Continuing the momentum

2017 has been a busy year for me with the pharmacology course taking place in Manchester, Wakefield and London. Alongside this I have been busy with my regulatory work for the pharmaceutical council and guest lecturing at several conferences. 2017 has also seen my nutrition clinic steadily grow which is set to continue into 2018.

In 2018 I am very much looking forward to continuing the momentum gathered during 2017 and have added some new venues for the pharmacology course this year with Oxfordshire and the Midlands being added to the list. I have also had many requests to deliver a course on supplementation and plan to deliver this during Spring/Summer next year. If anyone is interested in this course and would like to suggest what content you would like to see within it please get in touch by emailing the office or debbie@naturalbalancehealth.co.uk.

pharmacology medication drugs

Navigating the Medication Minefield

Many of us will have worked clients who want to improve their health and wellbeing and who also take a number of prescribed medications. We often have a clear idea of what supplements may be beneficial but how confident are you in checking that these supplements are safe to recommend?

Consider the following questions:

What is the definition of an interaction?

An interaction is a reaction that can occur when two or more substances are combined. These reactions can include increases or decreases in effect, or increased need for specific nutrients.

Sometimes a client’s symptoms are a side effect of their medication and this is often overlooked by their GP. For example, Simvastatin depletes the nutrient CoQ10 causing muscle pains and fatigue. Supplementing with COQ10 can reduce this in many clients.

How do I know how serious an interaction is?

The severity of an interaction is based on a number of factors including:

1. What the drug is used for;
2. How it is metabolised by the body;
3. How wide is its dosage range and where the prescribed dosage falls in this range;
4. What are the effects of the interaction on the body as a whole?

An example of this would be folic acid and Pregabalin. Pregabalin reduces levels of folic acid leading to deficiency but interacts with Pregabalin increasing frequency of seizures in epileptics. However most Pregabalin is prescribed for pain and this is therefore not a concern and folic acid can be taken safely.

What can I do if my protocol interacts?

You need to look at the nature of the interaction and consider this alongside the aims of your protocol. Ask yourself: what is the aim of the protocol and what benefits will it offer? Can you work with the patient’s GP to come up with a plan to monitor and adjust medication alongside the protocol or is this not an option? Can you achieve the same effect through food as this will sometimes avoid the interaction? Communicating with GPs can sometimes seem scary but at the end of the day if you can explain yourself clearly they will often listen to what you have to say.

What resources are available?

There are many sources of information aimed at varying levels of knowledge from layperson to medical professional. Some sources are more reputable than others and some just have the most basic of information. Examples include manufacturer data sheets to specific reference books and websites.

Do you want to learn more?

Debbie Grayson’s course, Basic Pharmacology and Drug Nutrient Interactions, is aimed at practitioners at all levels who recommend supplements to clients.

The aim of this unique one-day workshop is to understand more about which supplements are safe to use with prescribed medication and how drugs interact with the body.

This course is recognised by the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and provides 7 hours CPD towards therapists’ annual accreditation and certification is provided.

Debbie has over 20 years experience working as a pharmacist and is just coming to the end of a diploma in naturopathic nutrition. She aims to share her extensive knowledge through practical examples to ensure all participants increase their confidence in safely recommending supplements to complex clients.

Upcoming courses:

Testimonial
‘I have attended Debbie’s drug interaction course and it was a real revelation. As a health practitioner you will come across clients who are taking different medications on a regular basis. How to proceed here can be really tricky and you need to know exactly what you can safely do to help them and where you get into dangerous territory. This course has really opened my eyes and now I know exactly where to find the crucial information and what to do with it. I am so glad I went and I highly recommend this course to anybody who is working in the health industry.’

Stefanie Thomas – CHEK Practitioner II, HLC II, CMTA, PN Nutrition Coach, Fitness Instructor, ICF ACC

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