The difference between medications and supplements?

When facing the choice of a specific product in a pharmacy, we often ask ourselves why "the same" products have a medicine designation on the package while others have a supplement one. Let's ask ourselves a question: will 200mg of ascorbic acid HEAL - because it has a medicine designation on the package, while 1000mg of the same acid from a supplement package will not work? It will be easier to answer this question after reading the rest of the article.

So, what is the difference between a drug and a supplement? According to the Food and Nutrition Safety Act, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS are FOOD PRODUCTS whose task is to supplement the diet with deficient nutrients. In the case of supplements, any controls are carried out after the product has been registered. DRUGS, on the other hand, are products used to prevent or treat diseases. Every drug is thoroughly tested for effectiveness and safety before being introduced to the market. A drug must demonstrate scientifically proven therapeutic effects and a specific effect after taking the recommended dose. Additionally, drugs undergo strict controls and are often withdrawn from the market if any irregularities occur. The drug must include a leaflet describing its effects, ingredients, indications, dosage, contraindications, interactions, storage, and side effects. Drugs are divided into prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ones. 

It may seem that this explanation exhausts the topic, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Let's develop this topic further.

Supplements are cheaper to produce. They do not require all the tests, studies, and registration fees. Therefore, supplements are often cheaper than medicines.

The packaging of dietary supplements must have a clear label stating that it is a dietary supplement.

Practically anyone can become a supplement manufacturer. This is due to completely different legal regulations than the production of medicines. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention when buying supplements to:

• the quality of the supplements,
• whether the company producing supplements also sells medicines, which will indicate the quality of the product,
• whether the company producing supplements has a well-established position on the market,
• whether they are available in pharmacies or only in direct sales or online stores,
• whether supplements are stored properly,
• whether they have quality certificates,
• whether the product description and composition are indicated on the package,
• whether the manufacturer commissions quality testing of their products to independent laboratories.

Unfortunately, nowadays, many supplements pretend to be medicines. This applies to both the packaging and the effects. Marketers cleverly advertise supplements, often resorting to tricks, including "inventing" diseases for which specific supplements work.

The truth is that supplements are not a panacea for all ills. Of course, there are cases when their use is necessary and recommended to supplement the diet, but it should be remembered that the basis for thinking about health should be a balanced diet, sleep, rest, exercise, and sports. After taking care of these fundamentals, when tests reveal deficiencies, it is worth considering supplementation.

When a doctor diagnoses a disease and prescribes medication, we will follow their indications and choose the appropriate drug instead of a supplement. We hope that our article will be helpful to you and make it much easier to make a decision about what to choose: medication or supplement. 

In conclusion, dietary supplements and drugs are two common substances that people consume for various reasons. While dietary supplements are intended to supplement the diet and support general health, drugs are intended to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease. Although both substances can have a positive impact on a person's health, it is important to be aware of their differences, regulation, and potential interactions to ensure their safe and effective use.