Drug Mugger is a term first proposed by US pharmacist Suzy Cohen, which refers to a drug that depletes essential nutrients in the human body. The medications we take can cause nutritional deficiencies for a variety of reasons. For example, ▲ when a drug uses nutrients to exert its efficacy ▲ when a drug directly destroys nutrients in our body ▲ When a drug indirectly inhibits the synthesis and absorption of nutrients in our body.
Typical chronic diseases that require long-term medication include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. You need to know what nutrients your body is deficient in and compensate for the medications you are taking.
1. Diabetes medication – vitamin B12
A nutrient that people taking diabetes medications tend to lack is the B vitamins. Metformin, the first-line treatment for diabetic patients, lowers blood sugar by making less glucose in the body. However, in this process, the absorption of the cobalamine family of vitamins called vitamin B12 is blocked. A lack of vitamin B12 in the body can lead to cognitive decline and even peripheral neuropathy, a type of diabetic complication. If you experience symptoms such as tingling or tingling in the tips of your hands and feet while taking diabetes medications, you must supplement with vitamin B12.
“Metformin can inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12 and cause a deficiency, so supplementing it is very important for diabetes management,” said pharmacist Yoo Subin. It is better to choose a combination drug,” he advised. In the case of vitamin B1, it plays a role in preventing the formation of harmful substances made from high blood sugar, and is effective in improving proteinuria and relieving fatigue.
2. Hyperlipidemia drug – Coenzyme Q10
Long-term use of statins, which is a hyperlipidemia drug, reduces the amount of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the body. Since statins interfere with the process of lipid synthesis in the liver, coenzyme Q10 produced during lipid synthesis also becomes insufficient. Coenzyme Q10 generates cellular energy and acts as an antioxidant. Therefore, if there is a lack of coenzyme Q10 in the body, it can easily cause fatigue, muscle pain, and wrinkles on the skin.
“Coenzyme Q10 is produced in the human body, but when it is insufficient, it is difficult to supplement it through food,” said Shin Kwang-sik, a medical consultant at Hidak. Therefore, it is recommended to consume it as a health supplement.”
3. Hypertension Medicine – Vitamin B1 & Melatonin
Diuretics used to treat high blood pressure lower blood pressure by increasing urine output. In this process, water-soluble vitamin B is also excreted with the urine. In particular, vitamin B1 can be excessively passed out of the body. A lack of vitamin B1 reduces heart function and increases the risk of arrhythmias. As blood flow is slowed, blood is not delivered enough to all parts of the body, which can lead to edema, numbness in the hands and feet, and weakness in the legs.
Among antihypertensive drugs, beta blockers block the binding of a hormone called epinephrine to beta receptors. This is because this combination strengthens the force of the heart’s contractions and raises blood pressure. However, these beta-blockers can interfere with the synthesis of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep, and can cause sleep disorders.
People with chronic diseases consume nutrients and vitamins faster than the general population. Therefore, if a patient is taking chronic disease drugs for a long time, it is necessary to check the nutrients that may be depleted and supplement them sufficiently.
Help = Hidak Consultant Dr. Shin Kwang-sik (Seoul New Internal Medicine Clinic internal medicine specialist), pharmacist Yoo Soo-bin