ARE YOUR MEDICATIONS HARMING YOUR BODY?

As pharmacists, here’s what we know: prescription and over-the-counter medications all have side effects. While some are less severe than others, they ALL still have side effects.

You may recognize some of these common side effects, which are always listed on the package or on your medication information sheet from the pharmacy:

• Muscle aches and tremors
• Blurry vision
• Upset stomach
• Dry mouth
• Trouble concentrating
• Shortness of breath
• Headache or neck pain
• Increased thirst
• Mood swings
• Drowsiness
• …and more

But did you know that these side effects may be linked to nutrient depletion within your body?

Let’s consider a common side effect of a widely used medication for women: bio-identical hormone replacement therapy could lead to muscle aches and tremors. This may occur when the body is depleted of magnesium, vitamin D, and calcium due to aging or other stressors, such as lack of natural hormone production. If left untreated, it could lead to long-term muscle and bone damage, such as osteoporosis.

But medications are supposed to be helpful, not harmful, so what gives?

By design, medications help alleviate particular symptoms of illness or disease. They are not designed to replace, restore, or simulate vital nutrients that your body may already be lacking due to illness or aging.

Here’s an example we can all relate to:

When you were a child and had a cold, one of the first things your mother reached for was vitamin C. Your little body was attacked by a virus that depleted your system of immune-boosting nutrients, so your mother raced to replace that nutrient. Now, let’s say you needed antibiotics to completely kick out this virus. Antibiotics are designed to attack all germs within the body; they aren’t designed to leave your gut’s “good germs” alone, so by taking the medication to help your cold, you may now have stomach issues to address.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

So did we. That’s why we took a deep dive into studying what happens to patients with nutrient depletions, and here’s what we found:

Patients who require a prescription for one chronic illness are far more likely to need additional prescriptions over time.

Why? As time passes and medication use continues, symptoms of nutrient depletion (such as muscle aches and tremors) can lead to other illnesses (like osteoporosis) that require more medications.

Imagine if you need to take three, four, or more medications per day!

Does this sound like your experience?

You are not alone. As an independent pharmacy, we take care of our patients the way we would want to be cared for. And since we are in the healthcare business, we take your health very seriously.

Contact us here, or call us at (888) 963-9923 We’re alwasy happy to answer your questions.