Taking supplements can support overall health, pharmacists say they can also interact with medications, potentially affecting their effectiveness, causing adverse reactions.
They noted, for example that taking Vitamin D with thiazide diuretics, which are antihypertensive medications, may reduce their efficacy, increasing the risk of uncontrolled blood pressure and stroke.
The pharmacists further warned against combining antibiotics with ‘blood tonic’ or supplements containing iron.
Hypertension, commonly called, high blood pressure is the persistent rise in the pressure of blood vessels.
According to the World Health Organisation, hypertension is a serious medical condition that can raise the risk of heart, brain and kidney diseases among other ailments.
While the WHO notes that one in four men and one in five women have hypertension globally, 11 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria are due to cardiovascular diseases.
Several studies have reported that self-medication and non-adherence to drug regimens are common medication misuse problems in Nigeria.
The studies further noted that these have led to poor health outcomes and adverse drug reactions.
Supplements are vitamins, minerals or botanical materials taken to improve or maintain normal health.
A Consultant Pharmacist and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Merit Healthcare Limited, Lolu Ojo, said supplements are also taken in times of stress, heavy workload or physical exertion.
He explained that since most disease conditions induce stress, supplements can be taken to augment the natural body’s supply of vitamins and essential minerals.
He, however, noted that not all supplements and medications are compatible.
The American Food and Drug Administration noted that combining dietary supplements and medications could have adverse and life-threatening effects.
It stated that drugs for HIV/AIDs, heart disease, depression, treatments for organ transplants, and birth control pills are less effective when taken with a particular herbal supplement.
“In Mist-Mag (an antacid), we have magnesium and when taken with tetracycline, it can cause what is called complex, which means that it would allow the antibiotics to be well absorbed.
“So, supplements that contain magnesium and metallic radicals are not to be taken with some antibiotics. For instance, ciprofloxacin should not be taken with supplements containing metallic radicals because it would be complex and this will make the drug not to be well absorbed and reach the minimum effective concentration.
SOURCE punchng.com
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