Supplements and vitamins
Provide extra amounts of some substance. They are not regulated like medicines, so labelling and evidence vary greatly between products.
Why it gets prescribed
Sometimes genuinely indicated for a confirmed deficiency. Most of the rest are bought by people for themselves.
What to watch for
"Natural" does not mean "no interactions". Some very common products affect anticoagulants, antidepressants and heart medicines.
Stopping — read this before you stop anything
Before an operation or procedure some are usually stopped — ask in advance rather than waiting to be asked.
Tell the prescriber and the pharmacist
The group most often left off a medicine list, because people do not think of it as medicine. Write it all down, including herbal teas taken regularly.
Worth asking
- Of the ones I take, which are actually needed
- Which interact with my prescribed medicines
- Which should I stop before surgery