Some medicines deprive the body of important nutrients, so you can recognise and prevent deficiency symptoms.

 

Many medications not only do good in the body, but can also cause long-term damage to health if they take away vitamins and nutrients from the body. Here you will find a list of medications with their negative effects on the body, what symptoms they cause and how you can best prevent them.

Antibiotics

An antibiotic destroys pathogenic bacteria in the body, but also destroys beneficial intestinal bacteria. This often results in diarrhoea. Diarrhoea, in turn, flushes nutrients out of the body without being absorbed by the intestines, which leads to immune deficiencies. Above all, however, the intestine cannot produce vitamin K without the necessary intestinal bacteria.

To rebuild the intestinal flora, you should eat yoghurt or kefir with dextrorotatory lactobacteria (L+) every day. To compensate for the lack of vitamin K, you should eat foods rich in vitamin K, such as sauerkraut, Brussels sprouts, spinach, wheat bran, oatmeal and butter.

Antidepressants

An antidepressant can lead to deficiencies in selenium, zinc and B vitamins. The body needs selenium for the production of thyroid hormones. A lack of selenium can lead to hypothyroidism. 

Brazil nuts, tuna, sardines, wholemeal products and oatmeal contain particularly high levels of selenium.

Zinc deficiency leads to poor wound healing and weakening of the immune system. Zinc is found particularly in red meat, liver, fish, cheese, cereals and oatmeal.

Long-term use of antidepressants can also lead to a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid. Vitamin B12 can be obtained from meat, fish and eggs. Vegans should take a vitamin B12 preparation from the pharmacy. Folic acid is found in cabbage, spinach, bananas and wholemeal products.

Cholesterol-lowering agents

Taking cholesterol-lowering medication can lead to a deficiency of the vitamin coenzyme Q10, which is important for cell formation. One symptom of a deficiency is the death of cells. 

The vitamin coenzyme Q10 is found in chicken, fish, eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges and strawberries.

Stomach acid inhibitors

People who frequently suffer from heartburn alleviate their symptoms with antacid medication that neutralises excess stomach acid. This makes iron absorption more difficult and iron deficiency can lead to headaches, dizziness and tiredness.

Beef, spinach, beans and apricots are particularly rich in iron.

Insulin

Insulin can lead to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is necessary for muscle relaxation. Typical magnesium deficiency symptoms are high blood pressure, heart problems and muscle cramps. Green vegetables, sesame seeds and bran contain a lot of magnesium. 

Metformin

The drug metformin, which many diabetics take, deprives the body of vitamin B12. The vitamin is important for nerve regeneration. A lack of vitamin B12 often leads to tingling in the arms and legs.

In addition to vitamin B12 supplements, the body can obtain the vitamin from animal products such as meat, fish and eggs.

Contraceptives

Long-term use of the contraceptive pill can lower vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. You can get folic acid from bananas, cabbage, spinach and wholemeal products. Vitamin B12 is mainly found in meat, fish and eggs.

Blood pressure lowering agents

Medication for high blood pressure is known to cause potassium deficiency, but can also lead to zinc and magnesium deficiency. The best way to prevent potassium deficiency is to eat bananas. Good sources of magnesium are green vegetables, sesame seeds and bran. Cheese, ripe red meat, fish and seafood help against zinc deficiency.