The FDA comes very close to recommending a supplement to offset drug side effects

I love this one, so I’ve just got to share it again.

Yesterday I told you about some of the dangers linked to proton pump inhibitor drugs (such as Prevacid, Nexium, and Prilosec).

Now, as adverse side effects go, most people would probably think of magnesium deficiency as fairly low on the list compared to potential PPI side effects that directly impact quality of life, such as nausea, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, swelling of the face, seizures, etc.

But you can be sure that FDA scientists know that a depletion of magnesium might actually be the root cause of any of those side effects and more.

So kudos to the FDA (yes, I said it) for launching an investigation that examined case histories of PPI users who ran low on their magnesium levels.

Now, rewind to winter, one year ago, and we’ll look at a key sentence that was included in the FDA warning…

“In approximately one-quarter of the cases reviewed, magnesium supplementation alone did not improve low serum magnesium levels and the PPI had to be discontinued.”

Okay, first: That’s how severe the magnesium deficiency can become when using a PPI.

But second: Look at the important detail hidden in that sentence: In approximately three out of every four cases, magnesium supplementation improved low magnesium levels, even when pitted against a drug that lowers magnesium.

If ANY drug produced a solid 75 percent success rate for something so CLEARLY beneficial, while causing zero side effects, you can bet the pharmaceutical industry would be hailing it as the wonder drug of the 21st century.

Dr. Spreen recommends 500 mg daily of this amazing “wonder drug.”

Source:
“FDA Drug Safety Communication: Low magnesium levels can be associated with long-term use of Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs (PPIs)” FDA Safety Announcement, 3/2/11, fda.gov