Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Additional Caveats
According to several articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association today, releases do not routinely mention study limitations or industry funding and may exaggerate the importance of findings. Dr. Catherine DeAngelis, JAMA's editor, said the problems are most likely to occur in research funded by drug companies, and journal editors are concerned that manufacturers sometimes unduly influence how researchers report study results, and even suppress unfavorable findings. One JAMA report found that medical journal studies on new treatments often use only the most favorable statistic in reporting results, said author Dr. Jim Nuovo of the University of California at Davis. His study reviewed 359 studies published between 1989 and 1998 in JAMA, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, British Medical Journal, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Only 26 reported straightforward statistics that clearly assessed the effect on patients. ("Medical journal questions studies," AP, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Virginia newspaper, June 5, 2002)
The conclusion of a study in JAMA (July 2002) says reporters are rushing into print medical stories. Too much too soon say the authors of the study. As many as 25 percent of studies written in major newspapers were never published in peer-reviewed medical journals, while another 25 percent were published in what were called "low-impact" medical journals. The reports appear before the validity of the research has been established, and the results are frequently presented to the public as scientifically sound evidence rather than as preliminary findings with still uncertain validity. ("Study Finds Press Jumps the Gun when Covering Medical Research," Thomas Burton, Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2002. Citizen's Health Care News, 7/10/02)
The role of genes in evaluating cancer risk may have been exaggerated, a statistical bias that skewed the risk estimates for women in the general population. The average risks are lower than what has been quoted. Experts acknowledge that there have been women who chose to have their breasts removed based on this data. Dr Kathy J. Helzlsouer, an Epidemiology professor and medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said she and most other doctors and genetic counselors have realized in recent years there is a lot of uncertainty in cancer risks among women with the BRCA gene mutations. ("Analysis: Genetic breast cancer risk may be exaggerated," AP, The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, August 21, 2002)
Patients assume the procedures they are getting are tried and true, when sometimes they are not, says Dr. Angelique Reitsma, a research associate at the University of Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics. There are surgeons who do not reveal to their patients that their procedures are experimental. Dr. Paul Lombardo, director of programs for law and medicine at UVa's Center for Biomedical Ethics, said the study reveals that many people (surgeons) who are governed by research regulations aren't following them. The results of the study are published in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. ("Experimental face lifts inspire surgery regulation study," The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, June 4, 2002)
Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen Health Research Group was one of the researchers of a study published in JAMA today, showing that one in five new drugs has serious side effects that do not show up until well after the medicine has received governmental approval. He calls it an alarming game of Russian roulette. The researchers went so far as to suggest that older drugs should be prescribed when possible, unless the new drug is truly superior. The diabetes drug, Rezulin, which was approved in 1997 but has been linked to dozens of cases of fatal liver damage. Dr. Karen Lasser of Cambridge Hospital and Harvard Medical School leader of the study, says that doctors continued to prescribe it in a unsafe manner even after the drug was given a black-box warning, and it was ultimately withdrawn from the market in 2000. Two allergy drugs, Seldane and Hismanal, were linked with potentially fatal heart problems in certain patients but were not removed from the market until several years after receiving black-box warnings.
