Pharmacist-built clinical tool

Does My Medication Cause Nutrient Depletion?

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can lower your levels of important vitamins and minerals over time. Search your medication below to see what it may deplete — with evidence ratings and what to discuss with your pharmacist.

Medical content reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Last reviewed July 2026
971Medications
32Nutrients
8,447Depletion records
Your results

Potential nutrient considerations for your selected medication

1 medication checked · 2 nutrients with reported associations. These are talking points for your care team — not a diagnosis.

Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine

2 nutrient associations

POTASSIUM

Moderate Depletion

METHYLXANTHINES

Methylxanthines can decrease serum levels of potassium.
Methylxanthines like theophylline can reduce serum potassium levels, possibly by increasing intracellular uptake of potassium. Hypokalemia is most likely to occur after acute overdose of these drugs. However, reduced potassium levels can occur with therapeutic doses, and the incidence and degree of hypokalemia increases with increasing serum theophylline levels. Monitor potassium levels in people with other risk factors for hypokalemia. For information on foods that are rich in potassium, see our chart.
Taking Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine? Monitor for depletion; a supplement is needed for some patients. ⓘ
What Potassium does & food sources

Potassium keeps nerve signals, muscle contractions, and heart rhythm working normally.

Common food sources:

  • Bananas and citrus fruits
  • Potatoes and sweet potatoes
  • Beans and lentils
  • Tomatoes and leafy greens

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

What to discuss with your clinician

Potassium is routinely checked with basic blood work. If you take a medication associated with potassium loss (like some diuretics), ask your provider how often your electrolytes should be monitored.

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

Supplement considerations

Do not start potassium supplements on your own. Both low and high potassium can affect heart rhythm, and several common medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics) raise potassium.

Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance — supplements can interact with prescription medications.

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

Caution: Potassium supplementation can be dangerous in kidney disease or alongside potassium-raising medications — this is a decision for your prescriber, guided by lab results.

References (5)
  1. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  2. Crane J, Burgess CD, Graham AN, Maling TJB. Hypokalemic and electrocardiographic effects of aminophylline and salbutamol in obstructive airways disease. NZ Med J 1987;100:309-11. DOI
  3. Zantvoort FA, Derkx FHM, Boomsma F, et al. Theophylline and serum electrolytes (letter). Ann Int Med 1986;104:134-5. PubMed
  4. Braat MCP, Jonkers RE, Bel EH, Van Boxtel CJ. Quantification of theophylline-induced eosinopenia and hypokalamia in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacokinet 1992;22:231-7..
  5. Flack JM, Ryder KW, Strickland D, Whang R. Metabolic correlates of theophylline therapy: a concentration-related phenomenon. Ann Pharmacother 1994;28:175-9.. PubMed

GLUTATHIONE

Insufficient Evidence

ACETAMINOPHEN

Acetaminophen might deplete glutathione and decrease its therapeutic effects.
Chronic or excessive acetaminophen has been associated with low levels of glutathione. Usually a cysteine containing supplement is used to replenish glutathione. Cysteine is converted to glutathione in the body.
Taking Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine? Insufficient evidence to rate; clinical significance is not known. ⓘ
References (1)
  1. Herzenberg LA, De Rosa SC, Dubs JG, et al. Glutathione deficiency is associated with impaired survival in HIV disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997;94:1967-72. PubMed
Important

This tool is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. An association is not a diagnosis and does not mean a deficiency will occur. Always talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or supplement.

Disclaimer: This checker finds which nutrients might be depleted by prescription or over-the-counter medications. Each nutrient depletion issue is rated based on clinical significance. Use your own professional judgment prior to making clinical decisions.

© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center Licensed records refresh weekly · last updated July 3, 2026.
Understand the basics

What drug-induced nutrient depletion means

Some medications can, over time, lower the levels of certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients — through reduced absorption, increased loss, or changes in how the body uses them.

Association is not deficiency

An entry here means a depletion has been reported or studied — not that it happens to everyone, or that you are deficient. Dose, duration, diet, and your own health all matter.

Evidence varies by pair

Some drug–nutrient links (like metformin and vitamin B12) are well studied; others rest on limited or preliminary research. Each entry shows the evidence rating from our licensed clinical database.

When to ask about labs

If you take an associated medication long-term, ask your healthcare provider whether monitoring is appropriate for you. Not everyone needs testing — your provider can weigh your dose, duration, and symptoms.

Don't self-supplement blindly

Supplements are not risk-free: some can interact with medications, and some (like potassium or magnesium) can be risky with kidney disease. Talk to your pharmacist before adding anything.

Never stop a medication over this

These medications are prescribed for good reasons, and the benefit usually far outweighs a manageable nutrient consideration. Any change belongs in a conversation with your prescriber.

Food first, usually

For many nutrients, a varied diet covers the gap. Each entry lists common food sources; a supplement is a decision to make with your pharmacist or provider, not a default.

Common questions

Nutrient depletion FAQs

Can medications really deplete nutrients?
Yes — some medications can lower levels of certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients over time, by reducing absorption, increasing loss through the kidneys or gut, or changing how the body uses them. Well-known examples include metformin (vitamin B12) and proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole (magnesium and B12). How much it matters varies a lot between medications and between people.
Does an entry in this checker mean I am deficient?
No. An entry means a depletion has been reported or studied with that medication — it does not mean it happens to everyone, or that it has happened to you. Dose, how long you have taken the medication, your diet, and your overall health all influence the actual risk. Think of the results as conversation starters for your pharmacist or doctor, not a diagnosis.
Should I take a supplement if my medication appears here?
Not automatically. Supplements are not risk-free — some interact with medications (for example, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc can reduce absorption of certain antibiotics and thyroid medication), and some can be risky in kidney disease. The better first step is usually to ask your healthcare provider whether testing or dietary changes make sense for you.
What labs should I ask about?
It depends on the nutrient. Some, like vitamin B12, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, and sodium, have routine blood tests; others, like CoQ10, are not usually tested in everyday practice. Each nutrient entry in this tool notes what is commonly discussed. Your provider can decide whether testing is appropriate — routine testing is not necessary for everyone.
Can supplements interact with my medications?
Yes — that is one of the main reasons not to start supplements blindly. Interactions can change how much of a medication your body absorbs or how it works. You can check specific products and ingredients against your medications with our drug–supplement interaction checker, and confirm anything important with your pharmacist.
Where does this information come from, and how is it reviewed?
The depletion records come from the Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) database — an evidence-graded clinical reference used by pharmacists and clinicians — and are displayed as published, with their evidence ratings and citations. The surrounding plain-English education is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists.

Not sure what your results mean?

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Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Nutrient depletion records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database, and are displayed as published with their citations. The plain-English education is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.