Influence of Medications

Medications can influence nutrient needs and can have an influence on intake.

Medication-nutrient interactions can alter an individual's nutrient needs. For example:

• some anticonvulsants interfere with vitamin D metabolism, putting a child at risk for osteomalacia
• some medications cause constipation, making fluid and fiber intake even more critical
• cardiac medication can lead to electrolyte imbalances

From a broader perspective, medications can interfere with an adequate intake in other ways:

• some medications cause nausea and decreased appetite
• for children who take a number of medications, timing can be complicated: some medications must be taken with food, others "on an empty stomach;" fitting regular meals and snacks into a complex medication schedule can require creativity

Some medications (and their effects on nutrient needs and intake) commonly used by children with special needs are listed in the next few pages.