Most of the troublesome new drugs do not represent any advance in treatment, and are at best no better than the older, safer drugs already on the market, Wolfe said. ("Study: Drugs' side effects often follow their approval," AP, The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, May 1, 2002)
One example of the deception of testing and arriving at "normal levels" in regard to environmental toxins. "Normal levels" given are simply derived from health department statistics which are now based on the fact that the average person is polluted and expected to carry a certain amount of environmental toxins, while he/she appears to be without sign of disease and is still considered 'healthy.' As the population becomes more polluted these numbers are periodically raised so that both the doctors and public remain calm and "reassured." According to the laws of toxicology, a combined interaction and health impact of only two or more pollutants cannot be scientifically ascertained. Therefore, the only "normal levels" that are truly normal for these substances (and not only in the blood which is the least sensitive of all tests) anywhere in the body is zero. (William Rea, M.D., "Chemical Sensitivity," - 1992, perhaps the world's expert on chemical sensitivity). ("Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, . . . from Treatments to Cure," Savely Yurkovsky, MD., a cardiologist who practices alternative medicine in New York and teaches licensed health professionals. In Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan. 2001)
The White House is warning that anthrax field tests - widely used since last fall's attack, give fast but often incorrect results, prompting authorities to shut down buildings prematurely and hand out unneeded antibiotics. "This equipment does not pass acceptable standards for effectiveness," said the memo from John H. Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy." ("White House: Antrax tests not reliable," Washington, The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 20, 2002)
An estimated 12 percent of Americans aged 65 and older have osteoarthritis of the knee, and the operation arthroscopic surgery for the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis is performed on about 650,000 people in the U.S. every year. This costs about $5,000 per procedure, for a total cost of $3.3 billion every year in the U.S. The report in the New England Journal of Medicine (July 11, 2002) said that this operation relieves the problem no more than a placebo. ("3 Billion Dollar Hoax," mercola.com - July 2002)
Anti-depressant drugs' greatest danger is their evocation of suicidal and/or homicidal feelings and behavior; both teenagers who attacked their fellow students at Columbine happened to be taking anti-depressants. Another danger from "feel-good" drugs is the creation of dependency or addiction. Psychiatry has badly mishandled depression in its all-consuming reliance on drugs as the first line of treatment. ("Drug Treatment for Depression is Dead Wrong," by Nathaniel S. Lehrman, the former Clinical director of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in Boston, NY. - in Red Flags Weekly, August 15, 2002) Editor's comment: other news items have made the statement that those people who have committed many of the horrendous crimes these past few years were on psychiatric drugs for depression.
The FDA continues to ignore the 70,000 confirmed cases of liver toxicity that occur annually from acetaminophen pain relievers as well as 70-100 deaths per year, while warning of the use of kava kava based on adverse effects. It is difficult to conclude that kava kava is the sole cause because the herb was used with prescription pharmaceuticals. Acetaminophen also increases the relative risk of kidney failure by 40 % when taking as little as 2 acetaminophen tablets per week and the risk of kidney failure increases 200% among individuals who take 1,000 or more acetaminophen pills over a lifetime (New England Journal of Medicine, 1994). ("FDA Chases Alleged Cases of Liver Toxicity From Kava Kava Herb While 70,000 Cases Of Liver Toxicity From Acetaminophen Are Ignored," BillSardi.com - Health Journalist, Jan. 2002). Editor's comment: This herb was also reportedly used by some in combination with alcohol as well as prescription drugs - these seem to be the culprits - - not the Kava Kava.
Vioxx, the drug approved by the FDA in May 1999, is prescribed for osteoarthritis pain, acute pain and menstrual pain. A rare side effect, aseptic meningitis, has developed in people taking Vioxx says the FDA. (Archives of Internal Medicine, March 25, 2002 on mercola.com - April 2002)
When testing for chemical sensitivities, a rat has 6 times the level of some detoxification enzymes so the rat would not be harmed as easily as a man. Also the symptoms from exposure to chemicals can be delayed for days or weeks which add to the frustration when trying to find cause and effect. The total body burden of any environmental stressors is never the same at any two moments, symptoms may not only fluctuate but may be inconsistent with exposure, therefore the 'double-blind" studies and repeated exposure trials are almost impossible to do. ("Exposure to chemical substances bears monitoring," Vital Signs health column, The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, June 2, 2002)
The warnings on the drug information profile for Nitroglycerin is to not drink alcohol nor take Viagra. (Pharmacy information -2002)
The researchers from Western Ontario in Canada discovered that grapefruit can interact with lots of medicines. About a decade ago they were looking into the effect of alcohol on Plendil (filodipine), a blood pressure medication, and almost by accident they discovered that grapefruit juice can almost triple blood levels of Plendil. It resulted in a number of side effects, including flushing, dizziness and general discomfort. Since then they have discovered lots of other medications can be affected by grapefruit including many other blood pressure pills; the anti-seizure drug, Tegretol, and an anxiety medicine called Buspar - even cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor, Zocor, and Mevacor.
