November 12th, 2025

Video Transcript:

Aloha.  Thank you for joining me today.  I’m Doctor Kathryn Taketa-Wong.  The topic today is The Very Concerning Side Effects of Commonly Used Drugs.  This is important information that you and your loved ones really need to have.  I also want you know that there are natural alternatives to most of the drugs that I’ll be discussing today.
 
As a doctor, I know how difficult it can be to find the time to explain medications to patients the same way that surgeries are covered.  But that’s the way it’s supposed to work.  The current system is not serving patients well and we need to seriously think about how to make it better. 
 
Three 3 pillars form the foundation of my practice.   They are:  To heal. To educate.  To empower.  Today’s event is a perfect example of those pillars, as it is my intention to both educate and empower you, the viewer.
 
In medical school, doctors are taught an acronym, PARQ, like park your car but with a Q at the end.
 
“P” stands for procedure: Explaining it and getting informed consent from the patient.  This is true for any treatment both surgery AND drugs.
 
“A” stands for alternatives:  Explaining what other potential alternatives there might be, like doing a different surgical procedure or taking different drug, or doing nothing and watchfully waiting.
 
“R” stands for risks: What are the risks for that surgical procedure or that drug?
 
“Q” stands for questions: Asking the patient if they have any questions and then answering those questions completely.
 
This is the gold standard for what is supposed to happen whenever a doctor makes a recommendation. The patient is informed about the risks, the benefits, and the alternatives. Then they can say yes I agree or no I don’t agree. This typically happens with surgery, but it rarely, if ever, happens in conventional medicine when it comes to drugs. 
 
That’s why I decided to do this Facebook Live:  to educate the community about the risks so you can be an informed about your health care choices.
 
For those who are new to our events, I’m a naturopathic physician or ND.  Like medical doctors, I attended a 4-year medical school.  I was trained as a primary care physician, so I order lab tests, write prescriptions, and do school physicals the same as any other doctor. 
 
But with naturopathic medicine there is much more, because we ND’s are trained to place nutrition at the forefront of diagnosis and treatment.  This is especially true when it comes to medications.
 
It amazes me, but even today, fewer than 20% of our medical schools require ANY courses in nutrition.  Of those, the offerings are usually fewer than 25 hours in 4 years.  Naturopathic doctors typically receive 155 hours in order to be trained in the power of nutrition to build health from the INSIDE.  Applying that knowledge to a patient’s condition – whether it’s autism or PMS – takes a lot more time than prescribing pills.  My office visits are a full hour.
 
In addition, I am also a licensed acupuncturist, trained in Chinese medicine, which gives me another powerful natural medicine tool.
 
I can’t even count the times that a patient comes to me, they’re on a certain drug, and I talk about some of the potential side effects.  I watch their eyes get wider, watch them frown as they say, “If someone had told me that was a risk of this drug, I wouldn’t have taken it.  Nobody ever told me that.”
 
I know that when we get a drug, there are inserts that list potential side effects.  But honestly, how many of us actually take the time to read the very small print with hard to pronounce words?  And that’s not even the point.  We’re supposed to be told all about the risks and potential side effects before we’re prescribed them in the first place.
 
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them.  It means we should be informed beforehand so we know about the risks and can make an informed choice.
 
A lot of this is really a product of our health care system.  Conventional doctors typically are just not given enough time to talk about those things with their patients.  A major principle of naturopathic medicine is education of the patient.  That is one of its biggest strengths.  Naturopathic doctors take the time to explain the medication or the procedure and ask if there are any questions.
 
That said, let’s get into the vitally important health information in today’s event.  I’m going to be covering oral birth control pills, acid blocking drugs for acid reflux or heartburn, antibiotics, epidural during birth and Pitocin during birth, blood pressure drugs and cholesterol medication.
 
