The Wall Street Journal (2/29 ) reports that there is increasing evidence that over-the-counter nutritional supplements may interfere with a host of prescription drugs for a variety of common conditions.

“The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding a number of programs around the country to study potential adverse interactions that can occur between so-called natural products and prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and even small molecules in food. The risks are especially high for cancer and surgery patients and those on heart and blood-thinner medications, which have what’s known as a “narrow therapeutic range,” or small differences between beneficial and toxic doses.”   (WSJ excerpt)

Blogfinger Medical Commentary.  Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC

This revelation is not surprising.  There is too little known about the supplements that so many people use.  The complimentary gurus often quote “research” which is of poor quality. The FDA doesn’t deal with such over-the-counter supplements, so nobody is watching for evidence of benefit or toxicity that may result from such treatments.

When doctors take a medical history they usually ask about prescription drugs, but they rarely inquire about supplements.  Before you take a supplement, especially if you are on prescription drugs, do some research online to look for possible interactions.  You can ask your doctor, but he probably knows nothing about it.

I think most supplements that make people feel better either have mild pharmacological effects or they work because of the placebo effect, a powerful force that makes phony doctors rich.  And don’t forget that supplements which are supposed to have no side effects  (“Try it, it can’t hurt”) may actually be dangerous under certain conditions as described in the  article above.

There is a very interesting book, Do You Believe in Magic–an easy read–written by a physician  (Paul A. Offitt. MD) regarding over-the-counter supplements.   Subtitle:   “The sense and nonsense of alternative medicine.”

THE HIT CREW:  (This is about a totally natural remedy which helps keep a doctor in bed at night)