Can Functional Medicine Work Alongside Your Current Treatment Plan?
TL; DR
Functional medicine can often be added to your current treatment plan without replacing the care you already receive. It may offer added support with nutrition, sleep, stress, and other daily factors that affect your health. Clear communication between providers is important, especially when medications and supplements are involved. Treatment may involve sharing your diagnoses, treatments, and test results. This helps each provider understand their role and create a more connected approach to your care.
Adding Another Layer of Support to Your Health Care
You may already have a doctor you trust. You might take medication, see a specialist, or follow a treatment plan for a diagnosed condition. At the same time, you may still have questions about your health. You may also want more support with nutrition, sleep, stress, or other parts of daily life. Exploring functional medicine doesn't always mean starting over with your care. In many cases, it can be used alongside the medical treatment you already receive. The key is making sure each provider understands your health needs and the care you’re receiving.
Can Functional Medicine Complement Your Current Medical Treatment?
Functional medicine can offer another way to look at your health while you continue necessary medical care. Your current doctor may manage a diagnosed condition or prescribe medication. In some cases, they may provide specialized treatment. A functional medicine provider can provide a different perspective by exploring other factors that could affect how you feel.
For example, you may want more guidance with food choices, sleep habits, movement, or stress. You might also have symptoms that continue even though another health concern is being treated. The goal isn’t to replace care that’s working or medically necessary. Instead, functional medicine can add another layer of support based on your needs.
What Does Integrative Care Look Like in Practice?
Adding another provider to your health care team works best when everyone has a clear picture of your current care. Your functional medicine provider will need to understand where you're starting. This helps them make the most productive recommendations.
Reviewing Your Current Diagnoses and Treatment Plan
Your health history can provide useful information about what you’ve already tried. A functional medicine provider may review your diagnoses and medications. They may also review previous treatments and recent test results. It’s important to be open about what has helped and what hasn’t. You can also share any side effects or concerns you’ve discussed with your other providers. This type of information can help your provider avoid repeating tests or making suggestions that don't fit with your current treatment.
Looking at Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, and Daily Habits
Your treatment plan may focus on a certain illness or condition. Functional medicine can also explore parts of daily life that may affect your health. For helpful context, your provider may ask about what you eat, how well you sleep, and how much you move. Stress and other habits may also be part of the conversation. These areas don't replace medical treatment. However, they may reveal more ways to support your overall health while you continue receiving care.
Setting Health Goals That Fit With Your Medical Care
Your goals should make sense for your health and current treatment plan. Perhaps you want more energy for your daily activities. You may want to improve your eating habits or develop a better sleep routine. Your goals will depend on your needs and what’s safe for your health. A functional medicine doctor can help you create realistic steps while considering the care you already receive.
Can You Take Medication While Using Functional Medicine?
Taking prescription medication doesn't automatically prevent you from exploring functional medicine. In fact, sharing a complete medication list is an important part of receiving safe care. You shouldn't stop or change a prescription on your own because you’re starting functional medicine. It’s essential to talk with the provider who manages your medication before making changes.
Why Your Provider Needs to Know About Your Medications
Tell your functional medicine doctor about every medication you take. Include prescriptions as well as over-the-counter products. This helps your provider better understand your current treatment plan. It can also help them avoid recommendations that may not work well with your medications. Be sure to keep your medication list updated, especially if another doctor changes a prescription or dosage.
Can Supplements Interact With Prescription Medications?
Yes, some supplements can interact with medications. A product being labeled “natural” doesn't always mean that it’s safe for everyone. Certain vitamins, herbs, and other supplements may actually change how a medication works. Sometimes, they can even cause side effects when combined with certain prescriptions. Tell your providers about every supplement you use or are thinking about taking. This allows them to consider possible risks before adding something new to your routine.
How Can Your Functional Medicine Doctor Work With Your Other Providers?
Good communication can make it easier to manage care from several providers. Each person on your health care team should understand their role and have the information they need.
Sharing Lab Results and Health Records
Your existing records may contain valuable information. This might include recent lab results, imaging, diagnoses, and treatment notes. These records can give your functional medicine provider a better starting point while reducing unnecessary repeat testing. When new tests are needed, those results can sometimes be useful to other members of your health care team as well. It’s okay to ask your providers how they prefer to share records and updates.
