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The Side Effects Bible: The Dietary Solution to Unwanted Side Effects of Common Medications

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This important book describes the side effects of common medications and their dietary solutions. To use this book first find the generic name of the drug you are researching. Then search the index to learn of the medication, its possible side effects, which nutrients it destroys, and the supplements and foods you can use to negate its effects. Then discuss what you've learned with your physician to make sure the nutrient won't interfere with other drugs, worsen a medical problem, etc.

Chapter 1 tells of an example of "nutrient robbery" which can be responsible for the side effects from many medications (p.3). Many common drugs interfere with your ability to digest, absorb, transport, metabolize, synthesize, utilize, or excrete vitamins, mineral, and other vital substances. Examples are given (p.4). Certain drugs increase the rate of excretion of nutrients from the body, and cause the side effects (p.5). Even a small deficiency can be dangerous, such as vitamin C and calcium (p.6). Statin drugs for high cholesterol require their use for a life-time (p.7), and this can harm the heart (p.8)! Common antibiotics can be dangerous thieves of nutrients (p.10).

Chapter 2 discusses various nutrients, what they do for you, and the problems caused when you lack them. They tell what drugs cause their loss. Did you know of the side effects of sodium bicarbonate (p.25)? Broccoli is high in chromium (p.29). Aspirin interferes with iron, too much iron can cause diabetes, cirrhosis, and heart damage (p.41). Many antibiotics can cause a loss of nutrients such as niacin (pp.49-50), potassium (pp.54-55), riboflavin (p.57), and thiamine (p.65). Aspirin interferes with vitamin C (p.75).

Chapter 3 lists all the drugs with what they do, possible side effects, and their nutritional depletions. You should refer to this chapter if you are taking any medications, or have done so in the past.

This is the best book o the subject I've ever read!! Many thing a knew from selected peer reviewd papers, were confirmed in this book and nowhere else, for examplo, that omeprazol would decrease the absorption of betacarotene, zinc, B6 and others...

In an age where self-treatment based on information gleaned from the internet is becoming the norm, this book is a perfect helper to have in your home. We've all seen the pages long printouts of instructions, warnings, side effects, etc., that come with any prescription we received. And I'm sure you've also noticed that if a medication is over the counter (aka OTC), there is much, much less of this information. With many people turning to complementary tactics to treat themselves along with what their doctor may prescribe, it is incredibly important to understand how the pharma drugs, supplements, herbs, drops, tinctures, lotions, and even foods interact within your body.

The Side Effects Bible is a great source to start comparing any products you put into or onto your body for health reasons. It describes which items counteract each other, thereby making the dose of each medicine you took useless. Or it states how taking a certain supplement with a certain herb can cause side effects like hallucinations. Many patients may also not tell their doctor what other items they are using in addition to the ubiquitous multi-vitamin. This lack of honesty could cause serious side effects if your doctor prescribes a medication that can cause death when mixed with a certain herb. Purchase this book to do some research and education yourself on how (ugh..I hate to use the word "scary") dangerous it can be to mix and match all of the things we put into our bodies because we think they are helping us.

Use this book as well when asking your doctor about holistic or complementary therapies to whatever regimen you may currently be on. Not all are firm believers in any treatment outside the realm of pharmaceuticals, and therefore may not understand or be aware of some of the more dangerous side effects. Others may be glad to assist you in finding a more natural, non-chemical way of treating you. In any event, even if you do only take a multi-vitamin with anything else your doctor may prescribe, this book is indeed for you. You'd be amazed at what can and cannot be taken at the same time as that safe looking little vitamin.

This is an excellent resource for anyone in medicine or anyone who is on pharmaceutical drugs. Many health care workers don't have the time to review all the implications & side effects of the myriad of drugs on the market with patients so this book helps anyone who wants more information on how drugs deplete certain vitamins, minerals in the diet as well as physical side effects of the prescribed drugs & what to do about.

THE first four drugs I wanted to look up were not in here!!!!!!! Common ones. I checked spellings, etc., NOTHING, NADA. The other disappointment is how little is provided about the drawbacks of drugs, info that is easily available at this point for years. I speak most especially about Prozac as an example. Nary a word about the horrendous reputation this drug now has...

I rarely think about actually returning a book, but I thought seriously, several times, about returning this one. So much potential, so much need for facts, and so very skewed in its presentation. Major bummer, authors... Don't bother buying a new one; get it as cheaply as possible so you can invest in things that give you wider base of info also.....

And oh BTW, the drugs I looked up are NOT new, as this book is 2005 (e.g. Welbutrin, Claritin). Want to clarify that.