Arthritis
Arthritis Medications Side Effects
Mar 11, 2016It’s bad enough that you feel your joints creak, scrape and ache from osteoarthritis. If it is the rheumatoid form of the disease, the swelling and burning can really tire you out mentally and physically too. Then, you learn that the prescription medicines you are taking could deplete vital nutrients from your body, making you susceptible to further health problems! What can you do?
Be Informed
For one, you can look at various nutritional and herbal supplements that can help you reduce your pain and need for medication. Of course, you need to work with your doctor for this, but you should know about the options you have. Begin by looking at what vital nutrients you might be losing due to your medications and how you can put them back.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Often seen by most of us as being “relatively harmless,” this category includes everything from the simple Aspirin to the more sophisticated Cox-2 inhibitors. Cox-2 inhibitors, touted as the new “safe” kid on the block, are now known to increase cardiac risk. In her book, Supplement your Prescription, Hyla Cass, M.D., says, “We know now that the newer Cox-2 inhibitors are all likely to increase cardiovascular risk.” Further, NSAIDs can deplete folic acid, vitamin C, iron, potassium and sodium from the body. This depletion could lead to a range of symptoms, namely:
- Cervical dysplasia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Easy bruising
- Irregular menstrual bleeding
- Anaemia
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Irregular heartbeat
- Poor reflexes
- Muscle weakness
- Continuous thirst
- Nerve disorders
- Muscle weakness
- Poor concentration
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
Supplements that you’ll need for restoring the lost nutrients:
- Folic acid: 200–800 mcg
- Vitamin C: 60–12,000 mg
- Iron: 10–50 mg
- Potassium: 60–99 mg
- Sodium: 1–3 g
Corticosteroids
They work by suppressing the immune system. Many people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints) are prescribed corticosteroids. But, the relief is temporary and there are serious side effects. So, even doctors use them with care. Corticosteroids can deplete calcium, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc.
When you lose these nutrients, you could face any number of the following symptoms:
- Muscle cramps
- Heart palpitations
- High blood pressure
- Brittle bones
- Tooth decay
- Insomnia
- Cervical dysplasia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Irritability
- Irregular heartbeat
- Poor reflexes
- Muscle weakness
- Continuous thirst
- Nerve disorders
- Sore muscles
- Destructive changes to the heart and pancreas
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Easy bruising
- Chronic pain (osteomalacia)
- Delayed wound healing
- Decreased immunity
- Depression
Supplements that you’ll need for restoring the lost nutrients:
- Calcium: 800–2,000 mg
- Folic acid: 200–800 mcg
- Magnesium: 400–1,000 mg
- Potassium: 60–99 mg
- Selenium: 50–200 mcg
- Vitamin C: 60–12,000 mg
- Vitamin D3: 200–800 IU
- Zinc:10–50 mg
Analgesics
They work by interrupting the pain signal but do not remove the underlying inflammation. They have many side effects as well. The nutrients they deplete include the body’s master antioxidant – glutathione – and vitamin B9, also known as folic acid.
Supplements that you’ll need for restoring the lost nutrients:
- Glutathione: 500–2,000 mg
- Folic acid: 200–800 mcg
One Way to Do Things
Please note that while you may choose to supplement the various vitamins, minerals and other elements individually, a good quality multi-vitamin may already include these.
But, don’t just grab the first multi-vitamin that catches your eye online/at the store. Look for a high-quality product with the least amount of fillers and additives that comes at a good price. The old saying “The most expensive supplement is the one that does you no good” holds true even today.
Know more about our Programs:- Bounce Back from PCOD, Naturally
Mahesh is a hormone health counsellor & holistic health expert. He has a Mastery Certification in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis from the US, is certified in Functional Nutrition from Washington State University and uses a wide array of healing modalities to guide his clients to vibrant health and well-being.
Latest posts by Mahesh Jayaraman (see all)
- Getting Pregnant: Your Foundational Health is Most Important - February 15, 2022
- Getting Pregnant after 35 – You CAN do it! - February 1, 2022
- Fertility Testing for Men and Couples Decoded - January 29, 2022
