Questions to Ask Your Clinician or Pharmacist About a Supplement Formula

Why ask at all

FDA advises talking to a doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional before deciding to buy or use a dietary supplement, partly because some supplements might interact with medicines or other supplements. [1] MedlinePlus gives the same core advice: tell your health care provider about any dietary supplements you use. [2] This page is a list of questions. It does not tell you what to use, and it does not tell you to stop or change any medicine. Only your care team can do that.

If something urgent is happening, such as a child who swallowed vitamins or iron tablets, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or 911 now, and see overdose first steps.

What to bring

FDA suggests bringing a list of all the supplements and medicines you currently use to every visit, including how much and how many times a day. [3] Some people find it easiest to bring the products themselves. A useful list has:

• The product name as printed, the form (capsule, gummy, powder, liquid) and the Supplement Facts panel (a photo is fine).
• Every ingredient and amount per serving, and how many servings you use.
• Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, other supplements, fortified drinks and herbal teas.
• Your conditions, allergies, and whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning surgery or have had a recent illness.

FDA also says to tell the professional if your health status has changed, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have had a recent illness or surgery. [3] Our label checklist helps you read the panel first.

The questions

The table groups the questions by topic. Pick the ones that apply.

1. Need

   Unclear

   NHS says most people should get the nutrients they need from a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need extra. [4]

   Question to ask: Is there a reason for me to use a supplement at all, or can my food cover this?

2. Need

   Unclear

   Tests have limits. See deficiency testing and its limits.

   Question to ask: Is there a test that would show whether I am low in something, and what would the result mean?

3. Medicines

   Unclear

   FDA says certain supplements can change absorption, metabolism or excretion of a medicine, so you may get too much or too little of it. [3]

   Question to ask: Could anything in this product change how my medicines work?

4. Medicines

   Unclear

   FDA lists warfarin, ginkgo biloba, aspirin and vitamin E as each able to thin the blood. [3]

   Question to ask: Do any ingredients thin the blood or add to a blood thinner?

5. Timing

   Unclear

   Ask the pharmacist. See spacing supplements and medicines.

   Question to ask: Does anything I use need to be taken at a different time from this?

6. Doubling up

   Unclear

   Amounts add up. See doubling up.

   Question to ask: Are any nutrients in this product already in my other products or fortified foods?

7. Conditions

   Unclear

   NCCIH says supplements may pose risks if you have certain medical problems. [5]

   Question to ask: Is this safe with my kidney, liver, heart, thyroid or other condition?

8. Pregnancy and children

   Unclear

   NCCIH says many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. [5]

   Question to ask: Is this suitable if I am pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to be, or for my child?

9. Surgery

   Unclear

   NCCIH says some supplements may raise bleeding risk or affect the response to anesthesia, and to tell providers well in advance. [5]

   Question to ask: I have a procedure coming up. Which products should I tell the surgical team about, and when?

10. Smoking and work

    Unclear

    NHS advises people who smoke or have been exposed to asbestos not to take beta-carotene supplements. [6]

    Question to ask: I smoke or have been exposed to asbestos. Is anything in my product a concern?

11. Evidence

    Unclear

    NCCIH says supplements bought in stores or online may differ in important ways from products tested in studies. [5]

    Question to ask: What does the research say about this ingredient, in people like me, at this amount?

12. Quality

    Unclear

    See quality testing and certifications.

    Question to ask: How can I tell whether this product is made and tested well?

13. Review

    Unclear

    Side effects should be raised with your provider. [5]

    Question to ask: When should we look at this again, and what would tell us it is not working or causing trouble?

Questions for a pharmacist in particular

FDA names pharmacists among the professionals to talk with before using a supplement. [1] A pharmacist can only check a product against the medicines and products you tell them about, so bring the list. Good questions:

• Does this product contain anything that interacts with a medicine on my record, including over-the-counter ones?
• Does it repeat something already in another product I use?
• Is the form (for example a gummy, a powder or a liquid) a problem for my situation, such as swallowing difficulty or sugar limits?
• Where can I report a problem or ask the maker about the product?

Questions to ask the maker

If a label does not give enough detail, FDA recommends contacting the manufacturer directly; the name and address are on the label. [1] You can ask for the full amount of each ingredient in a blend, the form of each nutrient and what quality testing was done. A maker may or may not answer. Ask a clinician before relying on any answer.

If you have a problem

NCCIH advises that if you have side effects, you should stop taking the supplement and contact your health care provider. [5] Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. FDA says to contact or see your provider first, and you or your provider can then report an adverse event through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal. [1]

What this page cannot do

It cannot tell you whether a supplement suits you, and it is not medical advice. Our safety quick reference and talking with a health professional pages give more background.