Supplements of Abuse: Unmasking Potential Risks

Course Overview 
Use of dietary supplements continues to increase. In addition to their use for the management of medical conditions, dietary supplements are often misused or abused for recreation, body image concerns, athletic performance, and mood enhancement. Poison control center data indicate that abuse and misuse of dietary supplements occurs across the life span, with reports ranging from adolescents to those over 60 years old.  

Abuse refers to the use of a substance to gain a psychotropic effect, while misuse refers to the use of a substance for reasons other than a psychotropic effect. Although, abuse and misuse of dietary supplements share similarities to other forms of substance abuse (e.g., prescription medications, alcohol, tobacco), they are distinct in several ways. Many consumers perceive products that are natural to be synonymous with safe, which is certainly not the case. Additionally, availability of supplements reduces barriers to their access and may contribute to their inappropriate use.  

While many other supplements may be abused, the focus of this course will be on the following commonly abused supplements, how they work, and their associated safety concerns.

• Supplements Potentially Abused for Weight Loss and/or Athletic Performance
  • Stimulants (1,3-dimethylamylamine [1,3-DMAA], bitter orange, caffeine, ephedra, octopamine)
  • Laxatives (castor oil, senna)
• Supplements Potentially Abused for Recreational use 
  • Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
  • Phenibut
  • Tianeptine
• Supplements Potentially Abused for Opioid-Like Effects
  • Kratom

Note that these select supplements are commonly abused in North America. Supplements commonly abused in other parts of the world are beyond the scope of this course. 
 

Learning Outcomes  
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Describe motivations for the abuse of supplements such as caffeine, ephedra, kratom, phenibut and tianeptine. 
• Explain the mechanism of action of commonly abused supplements. 
• List serious adverse effects related to commonly abused supplements.
• Identify notable drug interactions with commonly abused supplements. 
• Discuss regulatory and quality concerns associated with commonly abused supplements.  
   

About the Author/Presenter  
Andrea Stafford, PharmD, is an Assistant Clinical Editor at TRC Healthcare for NatMed. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University. She completed a PGY1 drug information residency at Creighton University’s Center for Drug Information and Evidence-based Practice. Before pursuing a career in pharmacy, Andrea worked as a middle school math teacher. Her professional interests include educating both patients and clinicians, with an emphasis on evidence-based medicine. She is particularly dedicated to exploring the integration of natural medicines in the management of common chronic diseases and conditions affecting women’s health. 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals  
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE  
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  

This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing, Pharmacy

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us