Rationale of Taking Over- the –Counter Medications, Herbals, and Nutrition
Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Introduction
Self-medication is currently acknowledged as an essential component of self-care. Most people use, amongst other things over the counter (OTC) drugs, herbs, and nutritional supplements such as seeking complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Defined as medication that is sold directly to the consumer without a physician’s prescription, OTCs are encouraged by some governments but only for minor illnesses (Adams, Holland & Urban, 2014)(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease). The sale of OTC contrasts with prescription medicine for which a valid healthcare practitioner’s prescription note is required for the pharmacist to sell the drug demanded by the client. The trend of using OTC is widespread in the US, and while the threat of self-medication is not significant, it raises the chances of illicit drug use. Furthermore, critics point out that the unregulated uses of OTCs suppress the underlying signs and symptoms, thus increasing the incidence of complications as a result of delayed diagnosis, resistance to drugs, and treatment failure(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease). However, while this may be the case, proponents of their use, just like herbal medication use, nutritional supplements use, and complementary alternative medicine has benefits and consequences as well (Baars et al., 2019). Consequently, this essay examines a list of herbal medications as well as vitamins and minerals, often taken by patients. The paper outlines the rationale of taking each medication, the potential benefits and consequences of using them in addition to the drugs they might interact with. The paper also examines acupuncture as a type of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and the use of nutritional supplements for children with sickle cell disease.(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease)
List of 10 Herbal Medications, The Patient’s Rationale of Taking Each Benefit and Consequences (Sparnakis et al., 2019)
|
Herbal medication |
The rationale for its use |
Benefits |
Consequences |
Drugs interaction |
1 |
Black cohosh |
Contains triterpene glycosides |
Relief gynecological problems |
Increase the risk of breast cancer. |
Inhibit CYP3A4 based drugs. |
2 |
Gynura | Purported to improve microcirculation by Chinese. (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Relieve pain |
hepatic toxicity, weight gain |
Inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme. |
3 |
Aconite | Stimulates then paralyzes pain nerves. (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Relieve pain caused by migraine, rheumatism |
Can result in arterial or ventricular fibrillation |
Interfere with heart disease medication |
4 |
Tetradine |
Treats hypertension and angina |
It lowers plasma glucose. |
It is contraindicated in liver and kidney problems drugs. | |
5 |
Echinacea |
Stimulates immune system |
Prevents infections |
Nausea, dizziness, dyspnea, etc. |
Potentiate the hepatotoxic effects of other medications like statins |
6 |
Hawthorn |
Has positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects, | Hawthorn has been reported to control CHF as an adjunct treatment (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Concomitant use can increase the risk of thromboxane biosynthesis. |
It is contraindicated in CHF medications. |
7 |
Ginkgo |
Used to treat cardiovascular disease, impotence, and inner ear insufficiency | Believed to alleviate cognitive abilities in dementia with no scientific evidence. | Concurrent use of ginkgo with antiplatelet and anticoagulants increases the risk of bleeding. (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Decreases the effectiveness of nicardipine. |
8 |
Grapefruit |
Dietary intervention to lose weight. |
It can improve cardiovascular health. |
Can result in hypotension |
In post-menopausal women, grapefruit may increase the risk of breast cancer. |
9 |
Garlic |
Has an antimicrobial and immune –improving property. |
Lowers cholesterol and other antiatherosclerotic | Increase the risk of bleeding for patients using anticoagulants(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease). |
Should be discontinued in patients taking warfarin or aspirin. |
10 |
Ginseng |
Immune system stimulant enhancing vigor, longevity, and sexual potency. |
Has been used to treat diabetes | Ginseng abuse can cause diarrhea, behavioral changes, and hypertension. (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Interferes with digoxin assay |
10 Vitamins and Minerals, Rationale for Taking Them, Benefits, Consequences, and Possible Drug Interactions (NHS, 2017; El Hama et al., 2015)
|
Vitamin or mineral |
Rationale for use |
Benefits |
Consequences |
Drug interactions |
1 |
Water-soluble vitamins Vitamin B1 or thiamine |
Needed for energy metabolism | No sufficient evidence to show the impact of high doses, i.e., above 1mg in men or o.8 mg in women. (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
No known drug interaction | |
2 |
Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin |
Part of an enzyme needed for metabolism |
Improves normal vision and skin health | The required daily requirement in men 1.3 mg and 1.1 in women (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
No sufficient evidence to show drug interaction |
3 |
Vitamin B3 or Niacin |
Part of an enzyme needed for metabolism |
Needed for the nervous system, skin health, and digestive system |
Above daily doses of 16.5 mg in men and 13.2 mg in the woman can lead to skin flushes and liver damage. |
No sufficient evidence. |
4 |
Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine |
Part of an enzyme |
Needed to make DNA and new cells like red blood cells |
Exceeding 200mg of Vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy. |
No sufficient evidence to show its effect |
5 |
Vitamin B12(or Cobalamin |
Part of an enzyme |
