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.
Potential nutrient considerations for your selected medication
1 medication checked · 3 nutrients with reported associations. These are talking points for your care team — not a diagnosis.
FOLIC ACID
Moderate DepletionAMINOSALICYLIC ACID
Aminosalicylic acid can reduce dietary folate absorption, worsening folate deficiency often seen with active tuberculosis, or preventing reversal during treatment. Megaloblastic anemia occurs rarely, and usually with other contributing factors such as concurrent vitamin B12 malabsorption. Advise patients being treated for tuberculosis to take folic acid supplements if their dietary folate intake is low. For information on foods that are rich in folate, see our chart.
What Folic acid (folate) does & food sources
Folate is needed for cell division, red blood cell formation, and healthy fetal development.
Common food sources:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Beans, lentils, and peas
- Fortified grains and cereals
- Citrus fruits
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
What to discuss with your clinician
Ask your provider whether folate monitoring or supplementation is appropriate for you — this matters most before and during pregnancy, and with long-term use of certain seizure or arthritis medications.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Supplement considerations
Folate needs are individual. With some medications (for example, methotrexate), folic acid is often prescribed deliberately on a specific schedule — follow your prescriber's instructions rather than adding your own.
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: High-dose folic acid can mask vitamin B12 deficiency, so the two are often evaluated together.
References (6)
- Klipstein FA, Berlinger FG, Reed LJ. Folate deficiency associated with drug therapy for tuberculosis. Blood 1967;29:697-712. DOI
- Thompson JB, Hess DR, Poley JR, et al. Intestinal malabsorption induced by paraminosalicylic acid (abstract). Gastroenterology 1970;58:1001.
- Line DH, Seitanidis B, Morgan JO, Hoffbrand AV. The effects of chemotherapy on iron, folate, and vitamin B12 metabolism in tuberculosis. Q J Med 1971;40:331-40.
- Evans DI, Attock B. Folate deficiency in pulmonary tuberculosis: relationship to treatment and to serum vitamin A and beta carotene. Tubercle 1971;52:288-94. PubMed
- Halsted CH, McIntyre PA. Intestinal malabsorption caused by aminosalicylic acid therapy. Arch Int Med 1972;130;935-9. DOI
- Longsreth GF, Newcomer AD, Westbrook PR. Para-aminosalicylic acid-induced malabsorption. Am J Dig Dis 1972;17:731-4. PubMed
IRON
Moderate DepletionAMINOSALICYLIC ACID
Aminosalicylic acid sometimes causes a malabsorption syndrome, resulting in weight loss, iron depletion, and excessive fat in the stools (steatorrhea). Advise patients to consult their physician if these symptoms occur. For information on foods that are rich in iron, see our chart.
What Iron does & food sources
Iron is the core of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells.
Common food sources:
- Red meat and poultry
- Beans and lentils
- Fortified cereals
- Spinach (plant iron absorbs better with vitamin C)
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
What to discuss with your clinician
Iron status is easy to assess (ferritin, iron studies, blood counts). Ask your provider before supplementing — unexplained low iron always deserves a medical evaluation for the cause, not just replacement.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Supplement considerations
Iron supplements commonly cause constipation or stomach upset and interfere with the absorption of several medications (thyroid medication, some antibiotics). Do not take iron "just in case" — excess iron is harmful.
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: Never self-treat suspected anemia; the underlying cause matters as much as the iron level.
References (1)
- Package insert for Paser granules. Jacobus Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. Princeton, NJ. July 1996.
VITAMIN B12
Moderate DepletionAMINOSALICYLIC ACID
Aminosalicylic acid can reduce oral vitamin B12 absorption, possibly by as much as 55%, as part of a general malabsorption syndrome. Megaloblastic changes and occasional cases of symptomatic anemia have occurred, usually after doses of 8-12 grams daily for several months. Monitor vitamin B12 levels in people taking aminosalicylic acid for more than one month. For information on foods that are rich in vitamin B12, see our chart.
What Vitamin B12 does & food sources
Vitamin B12 supports red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis.
Common food sources:
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Eggs and dairy products
- Fortified cereals and nutritional yeast
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
What to discuss with your clinician
If you take an associated medication long-term, ask your healthcare provider whether checking a vitamin B12 level (sometimes with methylmalonic acid) is appropriate — especially if you notice fatigue, numbness, tingling, or memory changes.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Supplement considerations
B12 status is easy to check and low levels are usually straightforward to address, so testing before supplementing is often the sensible order. High-dose folic acid can mask a B12 deficiency, which is one reason B12 and folate questions are best sorted out together with your provider.
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: B12 deficiency can look like other conditions — do not self-diagnose from symptoms alone.
References (4)
- Package insert for Paser granules. Jacobus Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. Princeton, NJ. July 1996.
- Toskes PP, Deren JJ. Selective inhibition of vitamin B12 absorption by para-aminosalicylic acid. Gastroenterology 1972;62:1232-7. DOI
- Line DH, Seitanidis B, Morgan JO, Hoffbrand AV. The effects of chemotherapy on iron, folate, and vitamin B12 metabolism in tuberculosis. Q J Med 1971;40:331-40.
- Halsted CH, McIntyre PA. Intestinal malabsorption caused by aminosalicylic acid therapy. Arch Int Med 1972;130;935-9. DOI
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.
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.
Nutrient depletion FAQs
Can medications really deplete nutrients?
Does an entry in this checker mean I am deficient?
Should I take a supplement if my medication appears here?
What labs should I ask about?
Can supplements interact with my medications?
Where does this information come from, and how is it reviewed?
Not sure what your results mean?
Ask a licensed pharmacist — free, no appointment needed.
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.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for drug-induced nutrient depletions, supplements, and interactions — the basis for this checker.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for medication overviews across the site.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.