people hear the word "drug" they tend to
think of prescription-only medications. Some extend "drug"
to include the over-the-counter (OTC) products that do
not require a doctor's prescription, products ranging
from aspirin to cough syrup, allergy tablets to topical
antiseptics. In fact, supplements and herbs (those found
in teas as well as in capsules, tablets, elixir and other
forms) are also drugs. Whether you are taking prescription
drugs or drink a cleansing tea blend every morning, you
need to know as much as possible about the possible side
effects and contraindications of each drug. The information
on this page will help you find useful resources for drugs,
herbs and supplements, as well as information to help
you better understand what to take when, and monitoring
your responses to the variety of chemicals you are taking
on a regular basis.
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Sensitivity
and Tolerance
Most people with diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple
chemical sensitivity find that their tolerance and sensitivity to drugs
(both prescription and non-prescription medications), herbs and supplements
has changed from their tolerance and sensitivities when they were healthy.
They may also develop sensitivities or intolerances to the ingredients
used in making the products. For many, their tolerance is much lower now
than when they were healthy, so they respond to doses far below the dose
considered to be therapeutic for age and weight. For others, they may
gradually or suddenly be unable to tolerate one or more of the fillers
or packagers (gelatin capsules, enteric coatings), though the product
manufacturers and the FDA generally considers these ingredients to be
"inert."
How patients react to
drugs (including supplements and herbs) may also depend on the state of
their gut, liver, and immune system at any given time. Over time, some
patients find that many previously effective drugs no longer work for
them. Some find that some substances act opposite of their normal use,
such as kava kava having a stimulating rather than a calming effect.
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Contraindications
Some drugs (again, including herbs and supplements) should
not be taken together, or in close proximity to one another.
For example, if you are taking iron daily, and regularly
use aspirin or other salicylates, you may experience gastrointestinal
bleeding, so always inform your doctors before combining
these products regularly. Taking calcium, certain types
of magnesium, or zinc at the same time as taking iron
will reduce the uptake of iron in the gut. On the other
hand, taking iron with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases
the iron uptake. Calcium taken at the same meal or within
a couple of hours of eating spinach will reduce the amount
of calcium available for uptake, so calcium supplements
should be taken several hours before or after you eat
spinach or other leafy greens containing high levels of
calcium oxalate or oxalic acid. Some vegetables, including
some of the Brassicas and all soy, contain iodine-binding
goitrogenic compounds that impair thyroid function. If
you eat a lot of these foods, you could develop hypothyroidism
or require an adjustment in the dose of thyroid hormone
you are currently taking.
There are so many possible
contraindications that it can be difficult to keep track of them all.
Some of the sites below will be useful in finding out about the possible
problems with what you are taking and when.
Drugs.com
(Spanish available)
Drug/Herb
Interaction Chart (Lifebalm)
DrugDigest.com
(Drugs & Herbs)
GNC
HealthNotes
Herbs,
Botanicals & Other Products (Sloan-Kettering)
Herb
& Drug Interactions (Mayo)
MedlinePlus
Drug Information
RxList.com
Supplementinfo.org
Thyroid
Drugs FAQ about Food, Drug and Supplement Interactions
WebMD
Drugs and Herbs
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Maintaining
Records
If you have a chronic condition such as chronic fatigue
syndrome, liver or gut dysfunction, or other condition
for which you try many different products, or take products
on a regular basis (drugs, herbs, supplements, intravenous
solutions, herbal teas, etc.), it is a good idea to start
keeping track of everything you have taken. Keep an up-to-date
listing of what you are currently taking, how you are
responding to them, and why you stop taking any of these
products.. These lists are not only useful when you see
a new doctor or read books or articles on conditions you
have, but they provide a useful tool when providing feedback
to your doctor about current treatment. They can also
be useful in providing some of the documentation needed
when filing for or undergoing review of a disability claim.
Depending on your tax
status, detailed records of all the drugs, herbs and supplements you are
buying - IVs, OTC and prescription drugs - may enable you to document
eligibility to claim a deduction on your taxes. For more information,
see IRS Publication
502-Medical and Dental Expenses (requires a free PDF
reader).
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ARTICLES
Asthma
and Melatonin
Are
Generic Drugs as Effective as Brand Name? - Not Always!
Cipro
(& Other Quinolones) Information & Side Effects
Drugs
metabolized by Cytochrome P45; see also CYP
P450 Drug Interaction Table
FluMist™
Q & A and
Immune
Deficiency Foundation: FluMist™ Vaccine Warning
Immunovir/Isoprinosine
Lauricidin FAQ
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) Nasal
Spray
The Tylenol Toxicity
Issue (Read the Tylenol
section in Gordon's 2000 talk)
The Truths and Myths
of the use of Guaifenesin for Fibromyalgia
What's
Up With Thyrolar?
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MORE
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
A
variety of resources to help you find outlets and information on drugs,
herbs and supplements.
Searching
the Internet for Drug Information: Strategies for Locating Accurate and
Scientifically Accepted Information
Anesthesia
& Surgery
Order
Your Own Supplements.
You can now order many of your supplements from the same suppliers GMA
uses.
Encyclopedia Of
Nutritional Supplements,
by Michael T. Murray ND. Available in paperback from Amazon.com
and Booksamillion.com
Melissa Kaplan's Drugs,
Herbs & Supplements Information Resources
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