Managing Your Medication: Vitamins and Supplements

May 13, 2022 | Trends in Iowa Education Benjamin Monson, MD, The Iowa Clinic,

Over-the-counter supplements can provide some benefits to your health, but they can also interact with any medications your provider prescribes. Dr. Monson, internist at The Iowa Clinic, shares why sharing all medications you take with your provider is imperative to your health and safety. 

Many of us take over-the-counter supplements and vitamins because we care about our overall health and wellbeing. While many of these supplements can fill in gaps in our diet or provide some holistic benefits, they could have potential adverse effects and unintended interactions with prescription medications. Sharing this information with your doctor is imperative for your safety.

For those with multiple medications across more than one prescribing doctor, it can be difficult to keep track of all the possible side effects and interactions. However, managing your list of medications and keeping your healthcare providers up to date on what you take and why is an incredibly important part of being your healthiest self.

“Many patients don't think that it's important to share with their provider what vitamins or supplements they take. However, this information can be just as important as understanding any prescribed medications a patient is taking,” said Dr. Benjamin Monson, internist at The Iowa Clinic. “The interaction between some supplements and prescriptions can decrease their efficacy or have harmful side effects.”

As for what goes on that list? It’s best to include everything you take daily as well as anything you may take occasionally. All prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and vitamins should be included.

“Your provider is your best resource for managing your medications. Having open and honest communication with your provider will allow them to provide you with the best level of care,” says Dr. Monson. “No detail is unimportant when it comes to your health.”