I too have a detailed list, just as Dr. smith and Idiopathic PN does. And frankly, if your (or your mom's) doctor does NOT read your medication list...then it's time for a new doctor. ALL my doctors read my medication list and thank me for it as well.

I also think it's partially the patient's responsibility to inquire about medications and interactions when seeing more then one doctor and being prescribed more then one thing. Patients have to be proactive. Older patients should have an advocate with them for this very purpose. Some doctors, as Mrs D says, don't know all about every medication. But a simple question to your pharmacist about possible interactions (and to look over the list) could be life saving.

Some doctors are just close-minded about supplements and that's a shame, but that doesn't mean someone should stop taking them.

Same here. I agree that most PCPs lack knowledge about most medications (specialists are a little better with the meds pertinent to their specialties that they prescribe often), and have even less knowledge regarding supplements.

It's my pharmacist who contacts me regarding medication interactions, and notifies my PCP at the same time. One reason for this is that I always use the same pharmacy and my list of prescriptions is on their system, which automatically checks for interactions with anything else on my list. They also offer to do this free for anyone who brings in their list of meds, whether a customer or not.

Vitamins & supplements aren't usually checked for, so I have to check them for myself. There are many sites (some of which have been discussed here) for checking interactions. There may also be apps for doing this on smart phones, tablets, etc.

Medicine, like technology, is changing so fast that it's realistically impossible for every doctor to be on top of every new development.

Agree with en bloc's other points as well.

Doc

OK then fine, however, if the stupid dr doesn't know then he should just say he does not know. He should not just tell her to stop taking the supplement because he doesn't wanna look it up or does not know.

It's blatant lack of knowledge or care to just say stop taking it without reason.

Yes. I have an attitude about doctors.

And I agree, it IS the patients responsibility to know, especially since the doctors DONT. That is the real problem here, the patient DID know.

I am not irritated that he didn't know what benfotiamine is, I am irritated that he just told her to stop taking it, no explanation, no reason given, other than he didn't know what it is.

I think everyone is in violent agreement on these points.

Doc