Chosen for a reason, in a dose
A supplement recommendation follows from something: a low result on blood work, a specific condition, a dietary shortfall, or a known effect of a medication you take. You should be told what it is for, what dose, how long for, and how you will know whether it has helped. If none of that can be answered, it probably should not be recommended.
Professional-grade formulas
The practice carries professional lines available only through licensed health care practitioners. These are made to standards intended for use under a clinician's direction: verified ingredient sourcing, ongoing testing and batch-level traceability, so it is possible to know where a bottle came from. They are meant to be used with direction rather than picked off a shelf.
Interactions are real
Supplements are not automatically safe alongside prescription medicines. Some affect blood clotting, blood pressure, thyroid treatment, blood sugar or the way the liver processes other drugs, and some should be stopped before surgery.
Bring everything you take to your appointment in its original container, including anything bought elsewhere, and tell any other doctor treating you what you are on. This is a large part of why supplement use is worth reviewing with a physician who has your full record in front of her.
Getting them, and reordering
You can collect products at the office, and reordering can be arranged once a product has been recommended — ask the office to set that up. Whatever route you use, the recommendation should be reviewed periodically rather than repeated indefinitely; needs change, and some supplements are only worth taking for a defined stretch.
What to expect
- A review of everything you already take, prescription and over-the-counter
- Blood work where it will show whether a supplement is actually needed
- A specific product, dose and duration, with the reason for it
- A check for interactions with your medications
- Review at follow-up, including stopping anything no longer needed