Why You Must Tell Your Doctor About Every Supplement and Herbal Remedy You Take

Every year, millions of Americans take supplements-vitamins, fish oil, turmeric, St. John’s wort, garlic pills, ashwagandha, and more. Many believe these are harmless because they’re "natural." But here’s the truth: supplements aren’t harmless. And if your doctor doesn’t know you’re taking them, it could put your life at risk.

Most People Don’t Tell Their Doctors-And That’s Dangerous

A 2018 study found that only 33% of people who use herbal or dietary supplements tell their doctors about it. Even among people with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure-people who are on multiple prescription drugs-less than half disclose their supplement use. That means nearly two out of three patients are hiding something from their provider.

Why? Because most people think their doctor won’t care. Or worse-they assume supplements are too "safe" to mention. But that’s a dangerous myth. St. John’s wort, one of the most popular herbal remedies, can make birth control pills useless. Turmeric, often taken for joint pain, can thin your blood and cause dangerous bleeding during surgery. Garlic supplements? They can interfere with HIV medications and blood pressure drugs.

The FDA doesn’t test supplements for safety before they hit store shelves. That’s because of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) from 1994. It lets companies sell anything labeled as a "dietary supplement" without proving it’s safe or effective. The only time the FDA steps in is after someone gets hurt. And even then, only about 1% of adverse reactions are ever reported.

What Happens When You Don’t Disclose

Real stories tell the real risk. One Reddit user shared how they took garlic pills for years and never mentioned them to their doctor. When they needed minor surgery, they started bleeding uncontrollably. The surgeon only found out after they’d already opened them up. Another person on HealthUnlocked had been taking turmeric for arthritis. Her cardiologist only discovered it when he asked directly-and immediately told her it was dangerously interacting with her blood pressure medication.

These aren’t rare cases. A 2023 study in JAMA Internal Medicine tracked 1,200 patients using supplements. Those who didn’t tell their doctors were 3.5 times more likely to have an adverse reaction. Many of these reactions weren’t obvious until it was too late: liver damage from green tea extract, kidney failure from weight-loss herbs, heart rhythm problems from ephedra-containing products.

Even something as simple as vitamin K can interfere with blood thinners like warfarin. If your dose of warfarin is calibrated based on your diet, and you suddenly start taking a vitamin K supplement without telling your doctor, your blood can clot-or bleed out-without warning.

Doctors Aren’t Always Asking-But They Should Be

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most doctors don’t ask. A 2021 survey found that only 27% of physicians felt adequately trained to talk about supplements. Many assume patients will volunteer the information. But patients don’t. They don’t think it’s "medicine." They don’t think it matters.

But providers who do ask see big changes. A 2021 study tested a simple five-question screening tool during intake: "Are you taking any vitamins, herbs, or supplements?" "Why are you taking them?" "How often?" "Have you noticed any side effects?" "Would you like to know if they interact with your prescriptions?"

Before the tool? Only 33% disclosed. After? It jumped to 78%. That’s not magic. That’s asking.

You don’t have to wait for your doctor to ask. Bring your supplements with you to every appointment. Literally bring the bottles. That way, your provider can read the label, check the ingredients, and look up known interactions. Many supplements contain hidden drugs-like weight-loss pills laced with stimulants or erectile dysfunction supplements with hidden sildenafil. Without seeing the bottle, your doctor has no way of knowing.

What You Should Say (And How to Say It)

You don’t need to be a medical expert to have this conversation. Here’s what works:

• "I’m taking ashwagandha for stress. Is that okay with my thyroid med?"
• "I’ve been using magnesium for sleep. Could it affect my blood pressure meds?"
• "I started taking elderberry because I thought it would help with colds. Should I stop?"

Don’t say: "I take a few vitamins." Say: "Here’s exactly what I’m taking-and here are the bottles." Your provider doesn’t need to approve your supplements. They just need to know what you’re using so they can spot risks. If they roll their eyes, find a new provider. Someone who dismisses supplements isn’t providing full care.

Supplements Aren’t the Enemy-Silence Is

There’s nothing wrong with taking supplements. Many people benefit from vitamin D, omega-3s, or probiotics. The problem isn’t the supplements. It’s the silence around them.

When you hide what you’re taking, you’re not protecting yourself-you’re putting yourself at risk. You’re letting guesswork replace science. You’re letting a $55 billion industry operate without oversight, and you’re the one who pays the price.

The good news? When you speak up, you get help. A 2022 ConsumerLab survey found that 78% of people who disclosed their supplement use received useful advice from their provider. 63% said it made them trust their doctor more.

Your doctor isn’t here to judge you. They’re here to keep you alive.

What’s Changing-and What You Can Do Now

The tide is turning. The American Medical Association now requires medical schools to teach about supplement interactions. The FDA has added 70 new ingredients to its safety watchlist since 2020. By 2026, electronic health records will be required to include a supplement disclosure field.

But you don’t have to wait for policy changes. Here’s what you can do today:

1. Keep a written list of everything you take: name, dose, frequency, reason.
2. Bring the actual bottles to every appointment-even if it’s just a checkup.
3. Ask: "Could any of these interact with my prescriptions?"
4. Don’t assume "natural" means safe. Many of the most dangerous substances on earth are natural-poison ivy, arsenic, hemlock.
5. If your provider dismisses you, get a second opinion. Your life isn’t worth the risk.

Final Thought: You’re Not Just a Patient-You’re the Boss of Your Health

You’re the only one who knows what’s in your body. You’re the only one who knows what you’re taking, how often, and why. Your doctor can’t read your mind. They can’t guess what’s in your medicine cabinet.

If you’re taking something-even if it’s "just a vitamin"-tell them. Bring the bottle. Say it out loud. It’s not embarrassing. It’s essential.

Your provider’s job isn’t to tell you what to take. It’s to help you take it safely. And they can’t do that if they don’t know what you’re doing.