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Safe Supplement Use: What You Need to Know

While dietary supplements can support overall health, it's important to remember that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treats them as foods—not drugs—and doesn’t evaluate their safety or effectiveness before they hit the market. Manufacturers bear the responsibility for ensuring their products are safe and accurately labeled.

Why caution matters:

• Some supplements contain potent ingredients that can affect your health—even serious impacts—especially when taken in large quantities, used instead of prescription medications, or combined with other supplements.

• In recent years, the FDA has found dozens of supplements tainted with unlisted pharmaceuticals, particularly in weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding products—leading to adverse events like heart problems, liver injury, and, in extreme cases, death.

How to Use Supplements Wisely

• Always read the label thoroughly and follow suggested dosages—more isn’t better, and exceeding recommended limits increases risk.

• Talk to your healthcare provider first—especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, under 18, scheduled for surgery, managing health conditions, or taking medications. They can help assess interactions, correct dosages, and whether you actually need the supplement.

• Be cautious with multiple supplements or replacements: Combining supplements or using them instead of prescribed treatments heightens the chance of adverse reactions.

• Stop use immediately if you experience serious side effects, and seek medical attention without delay. Inform your healthcare provider—and consider reporting the incident to the FDA via its Safety Reporting Portal.

• Look for products that have undergone third-party testing (e.g., NSF, USP) to verify quality and purity, but even then, consult trusted sources and medical professionals before use.