Now Allegra, a popular allergy medicine shouldn't be taken with fruit juice. Allegra replaced Seldane because it was far less likely to interact dangerously with other drugs. Seldane was the first non-sedating antihistamine on the market - it too interacted with grapefruit and many other medications.
Scientists have now found that grapefruit juice, orange juice, and even apple juice reduced levels of Allegra circulating in the bloodstream, which means that Allegra will be less effective. So to maximize the effectiveness of this very popular allergy medicine, make sure you take it with water. (Public Radio - People's Pharmacy - June 22, 2002)
There are 169 million Americans taking prescription medications, and if they also include grapefruit in their diet they can be putting themselves at risk. Grapefruit may inhibit CYP3A for up to 72 hours. CYP3A, one of the natural substances in grapefruit inhibits the activity of one of the enzymes produced by the liver. As a result, the blood levels of some drugs are higher and stay in the system longer, which is dangerous and can increase the risk of side effects. Grapefruit is likely to hinder the mechanisms of many other substances as well. ("Grapefruit and Drugs: A Risky Combination," Health and Healing newsletter, Dr. Julian Whitaker, October 2002). Facts from Mayo Clin Proc 2000, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, University of Florida, 2000, Worst Pills, Best Pills, 2002.
Between 2 million and 3 million Americans - - mainly people with an abnormal heart rhythm, a history of strokes or an enlarged heart - - take warfarin (Coumadin) to keep their blood from clotting. However, the amount they need varies widely; some patients may require only 1 milligram a day, others 30 times that much says JAMA. Calculating the dose starts as a matter of trial and error - those with gene alterations may take about three months longer to get a stable dose than the others.
("Gene Mutations Can make Heart Drugs Go Haywire - Carriers may have deadly response to warfarin," HealthCentral.com - April 2002)
The public likes to believe that our hospitals and medications are safe. Medication reactions are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., and a JAMA study also tallied over 2 million severe medication reactions in the U.S. hospitals annually. However, the authors defined serious side effects narrowly, including only clear-cut reactions causing permanent disability, hospitalization, or death - they excluded side effects that disabled people for weeks or months, such as dizziness or sedation that caused automobile accidents or falls or broken limbs, side effects that require emergency interventions, and side effects that prolong hospitalizations or force people to miss work. Side effects from outpatients, which were the largest category of all were not even included. Relatively few doctors report reactions, which the FDA acknowledges, and it is estimated that only 1 out of 20 are reported or 250,000 yearly, which then makes the figure of 5 million medication reactions each year. The FDA has had to remove 10 prescription drugs (plus a vaccine and an anesthetic) within the past 4 years.
The intense, fast-paced competition of the medication marketplace, drug companies frequently conduct small but brief, insufficiently extensive studies on the dosages of new drugs - dosages that will be taken by millions of people. Fifty-one percent of approved drugs have serious side effects not detected prior to approval, says Dr. Curt Furberg of Wake Forest University. No wonder we have a side-effect epidemic. More than 128 million Americans take at least one prescription drug daily (46%), and most are long-term. In 1999 Americans purchased over 2-1/2 billion prescriptions costing an average of $50 each. The drug companies dominate the entire process of medication therapy - from early research to ultimate usage - - as few other industries control their products today. Drug company research and development often serves marketing strategies more than sound science or patient's safety.
The following facts are taken from JAMA, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Lancet: Drug companies can choose research studies designs that are more likely to produce favorable results rather than those designs that might provide more accurate results; drug companies can conduct multiple studies on new drugs, and then select and publish the most favorable ones while suppressing the rest (sometimes the favorable results have little to do with whether the drug will help patients); high profile experts place their name on drug company-generated articles although they have not participated in the studies and their financial connections with the drug companies are not disclosed.
