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JOHANNA666
If Anybody Cares Is Call Simply Naural In Sunrise.:d
There Is A Store In Sunset Strip That Has Great Natural Supplements For The Heart
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K
Karlynn
It's my opinion that no one should be taking "natural" supplements unless they are cleared by their doctor to do so. My husband's favorite comment when he hears that something is "all natural" is that arsenic is also natural, so is a snake venom. Please be very careful with supplements and even 10 times more careful when you already have medical issues.
We have gone through discussions of a large number of natural heart aids in these forums. Some were cleared for use by "highly educated, fully-certified naturopaths," but turned out not to be safe for many valvers when we actually looked the ingredients up.
Many natural heart medicines are not advisable with Coumadin use, as they affect clotting time, but may not register in an INR measurement. As an example, many people know that feverfew and white willow/pussywillow bark contain salicylic acid (the main anticlotting ingredient in aspirin). However, salicylates are also found in cinnamon, curry, cayenne, thyme, oranges, raspberries, apricots and cherries. In their normal forms, there is not enough to make any difference to you at all. But concentrated in pill form (like the newly popular cinnamon extract), they may have enough to make a difference in your clotting time.
Others natural compounds are incompatible with common, heart-related prescription medications (like Coenzyme Q10 and beta blockers).
Still others are recommended in potentially deadly ways, such as a suggestion that fish oil (which does slightly increase clotting time) can be taken in lieu of warfarin. It cannot. It doesn't provide protection anywhere in the range that's needed for even minimum safety.
That's not at all to say that natural products lack any value, or that they're all dangerous. The thing to take away from this is that you should not take any natural medicines if you don't know all the ingredients, and you should look up the ingredients of any natural medicine you are going to take before using it.
I suggest one change in what people usually do first when they have a question about medications. Instead of contacting your doctor, contact your pharmacist first. They know a lot more than your doctor or his staff knows. A lot more. Armed with their information, you are much better informed when you do go to discuss it with your doctor.
Don't trust the opinion of anyone who is selling natural products, at least until you have a proven a track record over time through double-checking their recommendations by looking them up yourself. Being in the business they're in, they'll have run into enough phonies themselves (there are a lot of them in the industry). If they're as knowledgeable as they say they are, they will understand very well why you would want to look the ingredients up yourself before taking them, and they won't resent you verifying their purchasing suggestions.
Best wishes,
Many natural heart medicines are not advisable with Coumadin use, as they affect clotting time, but may not register in an INR measurement. As an example, many people know that feverfew and white willow/pussywillow bark contain salicylic acid (the main anticlotting ingredient in aspirin). However, salicylates are also found in cinnamon, curry, cayenne, thyme, oranges, raspberries, apricots and cherries. In their normal forms, there is not enough to make any difference to you at all. But concentrated in pill form (like the newly popular cinnamon extract), they may have enough to make a difference in your clotting time.
Others natural compounds are incompatible with common, heart-related prescription medications (like Coenzyme Q10 and beta blockers).
Still others are recommended in potentially deadly ways, such as a suggestion that fish oil (which does slightly increase clotting time) can be taken in lieu of warfarin. It cannot. It doesn't provide protection anywhere in the range that's needed for even minimum safety.
That's not at all to say that natural products lack any value, or that they're all dangerous. The thing to take away from this is that you should not take any natural medicines if you don't know all the ingredients, and you should look up the ingredients of any natural medicine you are going to take before using it.
I suggest one change in what people usually do first when they have a question about medications. Instead of contacting your doctor, contact your pharmacist first. They know a lot more than your doctor or his staff knows. A lot more. Armed with their information, you are much better informed when you do go to discuss it with your doctor.
Don't trust the opinion of anyone who is selling natural products, at least until you have a proven a track record over time through double-checking their recommendations by looking them up yourself. Being in the business they're in, they'll have run into enough phonies themselves (there are a lot of them in the industry). If they're as knowledgeable as they say they are, they will understand very well why you would want to look the ingredients up yourself before taking them, and they won't resent you verifying their purchasing suggestions.
Best wishes,
Adrienne
Well-known member
tobagotwo said:
I take CoQ10 and a small dose of beta blockers. My cardiologist (as well as my surgeon) are aware of all the medications and supplements I take and have not said anything about it. Maybe, as you said, I should check with my pharmacist. However, I would like to know why they are not compatible. Do you know? All I know is that the tiny dose of Metroprolol helps to bring my heart rate down and that my heartbeat is very regular. I also feel great!
PJmomrunner
Well-known member
...and the potency of those natural supplements is not necessarily uniform even between bottles of the same supplement from the same supplier.
I stay away from the supplements. Risky, very risky. At best a waste of money; at worst, lethal.
Pegasus
Well-known member
Adrienne,
this is what I found:
Beta Blockers: e.g. atenolol (Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL?), propranolol (Inderal®)
Beta-blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
The same is said of ACE inhibitors.
