In this post, I have compiled a list of commonly prescribed drugs and their resultant vitamin deficiencies. As you may suspect, the side effects of most common drugs emerge from the nutrient depletion caused by them. Organ systems pay a toll in order to expel, degrade and process foreign substances. It is very common to end up treating side effects of drugs with more and more drugs, which leads to deeper, more severe nutrient loss.
Mechanisms of Depletion: Nutrients may be depleted through various mechanisms, such as reduced absorption (e.g., PPIs lowering stomach acid), increased excretion (e.g., diuretics flushing out minerals), interference with metabolism (e.g., statins inhibiting CoQ10 synthesis), or disruption of gut microbiota (e.g., antibiotics affecting vitamin production).
Drug Class | Examples | Nutrients Depleted |
Statins | Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Rosuvastatin | Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), Vitamin D |
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) | Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole | Vitamin B12, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C |
H2 Receptor Antagonists | Ranitidine, Famotidine | Vitamin B12, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin D |
Diuretics (Loop) | Furosemide, Bumetanide | Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C |
Diuretics (Thiazide) | Hydrochlorothiazide, Chlorthalidone | Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Sodium, Folic Acid |
Diuretics (Potassium-Sparing) | Spironolactone, Amiloride | Folic Acid, Calcium |
ACE Inhibitors | Lisinopril, Enalapril, Captopril | Zinc, Sodium |
Beta Blockers | Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propranolol | Coenzyme Q10, Melatonin, Chromium |
Antidepressants (SSRIs) | Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Citalopram | Folic Acid, Sodium, Vitamin B6 |
Antidepressants (Tricyclics) | Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline | Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Sodium |
Antipsychotics | Quetiapine, Risperidone, Olanzapine | Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 |
Mood Stabilizers | Lithium | Folic Acid, Inositol |
Oral Hypoglycemics | Metformin | Vitamin B12, Coenzyme Q10, Folic Acid |
Antibiotics (Broad-Spectrum) | Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline | Biotin, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Calcium, Probiotics |
Corticosteroids | Prednisone, Hydrocortisone, Fluticasone | Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium |
Oral Contraceptives | Ethinylestradiol combinations | Folic Acid, Vitamins B2, B6, B12, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Tyrosine |
NSAIDs | Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin | Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Iron, Glutathione |
Opioids | Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine | Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium |
Anticonvulsants | Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Valproate | Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Vitamin K, Biotin |
Benzodiazepines | Diazepam, Lorazepam, Alprazolam | Melatonin, Calcium, Magnesium |
Stimulants | Methylphenidate, Amphetamine (Adderall) | Magnesium, Zinc |
Bisphosphonates | Alendronate, Risedronate | Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D |
Antiretrovirals | Zidovudine, Efavirenz | Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium |
Chemotherapy Agents | Methotrexate, Cisplatin | Folic Acid, Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin B12 (varies by agent) |
The following table lists the effects of each nutrient deficiency:
Nutrient | Symptoms of Deficiency |
Biotin (Vitamin B7) | Hair loss, brittle nails, skin rashes (especially around the mouth), fatigue, depression, neurological symptoms (e.g., numbness, tingling) |
Calcium | Muscle cramps, spasms, osteoporosis, brittle bones, tooth decay, numbness or tingling, irregular heartbeat |
Chromium | Impaired glucose tolerance (leading to blood sugar issues), fatigue, weight loss, nerve damage |
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) | Fatigue, muscle weakness, heart problems (e.g., palpitations, heart failure), high blood pressure, cognitive decline |
Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) | Fatigue, weakness, anemia (megaloblastic), shortness of breath, irritability, mouth sores, neural tube defects in pregnancy |
Glutathione | Increased oxidative stress, fatigue, weakened immune system, muscle weakness, neurological issues |
Inositol | Mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression), insomnia, hair loss, skin issues |
Iron | Fatigue, weakness, pale skin, anemia, shortness of breath, brittle nails, cold hands/feet, dizziness |
Magnesium | Muscle cramps, fatigue, irritability, irregular heartbeat, nausea, weakness, migraines, poor sleep |
Melatonin | Insomnia, difficulty falling/staying asleep, daytime fatigue, mood changes |
Potassium | Muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), constipation, tingling/numbness |
Probiotics (Gut Flora) | Digestive issues (e.g., bloating, diarrhea, constipation), weakened immunity, mood changes (via gut-brain axis) |
Selenium | Fatigue, hair loss, weakened immune system, muscle weakness, cognitive decline |
Sodium | Nausea, headache, confusion, fatigue, muscle cramps, seizures (severe cases) |
Tyrosine | Fatigue, depression, difficulty concentrating, low motivation, impaired thyroid function |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | Fatigue, muscle weakness, confusion, memory loss, nerve damage (e.g., tingling), heart issues (e.g., beriberi) |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | Mouth sores, cracked lips, sore throat, fatigue, sensitivity to light, skin rashes |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Fatigue, depression, skin rashes (pellagra), diarrhea, headache, memory loss |
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Fatigue, irritability, muscle cramps, numbness/tingling, digestive issues |
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) | Anemia, depression, confusion, weakened immunity, skin rashes, nerve issues (e.g., tingling, neuropathy) |
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | Fatigue, weakness, anemia, numbness/tingling, memory loss, depression, balance issues |
Vitamin C | Fatigue, scurvy (bleeding gums, bruising), slow wound healing, joint pain, weakened immunity |
Vitamin D | Bone pain, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, fatigue, depression, impaired immunity |
Vitamin K | Easy bruising, excessive bleeding, poor blood clotting, weak bones |
Zinc | Weakened immunity, hair loss, slow wound healing, loss of taste/smell, skin rashes, diarrhea |
Additional Notes:
Overlap in Symptoms: Many nutrient deficiencies share symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and irritability because these nutrients often work together in metabolic pathways (e.g., B vitamins in energy production).
Severity: Mild deficiencies might cause subtle symptoms (e.g., fatigue), while severe or prolonged deficiencies can lead to serious conditions (e.g., scurvy from Vitamin C deficiency or beriberi from Vitamin B1 deficiency).
Compounding Effects: Medications depleting multiple nutrients (e.g., corticosteroids affecting calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D) can lead to compounded symptoms like osteoporosis or muscle dysfunction.
When things just don't add up, try subtracting...
Comments