The drug companies underwrite 70 percent of all medication research today, which gives them tremendous power over the entire medication research effort, including the threat of lawsuits or loss of future funding for physicians wanting to publish unfavorable findings. Many of the drug companies require researchers to sign confidential agreements before receiving funding, giving the companies the power to suppress findings they don't like. Academic medical institutions are growing increasingly beholden to the industry, and some have entered into partnership with drug companies to set up research centers and teaching programs, where students and faculty members essentially carry out industry research.
Drastic reductions in insurance and Medicare payments have placed great pressure on medical institutions and research physicians to accept the money - and terms - of the drug companies. The vast majority of everything the physicians and consumers read and know about medications comes from the drug companies, even the information in the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) comes from the drug companies. Most doctors turn to the PDR, the drug company representatives, and to advertising in medical journals, although the medication and dosage information is often biased, incomplete, and inaccurate. ("Over Dose: The Case Against the drug Companies: Prescription Drugs, Side effects and Your Health," Jay Cohen, M.D.,
on Mercola.com - Feb. 2002)
You need to be sharp to discern the truth from the hype, for T.V. ads have gotten larger, more blatant, and greater in number - - making all drugs look like a walk in the park on a sunny day. No mention of the serious side effects or high cost with a dismal response in most people. This is particularly true of Andrea Yates, the mother who drowned her 5 children. She was reported to have begun psychiatric drugs after her fourth pregnancy, ending up with many - - including Haldol, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Remeron, and several used in combination. There have been no studies ever done on the effects of various 'combinations' of drugs.
A quick check of Merke's website for Zorcor uncovers some frightening potential side effects, such as memory loss, hepatitis, and even liver cancer. This has led many top physicians to explore safer, more natural alternatives to expensive cholesterol drugs. (Bottom Line Yearbook, Feb. 2002)
Two days after starting the prescription drug Paxil, a husband killed his wife, daughter, and baby granddaughter - then himself. A jury awarded him more than $6 million in the case against the manufacturer. The case is now being appealed. None of these deaths will be tallied as caused by prescription drugs. In Europe there are warnings that come with the drug of severe and unpredictable thoughts and actions, including suicide and worse, but no such warning can be found on the American version of the same drugs. (
Editor's comment: There are reports that the 'shootings in the schools' and other violent happenings have been by those on similar medications)
The pharmaceutical industry claims that less than 10% of patients will have these horrifying thoughts - - a scary number even at this estimate. Yet other experts in the psychiatric field estimate that 75% of all people taking these drugs will suffer this side effect. And that is how the numbers are manipulated. The perfect example is the darling of the industry - Prozac. Even though Prozac has been of great help, prescribing to all women who get depressed is a disgrace, even though it is good for business. In one ten-year-Prozac reporting period, there were more than 75,000 adverse reactions reported to the FDA and 3,000 deaths. Medical experts, including the former head of the FDA, estimated that only 1% of Prozac's side effects are reported to the FDA. Even the data of Claritin's manufacturer shows it only helps about half of the people taking it. Drugs are often totally ineffective, they slaughter and kill in numbers the public cannot comprehend - especially when used in combinations, and they do not treat the cause. Even though the entire medical care puts drugs in the position of preferential treatment as the first line of defense against disease, they should always be reserved as the treatment of last resort. ('Pharmaceutical Drugs and the Truth Backlash," Dr. Bruce West's Health Alert, vol. 18, issue 12, 2001)
A study in the Sept. 22, 2002 issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), commonly prescribed antidepressants (those that have the greatest effect on serotonin, a brain chemical that helps to regulate emotion) may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly those who have already suffered GI bleeding or people in their 80s. One weakness of the study was that researchers had incomplete information on the participant's use of other medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, that might have contributed to the risk of bleeding. The consequences of GI bleeding can be serious - sometimes even fatal.