Before my husband's surgery (mitral valve repair) the surgeon wanted his BP 100 to 110. Pre surgery (the 2 months waiting time) my husband took Coversyl and Q10 together to keep the BP low. We never thought of asking the pharmacist - it took me a while to find a doctor to have it okayed. Most didn't know. Post surgery he just takes Q10 (although he waited till he was off Coumadin) His BP has been great since repair last May.
this is what I found:
Beta Blockers: e.g. atenolol (Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL?), propranolol (Inderal®)
Beta-blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
The same is said of ACE inhibitors.
Before my husband's surgery (mitral valve repair) the surgeon wanted his BP 100 to 110. Pre surgery (the 2 months waiting time) my husband took Coversyl and Q10 together to keep the BP low. We never thought of asking the pharmacist - it took me a while to find a doctor to have it okayed. Most didn't know. Post surgery he just takes Q10 (although he waited till he was off Coumadin) His BP has been great since repair last May.
Adrienne
Well-known member
Well, that makes me feel better because taking both Metroprolol (12½ mg twice daily) and 60 mg CoQ10, my blood pressure is usually 120/80.
I'm going sing my refrain again about drug information: Go to your pharmacist first. My experience has been that doctors and their staffs, including cardiologists, are generally not thoroughly knowledgeable about drugs insofar as their side effects and interactions. Yes, discuss with your doctor, but understand that drugs and interactions are a pharmacist's specialty, not a doctor's. Go to your doctor armed with the information you get from your pharmacist, and you will be able to participate in the discussion, instead of just listening and nodding your head dubiously.
CoQ10 is ubiquitous in the body, but adding CoQ10 from external sources is not synonymous with having it created from within. Here are some thoughts about how taking an external source of CoQ10 may affect you...
CoQ10 lowers INR for warfarin/Coumadin users. You can dose the diet, but you should be aware of the effect, especially when you first start taking it.
Pegasus mentioned the issue with combining CoQ10 supplementation with some blood pressure medications: it can enhance their effectiveness unexpectedly, making you liable to dizziness or fainting.
As far as its interactions with beta blockers (such as Atenolol or Metroprolol) and statins (such as Lipitor or Zocor): both beta blockers and statins perform part of their work by slowing down or interfering with some chemical interactions that CoQ10 assists. Sometimes this results in lower bodily CoQ10 levels (especially with statins). The question in play is whether it helps to add more CoQ10 and boost the body's level back up, or whether adding CoQ10 interferes with the actions of the drugs.
Even the Mayo Clinic cites a likelihood that CoQ10 can cause "small decreases in blood pressure." However, there is a caveat to using that statement as a generalized proclamation, inthat it is a small decrease, and the studies indicate it does so primarily in people who have a CoQ10 deficit, similar to its benefits to those with heart failure and low CoQ10 levels. There far less evidence that it has any effect on people who have normal levels of CoQ10.
As far as other claims, Mayo doesn't seem to find the science compelling at this time. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/NS_patient-coenzymeq10
Thank you,
CoQ10 is ubiquitous in the body, but adding CoQ10 from external sources is not synonymous with having it created from within. Here are some thoughts about how taking an external source of CoQ10 may affect you...
CoQ10 lowers INR for warfarin/Coumadin users. You can dose the diet, but you should be aware of the effect, especially when you first start taking it.
Pegasus mentioned the issue with combining CoQ10 supplementation with some blood pressure medications: it can enhance their effectiveness unexpectedly, making you liable to dizziness or fainting.
As far as its interactions with beta blockers (such as Atenolol or Metroprolol) and statins (such as Lipitor or Zocor): both beta blockers and statins perform part of their work by slowing down or interfering with some chemical interactions that CoQ10 assists. Sometimes this results in lower bodily CoQ10 levels (especially with statins). The question in play is whether it helps to add more CoQ10 and boost the body's level back up, or whether adding CoQ10 interferes with the actions of the drugs.
Even the Mayo Clinic cites a likelihood that CoQ10 can cause "small decreases in blood pressure." However, there is a caveat to using that statement as a generalized proclamation, inthat it is a small decrease, and the studies indicate it does so primarily in people who have a CoQ10 deficit, similar to its benefits to those with heart failure and low CoQ10 levels. There far less evidence that it has any effect on people who have normal levels of CoQ10.
As far as other claims, Mayo doesn't seem to find the science compelling at this time. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/NS_patient-coenzymeq10
The other thing about CoQ10 that you should remain aware of: like many chemical compounds manufactured by the body, its levels are also regulated by the body. When levels are being supplemented from the outside, internal production slacks off to an extent. Studies have shown that a period of low CoQ10 levels results when people stop taking CoQ10 suddenly, before the body adjusts and begins to manufacture the dirrerence again. So if you're going on vacation, you should bring it with you. If you're fickle about medications, consider if this is a good supplement for you.
Thank you,
Adrienne
Well-known member
I have read that Japanese doctors actually prescribe CoQ10 to their patients on statin drugs since the statiins do something to deplete the natural CoQ10 in the body.
