You go to the drug or health food store, purchase the necessary herbals or over-the-counter medications for whatever ails — a cold, headache or insomnia. And you probably never think that you might be offsetting the beneficial effects of your prescribed medications or accidentally overdosing on the same basic compound.
That’s usually OK, as with a few major exceptions, most supplements don’t translate into causing problems with drug interactions.
But having minimal knowledge about drugs or supplements coupled with a lack of communication with your health care provider can be potentially disastrous. A drug clash or accidental overdose can range from mild stomach upset to the extreme “death by Tylenol.” Not to mention canceling out whatever good the prescription drug is supposed to do.
As defined by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a supplement is considered to be any substance containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals — including plants and all their components — amino acids, probiotics or their constituents.
Side effects of supplements
Supplements, too, can result in dire consequences, although experts and studies differ as to their effects.
“Research is constantly underway and evolving” says Dr. Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance at the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center. Experts agree, however, that most studies have been primarily anecdotal, with small groups or based upon extrapolation of information.
Still, some worrisome cases have been documented. One example was the rejection of a transplanted heart due to the interaction of the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort and the immunosuppressant ciclosporin.
“St. John’s Wort can tie up pathways to the liver, causing other medications to not work,” says Cohen, adding that “it’s pretty much the poster child for drug interactions.” Other negative herbal reactions may occur when taking medications for AIDS/HIV, cardiovascular or diabetic conditions, blood thinners, antibiotics and more.
Getting a Grip on Supplements
Part of the problem is that the supplements themselves are virtually unregulated, even though about one in five Americans reports mixing a prescription with a non-vitamin dietary supplement. Christopher D’Adamo, assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of research, Center for Integrative Medicine, estimates that the proportion is probably closer to half of Americans.
Further studies note that of the 40 to 60 percent of adults with chronic disease use supplements.
The government has stepped into the supplement market… somewhat. Along with establishing the NCCIH as part of the National Institutes of Health in 1991, in 1994 the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) became law.
Yet supplements “require no pre-marketing approval before they reach store shelves,” cautions Cohen. In fact, “anything labeled as a dietary supplement is assumed to be safe until proven otherwise” and can only be removed from shelves after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found them harmful or dangerous. (In contrast, new drugs are presumed to be unsafe until proven safe.)
A 2016 PBS FRONTLINE documentary, “Supplements and Safety,” describes hidden dangers in supplements that stem in part from the lack of oversight by the FDA.
Proceed with Caution.
“Just because something is natural does not mean it’s safe, said Hallie Armstrong, senior naturopathic physician, Beaumont Health. “That is the main reason that Beaumont’s Integrative Medicine department is well-staffed with naturopathic physicians — to advise Beaumont physicians and patients on safety and efficacy of natural supplements.
To protect our patients’ health, we ask they bring in their current supplements and medications so that we can assess the quality and dosage along with their interaction with other medication. Supplement branding makes a difference.”
D’Adamo, who speaks about integrative medicine and best practices to medical centers around the country, said medical schools need to teach more about dietary and herbal supplements.
5 Supplements that May Mess with Your Meds
1. St. John’s Wort — Physicians and pharmacists recommend always consulting with your doctor before taking this, even though it is said to help with depression. St. John’s Wort may interfere with medications including certain antidepressants, allergy drugs (antihistamines), heart medications (digoxin), drugs that suppress the immune system (like cyclosporine and methotrexate) and many others.
2. Goldenseal — Most often used for the common cold, upper respiratory tract infections and skin irritations among other things, some 60 possible interactions have been documented including certain antipsychotic drugs. However, the biggest issues revolve around the fact that goldenseal can affect how the liver breaks down medications, which may either increase their effects or side effects
3. Red yeast rice (RYR) — is said to lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation and improve digestion. Because it acts like cholesterol-lowering prescription statins, “it can amplify the effect of those drugs,” says D’Adamo, possibly damaging the liver. Other negative interactions may include the risk of bleeding when used with blood thinners or even NSAIDs, among others.
4. Coenzyme Q10 — Found naturally in the body, this antioxidant helps convert food into energy. Some researchers believe it can help with heart conditions. However it may interfere with the action of blood thinners and some sources say that it may increase the risk for a clot.
5. Feverfew — Most often taken to prevent migraines, but also sometimes used for ailments ranging from psoriasis to dizziness to stomach upset, feverfew can increase the risk of bleeding especially for those with blood clot disorders or using blood thinners. It also may interfere with how quickly the liver breaks down certain medications.
— Debra Kaszubski, Vitality Special Writer, contributed to this report.