Hi, everybody:

I would like to know if there can be interactions between medications and vitamins / minerals from foods, drinks, and pills, that would cause either the medications or vitamins / minerals to become ineffective.

My medications are:
-Duragesic (fentanyl)
-MSIR (morphine sulfate)
-Tambocor (flecaïnide)
-Inderal (propranolol)
-Keppra (levetiracetam)
-Klonopin (clonazepam)
-Actonel.

Thanks for your answers.

Here is a good drug interactions checker....it is the most complete accurate one I have found yet:

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

It also gives food interactions with each drug.

My medications are:
-Duragesic (fentanyl)
-MSIR (morphine sulfate)
-Tambocor (flecaïnide)
-Inderal (propranolol)--this depletes CoQ10
-Keppra (levetiracetam)
-Klonopin (clonazepam)
-Actonel.

I looked up this list in the reference I use, and only the Inderal had a depletion of significance. CoQ-10 is not found in foods, your body makes it. So over times this may be depleted by the drug.

CoQ10 is available in supplement form

Hi kittycapucine,

-Duragesic (fentanyl)
-MSIR (morphine sulfate)

Not exactly an interaction per se, but since depletion has been mentioned, opioids (and chronic pain itself) can suppress hormones in the pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis which can result in depletion.

Doc

Yes, one can supplement CoQ10. We've had threads about it here. Just use the search function, to find them. Type "CoQ10"
without the dash that sometimes is seen with it.

If you decide to supplement this, choose a good brand and one that claims to have enhanced absorption. If money is no object you can choose Ubinquinol which is a new form, and effective at lower doses.

When people get depleted in this substance by using a medication, it is typical to need a high dose of about 300mg a day. Ubinquinol can lower that to 100mg a day, but it tends to cost more. This supplement is needed for muscle energy production, especially the heart muscle.
Many drugs deplete this, including statins, diuretics, oral sulfonylureas (sugar control), tricyclic antidepressants, and the older antipsychotics.

CoQ-10 is not found much in foods.

This link gives more details and a list of foods--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10

We don't typically eat chicken, beef or pork hearts, which are typically the highest dietary source.

Hi, mrsD:

Thanks for the link. I will register to be able to use this site, which seems to be a very interesting one.

Hi, GaryA:

I will try to find CoQ10 in supplement form in a pharmacy. Are there foods that contain CoQ10? Thanks for the information.

My memory is sooo bad I had forgotten mrsD just mentioned CoQ10 cannot be found in food.

Hi, Dr. Smith:

Quote: "Not exactly an interaction per se, but since depletion has been mentioned, opioids (and chronic pain itself) can suppress hormones in the pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis which can result in depletion."

Do you have a link to the documents that mention this? I read everything I can find on opioids to be better educated about this type of medications, considering I will have to take them for the rest of my life because nothing else works against my severe chronic full body RSD pain.

Do you know if opioids, which I will have to take for the rest of my life because of my severe chronic full body RSD pain, can suppress hormones in the thyroid and cause hypothyroidism?

Thanks for the information.

Hi, mrsD:

Quote: "If you decide to supplement this, choose a good brand and one that claims to have enhanced absorption. If money is no object you can choose Ubinquinol which is a new form, and effective at lower doses." I often shop at Costco because one can buy vitamins and minerals in bulk. Do you know if the brand you mentioned is available there? Otherwise, what would you recommend?

Quote: "When people get depleted in this substance by using a medication, it is typical to need a high dose of about 300mg a day. Ubinquinol can lower that to 100mg a day, but it tends to cost more. This supplement is needed for muscle energy production, especially the heart muscle." What about CoQ10 Plus (I see a lot of ads about it on TV)? Is it good?

Quote: "We don't typically eat chicken, beef or pork hearts, which are typically the highest dietary source." I used to eat these types of food with salad, but since I have generalized internal RSD, my appetite is cut off and I do not want to eat ANY food, even the foods I usually enjoy. Forcing myself to eat makes me gag and throw up.

Thanks for the links and all the information you provided.

You ate Chicken hearts, Beef hearts, and pork Hearts on salads?

The TV one if it is this one:
Is way overpriced for what you get...and not a high dose either.
http://www.integratedhealth.com/shop...p?idproduct=27

Stay away from TV type products as they are usually not a good value etc.

This is an example of a quality CoQ-10 with Q-sorb to enhance absorption.
http://www.puritan.com/coenzyme-q-10...2092?NewPage=1

This sale at Puritan's has 2 more days before they change the prices to buy 2 get 3 free.

This 200mg would be a good start for you at once a day. You could also take 2 a day if you want. It is not harmful.
I often use Puritan's and find they work really well.