Knowing Which Provider Should Manage Each Part of Your Care
Different providers have different areas of training. A specialist may manage a diagnosed condition or provide a certain procedure. Your primary care doctor may oversee routine care and medications. A functional medicine doctor may focus more on nutrition, lifestyle, and other factors related to your overall health. Knowing who’s responsible for each part of your care can reduce confusion and ensure you know who to contact when questions come up.
Should You Stop Your Current Treatment When Starting Functional Medicine?
Starting functional medicine with SEO Wellbeing doesn't mean you should stop your current treatment. Medications and other medical treatments may remain important for managing your condition. Additionally, suddenly stopping some medications can sometimes be harmful. Instead, talk openly with your providers about any changes you’d like to make. If your treatment needs adjusting, the provider responsible for that care can help you decide how to do so safely.
How Do You Build a Health Care Team That Works Together?
You don't have to view functional medicine and conventional medical care as competing choices. Rather, they often serve different purposes within the same treatment plan. Start by keeping each provider informed. Share your medication and supplement lists, test results, diagnoses, and major changes in your care. Ask questions when you’re unsure about a recommendation or which provider should handle a concern. Your health care team should help you understand your options so you can make informed decisions. When your providers have a clear picture of your care, you can build a plan that supports your health without losing sight of the treatment you already need.
Ready For Comprehensive Support? Add Functional Medicine to Your Current Care in St. Louis, MO
Already receiving medical care but wondering if there are other ways to support your health? Functional medicine can give you space to explore nutrition, sleep, stress, and other factors. It’s an approach that allows you to delve deeper into your health while keeping your current treatment needs in mind.
At SEO Wellbeing, we understand that you may already have doctors, medications, or treatments that are important to your health. You don’t have to leave that care behind to explore functional medicine. Our team will take time to learn about your health history and current treatment plan. We can also review past testing and discuss the concerns you still have. From there, we’ll help you find ways to support your health that fit with the care you already receive.
You don’t need to sort through everything on your own before reaching out. Here’s how to get started:
Schedule your first appointment. Tell us about your symptoms, current treatments, medications, and health goals.
Meet with a functional medicine doctor in St. Louis, MO. Together, you can explore areas of your health that may need more support.
Create a personalized plan that considers your current care. Your recommendations can reflect your health history, test results, lifestyle, and ongoing treatments.
Your health care doesn’t always have to come from one approach. If you’re interested in adding functional medicine to your current treatment plan, contact SEO Wellbeing. Together, we'll explore how different types of care may work together to support your health.
Explore Additional Support at SEO Wellbeing in St. Louis, Missouri
Functional medicine can help you see how different parts of your health may work together. As you learn more about your body and your needs, you can make informed choices that support your health alongside your current care. At SEO Wellbeing, we also recognize that feeling well can involve more than addressing physical symptoms. Your emotional health, relationships, nutrition, movement, and daily routines can all play a role. That’s why our St. Louis practice brings several types of care together in one setting. This gives you the option to receive support in other areas without losing sight of the treatment plan you already have.
Our services include individual therapy, couples counseling, and family therapy. We also offer psychiatry, chiropractic care, acupuncture, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional counseling. Depending on your needs, different providers may become part of your care team. This approach can make it easier to address several areas of your well-being while keeping your overall health goals in mind. Whether you’re adding functional medicine to existing medical care or exploring support in another area, our team can help you consider your options. Visit our full list of services, blog, and FAQ page to learn more. You can also contact SEO Wellbeing to schedule a consultation at our St. Louis practice.
About the Author
Avery Lopez, RDN, IFNCP, is a functional medicine doctor and dietitian in St. Louis. They help clients explore functional medicine while keeping their current health care needs in mind. Avery specializes in gut health, hormonal balance, PCOS, and disordered eating recovery. Avery is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Integrative and Functional Nutrition Practitioner. They use lab-informed functional nutrition to explore factors that may be affecting a client’s health. Their approach also includes HAES® and body-trust principles. This allows clients to focus on nourishment without shame or restriction. Avery’s goal is to help clients better understand their bodies. They work with each person to find a path forward that respects their needs as a whole person. Outside of work, Avery enjoys tending to houseplants, visiting local farmers’ markets, and trying new vegetarian recipes.