According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, nearly seven in ten adults aged 40–79 took at least one pharmaceutical medication and one in five took at least five medications.

Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications have been shown to negatively influence nutrient digestion, absorption, distribution, metabolism, function, catabolism, and excretion, which can lead to depletions and possible related illnesses over time. Providers can help patients who are presently taking medications or those who have taken OTC and/or prescription drugs in the past by identifying patients at risk, protecting nutrient status, and correcting any underlying deficiencies that may be present.
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Authors

Alex Keller, ND

Medical Director

Dr. Alex Keller is a licensed and practicing naturopathic doctor in Ottawa, Canada and the medical director at Fullscript. As medical director, he oversees the Integrative Medical Advisory team (IMAT) and the development of educational content for practitioners across North America. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an HBSc in Health Sciences and Psychology. Although originally planning to attend conventional medical school, Dr. Keller shifted direction and completed a degree in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. The shift followed a three-month internship at a rural Kenyan hospital where he worked with doctors who used local food to successfully treat patients, after which he felt compelled to practice a diet-oriented system of medicine. Today, he splits his time working for Fullscript, seeing patients, and developing an innovative regenerative farming operation. He lives with his wife Jenn and their two children on a 50-acre farm outside Ottawa.