[Stacy2012]

My mom went to the doctor today and when the dr went over her list of supplements she told her to stop taking benfotiamine. I asked mom why and she said because the dr does not know what it is.

Really?

This is not her pn dr it is a different one, she has several different doctors.

Anyway, this makes me so mad.

Mom said she is not going to stop, it helps her pn. I told mom to tell the idiot to research it.

ugh.

[mrsD]

I would not expect a doctor to know what benfotiamine is.

When faced with this type of dilemma just say...it is an improved form of Thiamine B1. Thiamine has been a treatment for PN for many decades. Perhaps the doctor's response would change with that detail added. (you can amend the list she has to reflect that, so she doesn't forget).

Most doctors do not even know which number goes with each B in Bcomplex! I've run into pharmacists who also fail at this task.

[Stacy2012]

Yes. My Mother is older and she could not remember what it was either. I told her to write it down so next time she goes in she could, but you know, the doctor could have just as easily looked it up also, mom said she had her phone out earlier doing something on it.

My mom says this dr hates that she is using supplements and has an attitude about my mom questioning her about stuff.

Typical stupid doctor/attitude issues.

You know, it takes a strong patient to stand up to these dr's and their intimidation.

[mrsD]

Oh, I have had 40+ yrs of doctor attitude! I have become quite good at challenging them therefore in my private life. LOL

[Dr. Smith]

Doctors always want an updated list of everything we take, dose, and X/day, so I keep mine on Excel, and run off a copy each vist. The date is automatically updated at the top of the page. Next to the name I put the common name in parentheses—e.g. methylcobalamin (B-12). I also added an extra column for notes on why I'm taking it.

This keeps it straight for myself as well as them, and it's working beautifully. If there's still any question, I offer to send them documentation. They usually put up a hand and say, "That's OK," or "Don't bother" and that's the end of it.

Below what I'm taking I keep tables of my allergies, medical conditions, pharmacy, and PCP info.
They've all thanked me for bringing my own organized list instead of writing it out by hand on the forms they got from who-knows-where.

Doc

[Stacy2012]

Ya, but truthfully, how many doctors READ that list???

Then, how many know what the TRUE interactions of them are????

My mom is oh hydroclorothiazide and there is a specific interaction between that and vit D3 so I told my mom to mention to her dr that she is taking both.

Stupid dr didnt even know there is an interaction between the two. The reason I told mom to tell her is because SHE, the dr, told my mom to stop taking calcium at one of her visits, she said it was too much calcium can cause her to have a heart attack and her levels were too high.

Well, um, yesterday she said go ahead and take the D3 but there is a clear warning that those two together can cause high calcium serum. But my mom forgot that part and just asked if it was ok to take them together.

I simply do not trust dr's to know all the facts about supplements, and I have never had a dr read my list and ask a question or make a comment.

[mrsD]

Doctors are not experts on drugs....they have a very limited short educational exposure to them.

It is the Pharmacist, who will answer your questions about drugs.
HCTZ has been listed as raising calcium levels for many years. That is not new information. It is only when combined with Vit D which increases absorption of calcium from food, that this interaction is significant, and even then not for everyone. I think gone are the days of taking over 1000mg of calcium a day.... doctors have been pushing that for decades now, and what have we learned? That advice causes hardening of the arteries!

Really I personally hate diuretics... they really deplete you in so many ways.

[Stacy2012]

Oh I know they are not the experts...however they sure ACT like they are.

My anger is that she didn't even know what benfotiamine is so just said stop taking it. How bout actually looking it up first?

I no, I no, I wont get anywhere complaining, but it still makes me mad.

And why ask for the dang list of supplements if they dont read it, dont know what they are, dont know how to diagnose with them?

argh. ok, done venting.

[Idiopathic PN]

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Doctors always want an updated list of everything we take, dose, and X/day, so I keep mine on Excel, and run off a copy each vist. The date is automatically updated at the top of the page. Next to the name I put the common name in parentheses—e.g. methylcobalamin (B-12). I also added an extra column for notes on why I'm taking it.

This keeps it straight for myself as well as them, and it's working beautifully. If there's still any question, I offer to send them documentation. They usually put up a hand and say, "That's OK," or "Don't bother" and that's the end of it.

Below what I'm taking I keep tables of my allergies, medical conditions, pharmacy, and PCP info.
They've all thanked me for bringing my own organized list instead of writing it out by hand on the forms they got from who-knows-where.

Doc

I maintain similar list of my own and take it to my doctors in every visit. I put the dosage, frequency, prescribing doctor, etc. But, I agree with Stacey, I dont think doctors "find" time to read, at least as far as my doctors are concerned, unless I show it to them and ask specific questions.

I understand that doctors are not experts on the medicines and interactions, but I expect they should at least know the major interactions among medicines and supplements. Even some pharmacists can be confusing. Example, I asked a pharmacist from a local CVS when is the best time to take the probiotics or what antibiotics are affected by Metanx. Two pharmacists in the same branch have different explanations when I asked on different occasions!! I had to ask another pharmacist from another CVS to "break the tie".

[Sallysblooms]

Integrative MD's understand supplements and prevention etc.