A report in the Dec. 12, 2002 issue of JAMA, suggests that millions of people 65 and older are taking 33 inappropriate drugs, drugs that cause unacceptable side effects. We need availability of safer more effective alternatives. (Focus on Healthy Aging, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine newsletter, February 2002)
Headlines: "Report: A Drug Could Help Treat Obesity," the drug is called bupropion SR, sold as Wellbutrin for depression, Zyban for nicotine addiction, and in a year long study, was shown to help reduce weight and keep it off when combined with diet and exercise, said Dr. James Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine. (About 51 million Americans are obese and another 61 million are overweight, according to the American Obesity Association. This study was paid for by the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline. (The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 11, 2002) Editor's comment: Note that diet and exercise are also used, which may be the reason for the weight-loss - yet the drug gets the credit, and when we see the study being sponsored by the drug company's manufacturer, red flags should go up!
There are studies that show aspirin may reduce breast cancer risk and other studies that show no reduction in breast cancer rates for women taking aspirin. (American College of Physicians' web site, Feb. 2002)
A study published in the British Medical Journal, which was a review of 15 studies found that antihistamines are ineffective against coughs. Even the standard cough suppressant dextamethorophen didn't score well. There is no good evidence for the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicine. (People's Pharmacy, public radio, Feb. 9, 2002)
It is customary for patients undergoing hip and knee surgery to be given an anticoagulant such as warfarin that helps to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is often fatal. Although warfarin greatly reduces the incident of DVT, about 2% will experience internal bleeding. Those who have eye diseases must be especially careful since they already have a tendency to retinal bleeding, and an anticoagulant on top of this could cause massive additional retinal bleeding, with sudden, permanent loss of vision. (Lancet, Sept. 2001, in 'Health Gazette' newsletter, Feb. 2002)
A report in the latest issue of the medical journal Opthalmology reports on a rare, but extremely serious side effect from Viagra - vision loss. In at least 7 cases, men have developed substantial and permanent vision loss in one or both eyes within hours of taking Viagra. People over 50 with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and people who smoke, are all at high risk for this condition called NAION ( nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). This develops when the blood supply to the front portion of the optic nerve is cut off, and its symptoms include blurred vision, loss of part of the visual field, swelling in the optical disc and multiple hemorrhages in the eye. In the drug's packaging there is a long list of potential side effects associated with the eyes. ("Fade to Black," Health Sciences Institute, March 2002)
Aspirin, Advil, and Motrin type drugs are available without prescription and may cause serious side effects. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, June 2000, found that the use of NSAIDs caused a greater than 10-fold increase in the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients with a history of heart disease. In those without a history of heart disease, the use of NSAIDs still increased the risk by 60 percent. The authors speculate that NSAIDs then are responsible for 19 percent of all hospital admissions. In addition to NSAIDs, other drugs such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers have also been shown to increase the risk of CHF. ("NSAIDs Cause 1 in 5 Heart Failures," mercola.com - Feb. 2002)
There have been several reports of heart attack, heart arrhythmia and even deaths that have been related to victims who were using Viagra. Men with unstable cardiovascular disease should not use Viagra, and these include history of heart attack or diagnosis of heart failure. Viagra can be dangerous for many. ("Study Confirms Viagra Risky To Those With Heart Disease," seniorhealth.about.com - Feb. 2002)
