Can Functional Medicine Doctor Write Prescriptions?

 

Functional medicine is a concept in health care that has evolved and attracted much interest in the recent past because of its person-centered and integrative categorization. Functional medicine involves understanding the fundamental causes of such diseases and dysfunctions in the body's physiology, in contrast to traditional practices that focus on realizing the disease's symptoms. One common question that arises regarding this field is: In the case of prescription medications, best online functional medicine doctor have the right to write prescriptions, but not in all clinics.

Functional Medicine: An Overview

Functional medicine treatment is typically based on patient-centered care, and, in this case, the functional medicine practitioner might recommend changes in diet or supplement the prescription with other practices like diet change and other supportive therapy. 

However, there is a need to note that most functional medicine doctor are legally practicing medical experts. This means that they have medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO) degrees, and as such, they have the right to prescribe drugs where it is necessary.

Prescription Authority of Functional Medicine Doctors

Indeed, functional medicine doctor also have the ability to prescribe medicines. They are able to do so because, as medical practitioners, nurses are first trained and licensed at that level. Like other conventional practitioners, functional medicine physicians go through medical school, residency programs, and acquire the state license that allows them to practice and prescribe medications.

Although best online functional medicine doctor aim to avoid drugs, the use of medication is acknowledged to be efficient in some cases. At will, they may perform minor surgeries, and when required, they can prescribe almost every type of medicine, such as antibiotics, anti hypertensives, and antidepressants, among others.

Comprehensive Approach to Medication Management

That's why the individualization of patient approaches can be identified as one of the main features of functional medicine. This philosophy also applies to the prescription system that functional medicine doctor use with their patients. 

Instead of just recommending the next dose of the pill to give the patient symptomatic relief, they look at how this remedy interlinks with other treatments. These take into account such issues as interaction, adverse effects, and patients’ metabolism profiles.

For example, a functional medicine doctor may prescribe a drug to lower high blood pressure, but at the same time, they may check the primary causes, which include an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, or stress. They might prescribe the medication along with related recommendations for changes in the patient's lifestyle; thus, the treatment might be longer and more targeted to the patient's issues.