When you take prescription medications, they may negatively affect your nutritional intake and health in various degrees. Medication may cause you to lose or gain appetite. It may alter the way food tastes to you and affect the way your body can absorb and process nutrition. They also may require that you go on a special diet. It's important to stay nutritionally well-balanced while dealing with prescription medications.
Medications May Decrease Your Appetite
Your food intake may be affected by the medications you take. These medications can decrease your appetite and food intake. Examples of medications that might do this include Azulifidine, for treating rheumatoid arthritis; colchicine, for treating gout; Tylenol with codeine, for coughs and colds; tamoxifin and other cancer treating agents; digitalis, for treating heart failure; Diabinese, for treating diabetes; Lasix, for reducing excess water weight; Tegretol, for seizures; and Prozac, for depression.
Medications May Increase Your Appetite
Some drugs may cause you to gain an appetite and may cause unwanted weight gain. They may even be prescribed to help you gain weight. They include mirtazapine or generic name Remeron, an anti-depressant; some antihistamines, for nasal allergies; steroids such as prednisone, for inflammation; diazepam, for anxiety; some birth control pills; Marinol, for malnutrition; and lithium, for bipolar disorder.
Malnutrition May Be an Unwanted Side Effect of Medications
Malnutrition can occur with certain medications that alter the way your body absorbs and processes what you eat. Laxatives increase the time food is in your intestine and can lead to calcium and potassium losses. Certain ulcer medicines decrease your absorption of B-12, and a deficiency can occur. Certain antibiotics can lead to diarrhea, causing losses of potassium, sodium, and zinc. Coumadin, which is a blood thinner and certain foods and vitamins may alter each other's effectiveness. Ask your doctor about a diet sheet on foods you need to avoid when taking Coumadin.
Keep a Normal Nutritional Intake with Medication Use
You can maintain a normal nutritional intake when taking medications by becoming educated on the interactions between the medications and foods. Get this information in a written or electronic form so you won't forget. Improve your intake by snacking, eating what looks, smells, and tastes good to you, and by relaxing at meals. Avoid deficiencies by taking vitamin supplements if that is recommended by your doctor. Avoid weight gain by limiting fried and fatty foods, excess snacking and by increasing your activity level.
References
- Physician's Desk Reference of Medication Side Effects
- Krause's Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy, 10th Ed. L. Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump, 2000
