Pharmaceutical Nutrient Depletion

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:

1. 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).

2. 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).

3. 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...