Maybe My Vitamin D is Low...

Since they're over the counter and "natural" products, it's safe to take them, right? Wrong! Always make sure with your provider that it's ok for you to take over the counter products. Here are couple reasons why:  - herbal supplements do not need an FDA approval. Typically this agency approves prescription drugs prior to placing them on the market, but it isn't so in a case of herbals.  - some herbal supplements have drug-like effects, for instance, Valerian root that is often used for insomnia, can have very sedative effects and it may be too much for an elderly person!  - many herbal supplements interact with prescription medications. St Johns Wort is commonly used for its antidepressant properties but can be dangerous when taken along with certain classes of antidepressants.  If in doubt, you can do your own research through websites recommended by the Mayo Clinic as legitimate patient resources. One of the sources is National Center for Compleme

You may be asked to undergo blood work on the first or subsequent visits. If you cannot recall why you were asked to do this, please refer to several reasons below. Keep in mind these are only a couple examples, call me at the clinic if you need further explanation. - certain medications increase your risk of weight gain, diabetes, rise in cholesterol values, etc. It does not mean that this will happen to you, but it means that it is possible. We monitor above mentioned values, as well as others, to hopefully catch changes in time to be able to decrease your risk or minimize consequences. - sometimes the way you feel may be influenced not only by your mental health status, but also by physiological processes in your body. For instance, some people suffering from depression complain of fatigue, but fatigue could also be caused by low red blood cells. Other conditions, such as vitamin D levels, thyroid health or metabolic disturbances may contribute to the way you feel. - so