That traditional checkup isn't needed every year for many people, says Janet Allan, co-chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Also several often-recommended tests, such as prostate cancer screening or bone density tests, actually are controversial because of the mixed studies about their benefit. In fact, studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites only a handful of screenings -- for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol - - considered most essential. Doctors argue over just which bone test to use for bone-crippling osteoporosis, much less who needs it when. Allan, dean of nursing at the University of Texas, San Antonio, adds that testing isn't always the best preventive care, because most of America's leading diseases are relate to smoking, poor diet, little exercise and risky sexual practices. Yet a recent analysis by Georgetown University's Center on an Aging Society found only about half of adults were even asked about such risk factors during their last doctor's exam. Doctors are treating the problem when they counsel about proper weight, nutrition and exercise, says Dr. Edward Hill, a Tupelo, Mississippi, family physician and chair-elect of the American Medical Association's board. ("Medical panel says patients may not need much testing," AP, Washington, The Daily Progress, Feb. 19, 2002)
Here are some nutrient destroyers: aspirin destroys vitamin A, calcium, potassium, B complex and C; caffeine destroys vitamin B1, inositol and biotin, potassium and zinc, and prevents calcium and iron assimilation, chlorine in water destroys vitamin E; chocolate contains caffeine and it is very irritating to the kidneys - also high in fat, which can cause indigestion. Fluoride destroys vitamin C; sleeping pills destroy folic acid and vitamin D; nitrates/nitrites destroy vitamins A, C, and E; stress (whether physical, emotional and mental) depletes all vitamins; and menstruation requires extra iron, vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium. Sugar and white flour destroy B vitamins. (Candida Albicans, www.healing.about.com - March 2002)
A study showed that the drug metformin reduced the incidence of diabetes about 30 percent versus placebo, but lifestyle changes slashed the incidence rate by more than half - a full 58 percent. And although everyone cannot eliminate Type II diabetes through diet, weight loss and exercise, this may be the best approach for both prevention and treatment before trying drugs. ("Common Sense Approach To Treating Type II Diabetes," Health Sciences Institute e-alert, Feb. 2002, source: The New England Journal of Medicine - 2002)
" . . . . as a chemist trained to interpret data, it is incomprehensible to me that physicians can ignore the clear evidence that chemotherapy does much, much more harm than good." Alan C. Nixon, PhD, former president of the American Chemical Society. "To the cancer establishment, a cancer patient is a profit center. The actual clinical and scientific evidence does not support the claims of the cancer industry. Conventional cancer treatments are in place as the law of the land because they pay, not heal, the best." Lee Cowan, M.D., who also challenges us to 'wake up.'
Conventional cancer treatment represents a multi-billion a year industry, but their treatments in no way address the underlying causes of cancer. To have it become widely known that cancer can be successfully treated without toxic and profitable pharmaceuticals would be catastrophic for business. (mercola.com - March 2002)
In the Archives of Internal Medicine 2002, researchers from Yale reported that only 2 of the 59 trials examined reflected the general population. (Medical News Alert, ivanhoe.com - August 2002)
Estrogens: Premarin lowers folic-acid and B6 levels, which can raise blood homocysteine levels (elevated homocysteine is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Research has not found which nutrients are depleted by estrogens but one would assume it would be similar to those of birth control pills - lower levels of vitamins B1, B2, B4, B6 and C and the minerals zinc and manganese. These contraceptives also decrease blood levels of amino acids and increase levels of cholesterol and triglycerides - both risk factors for heart disease. Estrogens also raise glucose levels, which may predispose a woman to insulin resistance and diabetes, which further increase the risk of heart disease. Estrogens boost sodium levels and increase fluid retention.
What you can do: Take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement. If fluid retention occurs, mild herbal diuretics can help (celery seed or parsley). Consider using natural alternatives to estrogen-replacement therapy.
Glucose-Lowering Drugs: Metformin is commonly prescribed as an anti-diabetic drug, and this drug decreases folic-acid and vitamin B12 levels, thereby increasing homocysteine and the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The drug increases the risk of a fatal heart attack in diabetics more than diet alone or diet plus insulin.
Equally disturbing is that metformin is promoted as a "life-extension" drug, for folic acid and vitamin B12 help maintain normal DNA which may then result in an age-accelerating effect; it might even increase the risk of DNA mutations leading to cancer. Insulin, which is prescribed to type I diabetics, lowers the body's levels of potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. What you can do: increase daily intakes of B12 (500mcg) and folic acid (400mcg). Take a multimineral supplement that doesn't contain copper and iron.
