Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if I am deficient in essential nutrients?

If you are taking prescription medications that are known to cause nutrient deficiencies, then there is a very high probability that you have developed some degree of deficiency. However, Spectracell Labs offers a more specific test for nutrient deficiencies at the cellular level, and is an objective way to evaluate your nutrient status. To find out more about Spectracell Labs, please visit their website www.spectracell.com.

2. I have been taking prescription medications for years. Why hasn’t my doctor mentioned the loss of essential nutrients to me?

Essential Nutrients is a new concept and our NutraMD products have only become available in August of 2005. It is not surprising that your doctor has not mentioned this to you. Refer him or her to this web site so that they may educate themselves about our products.

3. Should I tell my doctor that I am taking Essential Nutrients?

Absolutely! Even though Essential Nutrients are all natural nutrients, there may on occasion be a reason that your doctor needs to know what medications you are taking, including vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutrients. Essential Nutrients is composed of high quality vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients. There are no herbal products in our Essential Nutrients.

4. Where are the NutraMD supplements made? In the United States or in a foreign country?

Essential Nutrients are made for NutraMD by a manufacturer in Florida. This company was chosen because they are one of the few who would manufacture our product with the highest quality ingredients to our precise specifications. They are a pharmaceutical grade manufacturer located here in the United States.

5. Are the Essential Nutrients products “natural”?

Yes, all of our Essential Nutrients family of products contain only the "natural nutrients" contained in the human body.

6. What does “pharmaceutical grade” mean? Do I need a prescription?

Pharmaceutical grade means that the product has been manufactured to strict guidelines in similar fashion to pharmaceutical prescription medications are. No prescription is needed for any of the Essential Nutrients products.

7. Should I just change my diet and get all the nutrients I need instead of taking a pill?

No. It would be impossible or unsafe in some instances to consume adequate amounts of foods to supply the same levels of nutrients found in Essential Nutrients. In other instances, adequate amounts of foods to supply the required nutrients would mean far too many calories a day, which would be a distinct disadvantage. However, being educated about which foods are high in certain nutrients is a good idea, and one should select those foods as often as possible if they may have a deficiency because of a prescription medication for any reason.

8. Are such doses of vitamins dangerous? That is a lot of pills per day!

None of our Essential Nutrients products, even in combination, will put you at risk for any toxicity problems. High quality nutrient supplements simply require more physical space in the capsules or tablets to provide all the nutrients your cells require, and thus necessitate multiple capsules a day. Keep in mind that these are not synthetic chemicals, but substances your body has in it naturally, supplemented in doses adequate to replace any deficiency.

9. Can I still take a multivitamin while I take Essential Nutrients?

Yes. Over the counter, commonly used multivitamins in recommended doses will not interact with Essential Nutrients, and as long as there is no kidney failure, will not lead to toxicity.

10. Can I take Essential Nutrients if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

You should always ask your obstetrician about anything you take while pregnant or breastfeeding. You may also want to ask your obstetrician whether the prescription drug you are taking the Essential Nutrients for should be continued while pregnant or breastfeeding.

11. How will I know if these supplements are doing me any good?

You will likely feel better in some way, such as having more stamina, energy, and sense of well-being. If you had any testing such as Spectracell (www.spectracell.com) prior to starting Essential Nutrients, it can be repeated after several months.

12. How long should I take Essential Nutrients products?

Essential Nutrients products should be taken along with your prescription medication, so as long as you are on a prescription medication that can cause nutrient deficiencies, you should take NutraMD Essential Nutrients.

13. What adverse symptoms should I look for?

You should not see any more adverse events than you would from taking a multivitamin, and since Essential Nutrients are designed to prevent or correct nutrient deficiencies, you should have fewer adverse effects than NOT taking Essential Nutrients.

14. Should certain people not take these supplements?

In certain circumstances, such as severe kidney failure, you should consult your doctor before taking any supplement. In general, if you are basically healthy and not pregnant or breastfeeding, Essential Nutrients are safe and may actually reduce your risk when compared with not taking them along with your prescription medication.

15. How many capsules will I need to take?

Each Essential Nutrients product will tell you on the bottle how many capsules per day are recommended. High quality supplements often require more capsules a day in order to provide your body with adequate amounts of every nutrient. The old notion of a “one a day vitamin” was well marketed in the past, but is wholly inadequate for the majority of nutritional needs.

16. Are Essential Nutrients products approved by the FDA?

No, and supplements do not require FDA approval or oversight. This is why it is important to take supplements containing the highest quality and best forms of each nutrient, and is manufactured in ways approved by the FDA for prescription medications.

17. Can I take these supplements with herbal products?

In general, there is no interaction between the ingredients in Essential Nutrients supplements and herbal supplements. NutraMD, however, does not recommend that you take herbal supplements with Essential Nutrients.

18. How are these different from the supplements I get from the health food store?

Essential Nutrients supplements are unique in that they are formulated to replace the nutrient deficiencies that may result from a specific prescription medication. No other product is currently available that does this without taking supplements from multiple different bottles.

19. Why are these supplements using such high doses compared to government guidelines?

The minimum daily requirements established by the government are the lowest amount of a nutrient that will prevent a deficiency syndrome. The optimal dose of a nutrient will be a good deal higher than the minimal dose to prevent a deficiency syndrome.

20. How long will a bottle of Essential Nutrients last?

If taken as directed, each bottle represents a month’s worth of supplements.

21. Are the supplements homeopathic remedies?

Essential Nutrients supplements provide the basic things your cells need to function normally. Since the normally functioning cell is a healthy cell, Essential Nutrients help the body help itself.

22. What scientific evidence is behind this combination of nutrients?

NutraMD has a large database of evidence from the medical literature to support the rationale for each formulation. Some of the evidence is basic science, and some is from clinical studies. Normalizing levels of nutrients that are deficient is physiologic and makes intuitive sense. Before Essential Nutrients, many doctors would recommend patients take a certain supplement or supplements to go with the prescription medication they prescribed. Now it is much easier, less expensive, and specifically targeted to a specific medication.