Be Supplement Smart

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Be Supplement Smart

Declutter your medicine cabinet with a supplement review.

If your medicine cabinet is bursting with supplements, you’re not alone. About a quarter of Americans aged 60 and older take 4 or more every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It seems there’s always a new vitamin, mineral or herbal product claiming to improve health. Visit any grocery store or pharmacy and the shelves are full of them. Scroll through social media, and you’ll see influencers talking about the latest pills or powder. It can feel overwhelming. If you take prescription medications, you need to be careful about the interactions between supplements and your prescribed drugs.

Make sure you need or can benefit from supplements you take. Talk to your provider about the benefits and risks as well as the value. Americans spend as much as $50 billion per year on vitamins and supplements, according to The Journal of the American Medical Association. However, there’s little evidence of the effectiveness of supplements. Follow these tips to help streamline your supplement routine.

Do a cabinet clear-out
Check expiration dates on labels, and toss out old supplements. If they’re expired, they’ve likely lost their nutritional value. To ensure your supplement trash doesn’t cause pollution, dump it into a sealable plastic bag with used coffee grounds. This helps to break down the pills safely. The sealed bag can go in your household trash. Some pharmacies will take your old medications and supplements and dispose of them safely.

Take stock
Make a list of all your supplements, including dosage and the time of day you take them. Use the Health Information Organizer worksheet at right for tracking medications and supplements. Bring the list of the products to an annual medication review with your primary care provider (PCP) to keep your health records up to date. Be sure to share the list with all providers you see.

Talk it over
Talk to your PCP about supplements you take or are considering — ideally before you buy. Your provider likely keeps up with the latest studies about supplements and will be able to give you advice. They can check for interactions with medications you already take.

Shop around
Dietary supplements are regulated differently than prescription medications, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That’s why it can be hard to verify if they’re effective. Look for a United States Pharmacopeia (USP) verified mark on the label. Certain manufacturers put their products through the USP’s rigorous safety testing process. (USP testing reviews products for contamination, not for effectiveness.) Your provider also can guide you through your options, from brands to dosages, to help find what’s right for you.

Organize for easy access
Consider keeping vitamins and other supplements together in an organizer or basket. Keep the bottles and containers away from heat, moisture and light. Some may need to be kept in the refrigerator. Make sure supplements stay out of reach of any visiting children.

To fill out your Health Information Organizer:

Click here, and then select Download.
Go to your Downloads folder, and open the file to type your information into the form.
Print copies for you and your caregivers.

Supplement with Safety in Mind

Avoid these common mistakes that people make when buying and using supplements.

Click here to print this checklist

As always, talk with your health care provider before you change or add to your supplement routine.

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This publication is for informational purposes only and does not replace the care or advice of a doctor. Always talk with a doctor before beginning any exercise program, therapy or medication. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. UnitedHealthcare does not provide any assurances nor accept any responsibility or liability regarding the quality, nutritional value, or safety of the included recipes.