This post is not meant to provide medical advice related to specific supplement indications and use. If you have questions about dietary supplements and nutriceuticals that you or a family member currently uses for mental wellbeing, consult your Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatrist for more information and guidance. Haelen Mental Health does not receive any financial compensation for brands noted in post below. This post is intended for informational purposes and not intended to be medical advice.
Over-the-counter vitamins and supplements are very commonly used among children and adults. Supplements like melatonin, turmeric, saffron, magnesium, NAC, vitamin D, vitamin B, omega-3s are often incorporated into people’s mental wellness regimens, though people are often uncertain about how to take them appropriately. Getting input from your psychiatric providers is recommended. At Haelen Mental Health, our team of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners aim to empower patients to access information they need to make informed decisions. Dietary supplements can contain minerals, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes and other fillers. People consume these dietary supplements as tablets, capsules, drink additives and energy bars. However, many people are uncertain about how to find reliable and cost-effective options.
How do you decide which product to go with?
Word of mouth
Provider preference
Influencer recommendation
Advertisements?
The Office of Dietary Supplements through the NIH has created a database and resource for patients and providers. It allows users to:
Browse common dietary supplements and vitamins with US manufacturers
Gather allergen information
Identify gluten free products
Review a complete list of ingredients
Identifies country of manufacturer
The NIH: Office of Dietary Supplements website additionally has patient facing resources on dietary supplement fact sheets that are easily readable and ready for download.
Health care providers can use this site to review ingredients in reported supplements, if included in the registry, and patients and families are able to compare brands for cost-effectiveness and strength and reliability of product before purchasing or continuing a product. It is worth noting that brands included are not exhaustive in this registry though many common brands are included such as NOW, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, Nature’s Way, GNC and Twinlabs.
As part of an integrative approach to mental health and wellbeing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are able to assess blood levels of many vitamins and minerals through lab testing when indicated to ensure that the dietary supplements are indicated and within appropriate levels for individuals. If you’re interested to learn more, reach out to our office and schedule an appointment with our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners today.
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