Medicines vs. Supplements: What's the Difference?

Today, we have a wide range of products that promise to support our health – from headache pills to vitamin and mineral capsules. Both medicines and dietary supplements await us on the shelves of pharmacies, drugstores and on the Internet. Although they may seem similar at first glance, there are actually fundamental differences between them. And it doesn’t hurt to know these differences – for the sake of safety, effectiveness and the expectations we place on them.

• A medicinal product, or medicine in other words, is a product that has a demonstrable therapeutic effect. It is used to prevent, diagnose, alleviate or treat disease. Each drug must go through a rigorous approval process in which its effectiveness, safety and quality are verified.

• Supplements are foods that are intended to supplement the regular diet with certain vitamins, minerals, herbs or other substances. They are not intended to treat diseases, but rather to promote health. They are not medicines – and most importantly: their effectiveness does not have to be scientifically proven.

Finally, it is worth mentioning one more term – generics. These are medicines that contain the same active ingredient as the original medicine, the patent of which has already expired. The generic must prove that it has a comparable effect (so-called bioequivalence), but it does not have to be completely identical – they may differ in excipients, absorbability or form (e.g. tablet vs. capsule). This may have an impact on more sensitive patients, although for most people generics are completely sufficient and often a cheaper alternative to the original medicine.

Medicines and dietary supplements are not the same thing – and it’s not just a play on words. When choosing what to use to help with health problems or for prevention, it’s good to know exactly what we’re buying. Medicines have strict rules, supplements are more relaxed. Both have their place, you just need to not mix them up. And you also know why your doctor tells you to only ask for the medicine he or she has prescribed at the pharmacy.

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