Are you one of the millions of people who take over-the-counter pain medications for a variety of aches and pains? If so, you may not know that these seemingly safe formulas could be robbing you of vital nutrients that can lead to side effects and serious health problems — and the longer you take them, the more damage they can do.

Here are a couple of examples:

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that people rely on for minor arthritic pain, fever, and headache. While ibuprofen is a great way to reduce pain-causing inflammation, it also breaks down the mucosal barrier of your intestine and depletes your body of folic acid and melatonin.

Melatonin is known primarily as the “sleep” hormone, but it also helps to regulate insulin and keep your immune system properly functioning. And without enough folic acid, you’re at risk for anemia, certain ulcers, and even premature graying.

Acetaminophen found in Tylenol and other OTC medications is another popular NSAID taken by millions of people for pain relief. Shockingly, it poisons 30,000 Americans every year and can cause liver damage with only occasional use.

Acetaminophen depletes your body of one of its most important antioxidants, called glutathione. In fact, the amount of glutathione you have in your cells is a good predictor of how long you will live. It helps detoxify the body, regulate immune cells, and protect the cells in the liver and kidneys.

Here’s another alarming statistic. The GI disturbances caused by NSAIDs are so severe that 15 to 30% of people who regularly take them have gastric or duodenal ulcers.

So what’s the best way to protect yourself? First and foremost, only take these pain relievers when you really need them. Secondly, if you do need to take them on a regular basis, consider taking supplements that will restore your body’s need for the vital nutrients they deplete.

These suggestions may help:

In addition to taking folic acid, take a probiotic to protect your intestinal lining and restore beneficial bacteria. You can also take bovine colostrum, which may help to decrease ulcerations, and the amino acid glutamine to support your immune system and aid digestion.

To protect your liver and kidneys and supply the raw materials for glutathione production, take the amino acid N-acetylcysteine (NAC), aged garlic (Kyolic), and the herb milk thistle (Silybum marianum).

You can learn more about the health-depleting effects of prescription and over-the-counter drugs by clicking here.