Oral birth control pills
Many of these drugs have the side effect of increasing the risk of blood clots, which can lead to increased risk for heart attack and stroke with prolonged use.  Birth control pills also increase the risk of breast cancer.  Studies have shown that while taking the pills and shortly thereafter, their risk increases by 20 to 30% over women over who have never taken them.  The risk does decrease once women stop taking them.  Also, there is one class of oral birth control pills that do not increase the risk of blood clots or breast cancer.  These are called progestin only pills also sometimes called mini-pills.  Basically, they don’t contain estrogen, just the synthetic form of progestin.
 
Acid blocking drugs for acid reflux
There is an increased risk of dementia with some of the drugs.  Using them long term – 6 months or more – can increase the risk of becoming deficient in vitamin B-12 and iron because you need stomach acid to be able to absorb those nutrients.  The most common symptom of iron deficiency is fatigue and being short of breath.  I have also seen a decrease in attention and focus because iron carries oxygen.
 
As you’re viewing this and want to talk with me, just call or text our office to schedule a free phone consultation with me.  There is no charge because I don’t take patients without talking with them first.  I always want to make sure that what I do fits their needs.  You’ll find all the contact information on our Facebook page and you can also click on the link in the post. 
 
Antibiotics
Antibiotics increase the risk of genital yeast infections and skin infections as well.  They also commonly cause diarrhea, upset stomach, even nausea and vomiting.  They decrease the good bacteria along with the bad.  Killing off the good guys can cause long term problems with your immune system.  Also, Cipro and similar antibiotics increase the risk of tendon rupture.  There is also a greater risk of resistance the more often you take antibiotics, which can make curing future infections more difficult.  Antibiotics, as well as other types of drugs that affect the normal good bacteria in our gut, can change the neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals.  A change in the brain chemicals can affect our mood, focus and attention, and many other things.
 
Epidurals during birth
Epidurals can increase the risk of seizures, infections and nerve damage in the mother.  Also, I’ve seen a number of women who have chronic back pain for the rest of their lives.  They say it’s in that one spot where they put the epidural.  For the baby, the risk is decreased oxygen and  heart rate during the birth process.
 
 
Pitocin during birth
Research has definitely found that using Pitocin to induce labor can increase the likelihood of needed a C-section.  That’s because it can force the birth process where the baby may not be in the best position to deliver.  It can also increase the pain for the mom because it’s forcing the uterus to contract in a much more intense way than it would naturally.  There is also a possibility that the uterus could rupture, causing more blood loss.
 
As to risk to the baby, there is potential fetal distress, where the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen.  It can also increase the risk of seizures in the infant after birth.
 
 
Blood pressure drugs
Beta blockers are a class drugs that frequently cause fatigue, asthma, and difficulty sleeping. Diuretic blood pressure drugs can cause fatigue, leg cramps, and more frequent urination.  For some people that can disrupt their sleep. ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry cough and skin rash. Calcium channel blockers can cause constipation, dizziness, and headache.
 
Cholesterol medication
Statin drugs, which are the main class of drugs that are used for cholesterol deplete a substance called CoQ-10, which is a major antioxidant that’s important for your heart health.  So using them puts people at risk for heart issues.  Research has shown a link between statins and memory loss and difficulty with memory in general.  Other side effects include nausea, gas, and constipation and an increased risk of diabetes.  The most common side effects are muscle weakness and pain.  Long term, they can cause muscle damage and harm to the liver as well. 
 
CONCLUSION:
 I trust our discussion about the very concerning side effects of commonly used drugs has been useful for you.  With most of these medications, but with especially with blood pressure drugs, it can be dangerous to just stop and take yourself off of them.  There are natural alternatives to many of these drugs that do not carry the side effects, and I’ve worked with many patients to wean them off of them.  But again, you should avoid just stopping on your own.
 
I trust that our discussion about women’s health has been useful for you.  If your doctor doesn’t have the time to educate you like we’re doing here today, you’re welcome to talk with me personally about any health concerns you may have so that you, too, can feel empowered with your health. 
 
To do so, just call or text our office to schedule a free phone consultation with me.  There is no charge because I don’t take patients without talking with them first.  I always want to make sure that what I do fits their needs. You’ll find all the contact information on our Facebook page.