As a Naturopathic Doctor with over fifteen years of experience, I’ve often been asked: “Can Naturopathic Doctors prescribe pharmaceutical medications?”
To answer this, let’s first clarify what pharmaceutical medications are. These are chemical substances used to treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose diseases, as well as to manage symptoms.
Historically, many pharmaceutical medications were derived from natural substances and then chemically modified. Today, however, many of these medications are synthetic compounds created for medical use.
What Are the Two Main Types of Pharmaceutical Medications?
Pharmaceutical medications fall into two main categories: over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs.
OTC medications, such as ibuprofen (commonly known as Advil or Motrin) and acetaminophen (often referred to as Tylenol), are widely available without a prescription.
On the other hand, many pharmaceutical medications are classified as controlled substances and can only be obtained with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario can prescribe a limited list of controlled medications that require a prescription
What Other Medicines Can Naturopathic Doctors Prescribe?
Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario can recommend over-the-counter medications when appropriate for their patient’s care. In fact, they can even prescribe a limited list of controlled medications that require a prescription, such as certain hormones and high-dose vitamins.
However, the majority of medications are prescribed by medical doctors, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners. Regardless of who prescribes the medication, it’s important to take pharmaceutical use seriously.
These medications can have a profound impact on the mind and body. That is why they should only be used when clearly indicated for a specific medical purpose. While pharmaceuticals can be incredibly helpful when needed, they can also be harmful if used inappropriately.
Even when a medication is indicated for treating a specific condition, potential adverse effects or side effects should be carefully considered.
Most pharmaceutical medications come with a range of possible side effects, though many are rare and non-serious. Navigating and managing these side effects is an important part of any treatment plan involving medications.
Definition of Pharmaceutical Medication | A chemical substance used to treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose a disease or to treat specific symptoms that are being experienced. |
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Can Naturopathic Doctors Prescribe Medications? | Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario can recommend over-the-counter medications and prescribe a limited list of controlled medications that require a formal prescription. |
What Other Medicines Can Naturopathic Doctors Prescribe? | Botanical Medicines, Nutritional Supplements, Dietary Changes, Homeopathy, Lifestyle Counselling. |
Naturopathic Doctors can also prescribe Botanical Medicines, Nutritional Supplements, Dietary Changes, Homeopathy, and Lifestyle Counseling
When to Choose Pharmaceuticals vs. Botanical Medicines
I can recall during my education at Naturopathic Medical College, when attending my classes in pharmaceutical medications, the information we would learn would routinely show how a medication would often have one or two indications, or rather specific reasons, for its use. This would typically be associated with a long list of potential side effects.
Take, for example, proton pump inhibitors like Nexium or Pantoprazole that are prescribed for the treatment of acid reflux or heartburn. Yet, they can cause dozens of potential side effects ranging from diarrhea and headache to kidney inflammation and dizziness. This finding would be in stark contrast to what I would experience in my botanical medicine classes.
During these classes, we would routinely see how a botanical medicine would often have several indications or reasons why it may be given as a treatment, and it would be associated with just one or two potential side effects.
For example, the herbal medicine known as lavender is indicated for conditions like anxiety, pain, insomnia, indigestion, stress, low mood, and muscle spasms, yet the known side effects are limited to nausea and burping.
This experience of comparing pharmaceutical medications and other therapeutic agents demonstrated the different types of medicines and how each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Even though a pharmaceutical medication can be quite powerful for a specific indication, it also has a high index of harm. In contrast, botanical medicine provides a broad spectrum of benefits with a much lower chance of causing adversity.
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Long Story Short
This experience taught me that having a variety of therapeutic tools is crucial for addressing the diverse needs of patients. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I strive to provide safe and effective treatments for each individual’s health concerns.
While natural therapies like botanical medicine are often my first choice, I also recognize when a stronger, more targeted approach, such as pharmaceutical medications, is necessary.
After all, every job requires the right tools. If you’re eating soup, you use a spoon, not a shovel! Similarly, in healthcare, the key is to choose the right tool for the right situation, which is why I opt for the best possible outcomes for my patients.
