Pharmacy

The Iatrogenic Injury Page
A Chiro.Org article collection
Read about iatrogenic injury and death following standard medical care.

Incidence of Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalized Patients
JAMA 1998 (Apr 15);   279 (15):   1200–1205 ~ FULL TEXT
Although the abstract quotes no numbers in the text, the body of the article states “that more than 2 million Americans become seriously ill every year from reactions to drugs that were correctly prescribed and taken, and that 106,000 Americans die annually from those side effects.” (emphasis added)   A related JAMA Editorial in the same issue also states that “ADRs may be the fourth to sixth leading cause of death, and that drug-related injuries occur in 6.7% of hospitalized patients.”

A Practical Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion
Nutrition Review ~ October 2011
A little known, but potentially life-saving fact is that common medications deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. In this practical guide I’ll show you how to avoid drug-induced nutrient depletion and discuss options for replacing nutrient-robbing medications with natural supplements.

Recognizing Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion in Chiropractic Practice
The American Chiropractor ~ November 2009
Detrimental effects of drugs on nutrition status are a common occurrence but, because they usually occur over time (vs. what is considered an adverse event or allergic reaction, which occurs quickly), they are seldom recognized or corrected. Chiropractic treatment, however, takes place over a much longer time frame. Because of this, doctors of chiropractic are in a unique position to recognize the interactions of medication and nutritional status and, if knowledgeable in the area of drug induced nutrient depletion, they have an opportunity to help their patients recover nutritional adequacy and restore metabolic homeostasis.

Does the Pharmaceutical Model Still Hold Water?
Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals (January 2003)
After several years as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, Jean Nordström questioned that approach to human health, so he started his own natural ingredients company. Here he considers the role of both paradigms in improving human health.

Turning the Tables on Drug Interactions
As vitamin supplements and herbal remedies move to the mainstream, health care professionals are closely monitoring the interactions between natural products and drugs. However, understanding such biochemical interactions is no easy task. Vitamins and herbs clearly complicate the existing problems of drug interactions. Medical journals that are addressing vitamin, herb and drug interactions are using the watchword "caution" for those clinicians prescribing natural products in conjunction with pharmaceuticals.

36 Percent of Acute Liver Failures Are Linked to Acetaminophen
U.S. News & World Report July 2, 2001
Mixing the pain reliever acetaminophen with alcohol can be hard on the liver; but so can taking it while fasting. Yet, surprisingly, many doctors don't tell you that.

Don’t Chase Aspirin With Ibuprofen: It Can Block the Heart-protecting Effects of Aspirin
The popular pain reliever ibuprofen blocks the heart-protecting effects of aspirin, according to a new study (NEJM 2001 (Dec 20):   345 (25):   1809-1817). The results, if confirmed, would have major implications for millions of people who take a small dose of aspirin every day for their hearts, but who also take ibuprofen, widely known in North America under the brand names Advil and Motrin, to cope with conditions such as arthritis.