Heart Drugs: Statins work by inhibiting the body's production of HMG-coenzyme A reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol production. This results in reducing the body's CoQ10, which is essential for energy production in cells, and low levels of this vitamin-like substance increases fatigue and the risk of heart failure and cancer. Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another cholesterol-lowering drug, also has disturbing side effects. It raises glucose levels, which increase the risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease, and reduces absorption of vitamins A, B12, D, E, K, and the mineral iron. Digitalis (Digoxin), a powerful heart stimulant, increases excretion of magnesium and potassium. Its long-term use should be closely monitored because a loss of these minerals can result in life-threatening arrhythmias.
What you can do: If you are taking statin drugs, be sure to take 100 mg of CoQ10 daily. If you are taking gemfibrozil, be sure to take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral formula. Although gemfibrozil reduces iron absorption, it is advisable to get an iron blood test before supplementation. If you are taking digitalis, be sure to take 400 mg of magnesium and 99 mg of potassium daily.
References for the above include:
- "Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook," 1999, Pelton, Lavalle, and Hawkins.
- "Dangerous Drug Interactions: The People's Pharmacy Guide," 1999.
- "Prescription for Disaster," Thomas Moore, 1998.
- "Food-Medication Interactions," ZM Pronsky, 1997.
- "Food and Drug Interactions, A Health-Care Professionals' Guide," 1992, GA Holt.
- Journal of Rheumatology, 25: 441-446, 1988. (from "Prescription for Disaster," Let's Live magazine, Jan. 2000)
A study in the March 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, examined the relationship between coffee consumption and the development of high blood pressure in over a thousand white men. It was not considered significant after allowing for risk factors for hypertension. Caveats - this study may not apply to women and other racial groups, it did not collect data on other sources of caffeine in the diets or other contributors to high blood pressure such as salt. ('Quick Study,' Washington Post Health, April 2, 2002)
New research suggests that some of the most widely used pain killers may delay healing of broken bone, Vioxx and Celebrex are among the culprits. Dr. Thomas Einhorn, Boston University's orthopedic surgery chairman, says he'd choose a mild narcotic over more common painkillers if he broke a leg. ("Some painkillers may slow healing of bones," Washington, AP, The Daily Progress newspaper, Charlottesville, Virginia, May 28, 2002)
Certain antidepressants increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. The theory is that the so-called genotoxic tricyclic antidepressants, including impramine (Tofranil) and clomipramine (Anafranil) may trigger genetic mutations that develop into tumors up to 15 years later. ('Certain antidepressants," Bottom Line Health newsletter, July 2002)
Full-page newspaper ads recently proclaimed that a new clinical study showed that 2 glasses of Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice every day can lower your blood pressure an average of 10 points. However, according to the study's primary investigator, Dennis Sprecher, M.D., head of preventive cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, it was an unpublished trial funded by Tropicana and too small (24 men and women). Since the study was not placebo-controlled, the lowering effect could be from other factors. ("Orange Juice Oversold?" Consumer Reports On Health, August 2002)
According to Prevention & Treatment July 15, 2002, seventy-five percent of the response to antidepressants is duplicated by a placebo. Data was analyzed for the 6 most widely prescribed antidepressants approved between 1987 and 1999 and were submitted to the FDA. ("Antidepressants Proven to Work Only Slightly Better Than Placebo," www.mercola.com - July 2002)
Antibacterial soaps may be spreading resistant bacteria: "Just buy standard soap," says Dr. Eli Perencevich of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass. He observed that anti-bacterial soaps should be reserved for the sick patients, not the healthy household. There is no scientific evidence that adding compounds like triclosan to household soaps prevents infections, the actual washing is the most important thing.
(38th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America New Orleans, Sept. 7, 2000) There are many studies that document the toxicity of triclosan. This is a chemical you and your family need to avoid. (Mercola.com - Dec. 2001)
For information about how we are deceived concerning vaccinations, see Vaccinations and Dr. Joseph Mercola's Optimal Wellness Center (use search box at top of page to find vaccination information).
For information about how we are deceived regarding breast cancer statistics, see Health and Politics.
National Center for Policy Research - CPR for Women and Families