When the Treatment for the Treatment Can be Hazardous to Your Health

A mainstream pharmaceutical company is now touting their prescription acid-reducing medication as a treatment for the side effects of their prescription pain-killers. What they neglect to tell you is this secondary treatment can be hazardous to your health as well.

White Hills, AZ (PRWEB) June 26, 2005 -- A mainstream pharmaceutical company is blitzing the airwaves promoting yet another solution to one the side effects of their popularly prescribed pain medications. Targeting seniors (the biggest consumers of pain meds), the manufacturer of the acid-reducing drug promises their product will protect users from the most dangerous potential side effects of painkillers -- stomach ulcers and bleeding. Absent from their ads is any information about a serious risk associated with this secondary treatment.

In an apparent trend, pharmaceutical fortunes are now being enlarged by creating antidotes for the side effects of other popular medications they manufacture. A built-in, self-perpetuating stream of sales seems guaranteed for the pharmaceutical industry while seniors scramble to pay and take ever greater risks with their health. The average senior uses six prescription medications a day and some take as many as 20, putting their complete faith in the latest (and costliest) drugs on the market.

Consumers should be aware, however, that there are potentially serious side effects from this seemingly benign class of acid-reducing medications. In addition, the prolonged use of acid-reducers will have a broader impact than pain killers, appealing as they do to all segments of the adult population. That danger is Vitamin B-12 Deficiency and it is very real.

A Vitamin B12 Q&A
What is vitamin B-12?
Vitamin B-12 is an important vitamin that you usually get from your food. It is mainly found in meat and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 helps make red blood cells and keeps your nervous system working properly.

Vegetarians who do not eat meat or dairy products are at risk for low vitamin B-12 usually about two years after they become vegetarians. Senior citizens with tea and toast" diets can also be at risk. However, most people who have low vitamin B-12 are not strict vegetarians or light eaters. Most people with low vitamin B-12 levels have trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 from their stomach or small intestines.

What can cause problems with absorbing vitamin B-12?
The following are some things that can cause problems with absorbing vitamin B-12:
- If you have a disease called pernicious anemia, it can destroy the cells in your stomach that help you absorb vitamin B-12.
- If you use medicine for heartburn and ulcers for a long time, you may have trouble absorbing vitamin B-12.
- If you have had surgery on your stomach or your intestines (for example, surgery for an ulcer), you may have trouble absorbing vitamin B-12.

What happens if my vitamin B-12 level is low?
You might not have any symptoms if your vitamin B-12 level is just a little bit low. However, a very low vitamin B-12 level can cause anemia, depression, dementia or a serious problem with your nervous system.

Some people with low vitamin B-12 also have high levels of homocystein, an amino acid (a building block of protein) in the blood. If you have both of these problems, you may have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Can I just take one multivitamin pill every day to raise a low vitamin B-12 level?

No. Multi-vitamins do not contain enough vitamin B-12 to raise a low level. To get enough vitamin B-12, you will need to take vitamin B-12 supplements.

You can also get shots of vitamin B-12. Usually, these shots are given every one to two days for about two weeks. After this a shot is given once every month.

Research has shown, however, that in most instances oral B-12 is just as effective as costly and painful intramuscular injections. We recommend that oral B-12 be the treatment of choice in the majority of patients with B-12 deficiency."

- Robert C. Oh, CPT, MC, USA, U.S. Army Health Clinic, Darmstadt, Germany; David L. Brown, MAJ, MC, USA, Dept. of Family Practice, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA

How long will I have to take Vitamin B-12 pills or get the shots?
Most people with low vitamin B-12 use the supplements or get the shots for the rest of their lives.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
This Q&A can be found in its original printable form at:
http://www.familydoctor.org/765.xml

According to American Family Physician," a peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians (March 1, 2003):
The true prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in the general population is unknown. The incidence, however, appears to increase with age. In one study, 15 percent of adults older than 65 years had laboratory evidence of vitamin B12 deficiency. The nearly ubiquitous use of gastric acid-blocking agents, which can lead to decreased vitamin B12 levels, may have an underappreciated role in the development of vitamin B12 deficiency. Taking the widespread use of these agents and the aging of the U.S. population into consideration, the actual prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency may be even higher than statistics indicate. Despite these facts, the need for universal screening in older adults remains a matter of controversy."

- Robert C. Oh, CPT, MC, USA, U.S. Army Health Clinic, Darmstadt, Germany; David L. Brown, MAJ, MC, USA, Dept. of Family Practice, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA

Dr. Oh and Dr. Browns report, published in the March, 2003 American Family Physician" can be found on the web at the following addresses:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html (website)
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.pdf (as a PDF)

Karen Green is the former owner and publisher of a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania. She currently writes training and researches internet marketing for AutomaticBuilder, which promotes Nutronix International, a global wellness network. They are currently offering a 30-day supply of Sublingual (oral) B-12 free ($2.95 S&H) with a free 30-day get acquainted" membership in the AutomaticBuilder/Nutronix business. Her website, http://www.wowreport.com offers a brief overview of this opportunity. In addition she offers the Nutronix products (including Sublingual B-12) at wholesale at her website, http://www.myb12biz.com

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