Herbal Supplements

[grange102000]

l have a vitamin D deficiency and doctor recommended getting Vitamin D supplement l also take K2' Milk Thistle, Cod Liver Oil, zinc, vitamin b12, will they clash with my Metformin.

I also take medicine for high blood pressure and statins so am not sure whether l should stop taking my herbal supplements any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mikeyB]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

Couple of comments: first, why doesn't your doctor give you a prescription for Vitamin D if you are deficient? Bit cheeky telling you to buy it.

Second, if you are eating a normal healthy diet with plenty of veg and some meat protein, you don't need the supplements, whatever the manufacturers of these things say. They certainly won't affect your Metformin, but some of these herbal supplements can affect some blood pressure medications.

In fact, a recent study reported in New Scientist found that people who took extra vitamins in the belief that they would be healthier ( as opposed to those with proven deficiency) died, on average, earlier than people who didn't take them. Though this is undeniably true, nobody knows why this should be so.

 

[DeusXM]

Couple of comments: first, why doesn't your doctor give you a prescription for Vitamin D if you are deficient? Bit cheeky telling you to buy it.

Because vitamin D is like £2 for a 3-month pack to individuals, but likely costs more to the NHS in the same way we've got the issue of paracetamol being charged back to the NHS. I admire the sentiment that the NHS should mean none of us have to pay for treatment and hope for the day when that's a possibility, but right now I would feel uncomfortable with the idea of taking money that could be used to pay for cancer drugs (or even Libre sensors?) to pay for something that is probably pocket change for most of us.

 

[grovesy]

Me and my son take anti histamine every day they only cost me £ 4-60 for 60 in the Chemist, so I am more than happy to buy them rather than get on prescription.

 

[mikeyB]

Hmm. I take paracetamol for my arthritic hip, because I can't take NSAIDs. I get them on prescription mainly because prescription paracetamol are a higher dose, but also I get a pack of 100. You can only buy 16 at one go. That wouldn't last me a weekend.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Hmm. I take paracetamol for my arthritic hip, because I can't take NSAIDs. I get them on prescription mainly because prescription paracetamol are a higher dose, but also I get a pack of 100. You can only buy 16 at one go. That wouldn't last me a weekend.

Sorry to derail this thread but are you having regular liver and kidney function checks? Paracetamol is the worst drug to OD on. 8 a day is the maximum but it worries me that you take this every day?

 

[Ljc]

What with one thing and another I've cost the NHS a lot of money since May last year and am continuing to do so. To save them a little , I know it's only a drop in the ocean but I buy my low dose Aspirin and paracetamol.

 

[AJLang]

Sorry to derail this thread but are you having regular liver and kidney function checks? Paracetamol is the worst drug to OD on. 8 a day is the maximum but it worries me that you take this every day?

I take six Cocodamol a day and was relieved to be told this year that both my kidneys and liver are completely healthy.

 

[mikeyB]

Sorry to derail this thread but are you having regular liver and kidney function checks? Paracetamol is the worst drug to OD on. 8 a day is the maximum but it worries me that you take this every day?

I take paracetamol because of the damage to my kidneys done by NSAIDs. I'm fully aware of the maximum safe dose. I've seen people who have od'd on paracetamol. It's a truly horrible, slow way to die if you can avoid admission to hospital.

And like Alison, my liver and kidney function are completely normal, so don't worry. I'm getting a new hip soon anyway, so I'll be able to stagger around with my motor neuropathy completely pain free.🙂