Shoppers with heart health problems may come to their retailers looking for natural product help, but before they leave, advise them some supplements may interact with prescription meds.
Practicing chiropractors and co-owners of eMedFX.com Todd Mexico, DC, and Brandon Blood, DC, take a look at one of the most widely prescribed prescription drugs, Lipitor, and possible natural supplements that may affect the its intended action in a To Your Health. The statin drug is the most commonly prescribed medication for high cholesterol levels, they wrote.
They start by naming a few supplements that can enhance Lipitor’s health benefits. The amino acid L-carnitine may provide a synergistic lipid-lowering property when combined with statin drugs, they wrote. Garlic (Allium sativum) may also increase Lipitor's effectiveness because it contains certain compounds (s-allyl-cysteine (SAC), s-ethyll-cysteine (SEC), and s-propyl-cysteine (SPC)) that inhibit the production of cholesterol in the liver. Omega-3 fatty acids may improve lipid profiles when combined with statins as well, due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, low selenium levels have been linked to hypercholesterolemia; so they write increasing selenium levels could therefore reduce the risk of high cholesterol.
They go on to offer two supplements that Lipitor users may want to avoid, or at least not take in conjunction with the drug. Magnesium may interfere with Lipitor's absorption, they wrote. They added too much vitamin B3 (niacin) may lead to an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis (rapid breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream) when taken with Lipitor.