Supplements
Legal drugs that can be easily abused
What Are Dietary Supplements?
A dietary supplement is a product that is ingested to supplement a person's diet. In other words, supplements can fill in the gaps of nutrients if a person is not getting enough of it, including vitamins and minerals. It can be in the form of a pill, powder or liquid. Although dietary supplements are legal, they are not required to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so there is no way to be sure of what is in it or how much is safe to use.
Risks
Dietary supplements may be beneficial, however, there are risks associated:
Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in some situations and hurt or complicate your health. For example, the following actions could lead to harmful – even life-threatening – consequences.
Combining supplements
Using supplements with medicines (whether prescription or over-the-counter)
Substituting supplements for prescription medicines
Taking too much of some supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, or iron
Some supplements can also have unwanted effects before, during, and after surgery. So, be sure to inform your healthcare provider, including your pharmacist about any supplements you are taking.
