Something I’ve discovered through my own research into hypoglycemia is that many common prescription medications – like painkillers, antibiotics, sleeping pills (particularly bad) anti-inflammatories etc – can have major affects on your blood sugar.
So, if you are regularly taking any medications, there’s a strong chance they could be causing or contributing to your hypoglycemia.
This is important to understand because the hypoglycemic affect of some common medications is far stronger than eating sugar!
The list of medications that cause hypoglycemia is far too long to include here but generally it includes most painkillers, anti-inflammatories, anti-coagulants, cortico-steroids, sleeping pills and even supplements like calcium gluconate.
I outline this in my book ‘Revealed: The Hidden Truth About Hypoglycemia‘.
Talking of drugs, alcohol of course is a drug and can also have serious affects on your blood sugar. I don’t want to be a total killjoy and say you can never drink any alcohol – but just remember, if you do, only have one glass, and always drink it with a meal, which will slow down the absorption of the alcohol and minimize and adverse effect.
The good news is, hypoglycemia can be completely controlled through the correct diet (and it’s a very easy diet that won’t drive you crazy trying to follow).
Find out more in ‘Revealed The Hidden Truth About Hypoglycemia‘.
Is there some way to find out if the medication that I take may be effecting my hypoglycaemia?
I take medication for an under active thyroid and also anti depressants and atorvastatin
Hi Bill,
I would say almost certainly your medications will be causing hypoglycemia. There is plenty of evidence that atorvastatin has a side effect of hypoglycemia. Just search on Google. Also most anti-depressants have the side effect of hypoglycemia.
Generally, I wouldn’t recommend any of those medications because you can reverse under active thyroid, depression and cholesterol issues through a correct diet. Once you go down the path of medication you are on a roller coaster of side effects etc. It’s a losing battle, I’m sorry to say.
Chris, your woe is working very well for me. I still wake up in the middle of the night and have to eat something to get back to sleep. But I can go five hours between meals. And my spells of pounding/racing heart with head spinning and room growing dark have stopped. That’s new and a real victory. Sometime I wish you would tell us how much fat (butter, etc.) you eat with a meal. I started out with 1/2 tablespoon and that didn’t seem to give enough staying power. I’m now eating about 1 and 1/2 tablespoon at each meal and that works but it seems like a lot of added fat for a small woman. Anyway, thank you for all your work and for sharing it with us.
Pat