Needed to make new cells | If not enough the individual can have vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
No sufficient evidence |
6 |
Vitamin C( ascorbic acid) |
Part of an enzyme |
Antioxidant needed for protein metabolism |
Large amounts like 1000mg per day can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and flatulence |
No sufficient evidence. |
7 |
Fat-Soluble Vitamins Vitamin A |
The successor of beta carotene |
Needed for vision, healthy skin, and bone and teeth formation. |
Taking too much or above 1.5 mg per day can lead to weak bones. |
Contraindicated in pregnancy |
8 |
Vitamin D |
Required for proper calcium absorption |
Instrumental in strong bones | Taking more than ten micrograms a day can cause hypercalcemia (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
May inhibit kidney and heart medications if in excess in the body. |
9 |
A major mineral sodium |
Required for proper fluid balance |
Improves nerve transmission and muscle contraction | Exceeding the standard 2.4 g of sodium can cause high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
Contraindicated for those taking blood thinners. |
10 |
A trace or minor mineral iron |
Part of a molecule hemoglobin | Improve oxygen transportation and immune (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) | Doses of iron above 20 mg a day can cause constipation, vomiting and stomach pain (Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease) |
No sufficient evidence |
Acupuncture – A Type of Complementary alternative Medicine in Treatment of Hypertension
In healthcare, complementary and alternative medicine is a term that describes medical products and practices that are deemed not to a part of the standard medical care. They include but are not limited to massage, tai chi, tasking green tea, and acupuncture. I this section, the current paper explores the benefits of using acupuncture, which entails sticking fine solid needles into selected body locations called acupuncture points ) to treat hypertension. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these needles are 32 to 36, and with 365 acupuncture points, both illness and wellness result from yin and yang imbalance. Yin describes the feminine aspect of life nourishing protective and yielding while Yang, its male counterpoint, is hard, dominant, and creative. Qi, which is the movement within these two forces, is a requirement. Zang, Shen & Wang (2014) determined that acupuncture can be an alternative treatment for a patient who is unable to tolerate anti-hypertensive agents’ side effects. Their case report involved a 56-year-old man with hypertension and anti-hypertensive drug side effects. The side effects included diarrhea, fatigue, and decreased sexual function. Due to these effects, the patient asked for acupuncture sessions where for 12 weeks, he attended the acupuncture sessions, each lasting 30 minutes 5- 6 times a week. By the end of the 12th week, the patient no longer suffered from side effects proving the benefits of using acupuncture to prevent hypertension and avoid the use of hypertensive drugs. In their conclusion, these researchers correctly observed that based on the patient outcomes, intensive acupuncture could positively impact decreasing blood pressure, particularly if reinforced with appropriate medication and effectively succeed in eliminating anti-hypertensive drug side effects.(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease)
Nutritional Supplement in the Treatment and Management of Sickle Cell Disease
Have looked at how OTC, herbal medications, vitamins and minerals as well as acupuncture to represent CAM play their part in helping an individual regain their health, the last section of this paper examines how nutritional supplement of calcium-rich foods and antioxidants to contain increased erythrocyte hemolysis and long term anemia. Sickle cell disease (SCD) occurs as a result of gene mutation wherein low oxygen setting the substitution of a single amino acid leads to polymerization of hemoglobin molecules making the individuals have sickle cell anemia. Boadu, Ohemeng & Renner (2018) aver that most of the SCD children in Sub Saharan Africa face experience malnutrition yet dietary intake rich in calcium. As a significant mineral, calcium is recognized for strengthening the bone for erythropoiesis, thus making it a vital nutrient to the SCD patient. Food sources rich in calcium include daily products supplemented with leafy green vegetables. After meeting the Calcium nutrients, even the antioxidants lie Vitamins C and E were also met, and the patients’ outcomes also improved. Despite this, there is a need to conduct further research to more concrete evidence on how nutritional deficiency is a complication of SCD and therefore alleviate the pain in sickle cell anemia.(Comprehensive Essay on the Use of Nutritional Supplements for Children with Sickle Cell Disease)
References
Adams, M., Holland, N., & Urban, C. (2014). Pharmacology for nurses: A pathophysiologic approach (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc
Baars, E. W., Zoen, E. B. V., Breitkreuz, T., Martin, D., Matthes, H., Schoen-Angerer, T. V., & Willcox, M. (2019). The contribution of complementary and alternative medicine to reduce antibiotic use: A narrative review of health concepts, prevention, and treatment strategies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019.
Boadu, I., Ohemeng, A., & Renner, L. A. (2018). Dietary intakes and nutritional status of children with sickle cell disease at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Accra–a survey. BMC Nutrition, 4(1), 33.
El Alama, H., Filali, H., Rahmoune, I., Tazi, A., & Hakkou, F. (2015). Impact of drugs on Vitamins. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 7(12), 1-4.
Spanakis, M., Sfakianakis, S., Sakkalis, V., & Spanakis, E. G. (2019). PharmActa: Empowering patients to avoid clinical significant drug-herb interactions. Medicines, 6(1), 26.
Zhang, L., Shen, P., & Wang, S. (2014). Acupuncture treatment for hypertension: a case study. Acupuncture in Medicine, 32(1), 73-76.