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On Prescription Meds? 10 Recommended Supplements

1) If you are taking a cholesterol medication known as a "statin" or an "HMG-CoA Reductase" drug, you should consider taking Co Enzyme Q10 at about 100mg twice daily.

2) If you have taken antibiotics, always consider therapeutic dosages of probiotics (about 50-450 billion live cells) in order to replenish the friendly bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. This way, you can avoid stomach upsets, diarrhea, clostridium difficile infection (known as C-Diff), as potential side-effects of taking antibiotics.

3) If you are on the birth control pill, consider Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCL) at about 100mg/day. Oral contraceptives have been associated with Vitamin B6 depletion and clinical depression from reduced vitamin B6 levels.

4) When taking large or repeated doses of Tylenol, consider taking N-Acetyl Cysteine. This reduces the side-effects of the Tylenol and helps the liver to clear it out of the body.

5) Anti-Inflammatory medications known as NSAIDS (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs -- for example IBUPROFEN/NAPROXEN) reduce pain and inflammation associated with joints but can cause ulcers of the stomach. Taking a 350mg chewable Deglycyrrhizeinated Licorice tablet with Aspirin or your NSAID medication can reduce bleeding/irritation of the stomach.

6) When taking antacids you may need to take extra Iron and B12 since hydrochloric acid is needed for the absorption of Iron and B12 and is subsequently depleted when taking antacids. This is also important since if someone has had an ulcer, has lost blood and iron then they may need extra iron.

7) Take 5mg of Folic Acid daily if you are taking prescription Methotrexate.

8) When taking Colchicine for gout, B12 levels may decrease. Consider taking B12 at 1000mcg daily.

9) Digoxin used to treat Congestive Heart Failure, reduces levels of Magnesium and Potassium. Consider taking 100mg of each to remedy this.

10) Loop Diuretics (ie. Furosemide) can cause depletion of potassium and magnesium and vitamin B1. Speak to your doctor to see if you need to take an electrolyte mixture to remedy a potential deficiency in any of these vitamins and minerals.