Functional Medicine FAQs
How old do you have to be to receive functional medicine services?
The minimum age for our functional medicine services is 18 years old.
What if I am on a budget?
There are a lot of things we can do that do not cost a lot. At the initial consultation, you will receive a lot of education and lifestyle recommendations. Your plan may only be labs which are $120-250 depending on your needs and your budget. Any Functional Medicine interventions can drastically impact your quality of life.
What kind of changes will I be asked to make?
Recommendations include eating organic foods, eating a variety of foods, drinking more water, drinking clean water, removing endocrine disruptors from your environment, practicing stress management techniques, increasing activity, creating a sleep routine, etc.
You may also be asked to eliminate certain things from your diet temporarily like gluten, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and sugar.
Functional Medicine requires a commitment. It can be a long process. We are healing your body and treating the root cause! This is not a pill for an ill.
How much are the supplements?
The goal is to use food first. We will always choose food as medicine before supplements. But most likely, you will be on a handful of supplements for 3-6 months. This is based on each person’s individual needs, so the cost does vary. It is recommended you budget for $300/month in supplements for 3-6 months.
Where do I complete the testing?
Vital Infusions & Functional Medicine is a Lab Corp draw site.
Other Functional Medicine tests such as hormone testing or a gut evaluation will be in the form of test kits mailed to your home.
Weight Loss FAQs
Can anyone start this program?
You must have a BMI of at least 26. Using this medication for BMI between 26-28 is considered “off label” which is something you must consent to prior to starting the program.
The only contraindications for this medication are a personal or immediate family history of medullary thyroid cancer. Or a personal history of pancreatitis.
Anyone taking warfarin and watching their INR will require at least weekly monitoring.
Anyone taking thyroid medication will need to recheck their levels with their primary care provider. As they lose weight, their dosage will change.
What do I need to do to get started?
You will need labs (kidney function and liver function) within 90 days of starting the medication. This can be from your primary care provider.
If you had not had labs, we could order for you. Vital Functional Medicine utilizes Lab Corp using their cash pay option.
Our full lab panel includes basic labs (CBC and CMP), Iron, Ferritin, B12, Folate, A1C or average blood sugar, fasting insulin, Lipid panel, Vitamin D, TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies. This full panel is $125!
Is there a membership? How do I pay?
You pay for the medication when you order. You are required to order 2 months at a time to reduce shipping costs. The membership is built into this price, along with shipping. The price you see is the ONLY price you pay.
For a full price list, contact us.
Which compounding pharmacies do you use?
Genesis Compounding Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri..
We only use compounding pharmacies that have the highest standard in safety and potency.
Men’s & Women’s Health
Where to the hormones come from?
Strive Compounding Pharmacy. We do not use local pharmacies.
Why don’t you use local pharmacies?
Our practice works primarily with compounding pharmacies because many of the therapies we use are individualized to the patient rather than a one-size-fits all prescription.
In Functional medicine and hormone-focused care, treatment may involve customized doses, combinations, formulations or delivery methods that are not always available with commercially prepared medications.
Our approach is to use the medication and formulation that fits the patient’s specific clinical needs, with dosing guided by the patient’s symptoms, lab findings, medical history and ongoing response to treatment. When a therapy involves an off-label use, that means the medication is being prescribed for a use that differs from the FDA-approved labeling; it does not mean the medication is being used outside of medical oversight.
Because these treatments can require careful titration and monitoring, we partner with pharmacies experienced in individualized and compounded therapies. The goal is simply not to use “more” medication, but to develop a personalized treatment plan and adjust therapy appropriately over time.
What if I’ve had labs?
Please look at the Men’s or Women’s Health pages. If you have had all of the labs listed in the last 90 days, we can refund the price of labs, and you can upload your lab results. If not, we prefer to not break down the lab panels since all of the information provides insight into your current health status.
Vitamin Therapy
Why do I need an iv?
We are living in a new age where people do not want to take a pill for an ill. Today, we want to OPTIMIZE our health! We want to prevent what we can prevent! And we want to slow the aging process!
Traditional medicine does not tell you this, but you could be running to the finish line your whole life! Memory decline does not have to happen. Muscle mass does not have to decrease. And you can do it while looking good!
IV & Injection Therapy provides simple ingredients found in food. But…the big difference is, your body will be able to use 100% of it!
Food sources are not what they used to be. Research shows the soil has been depleted of essential vitamins & nutrients.
The aging process also reduces the amount of vitamins & nutrients we are able to digest & absorb. Stomach acid declines each decade reducing food breaking down into usable products. Certain medications also reduce stomach acid & nutrient break down. And the gut is able to absorb less & less nutrients each year.
By using IV & Injection Therapy, we are able to deliver these key components without interference from the GI tract. Let’s get you feeling AMAZING!
Who should NOT get infusion therapy?
· The minimum age for our services is 16 years old. Patients under 18 require parental consent.
· Current or active cancer
· History of CHF or congestive heart failure.
· History of cirrhosis or liver disease.
· History of kidney failure or dialysis.
If I can’t have an infusion, can I have an injection?
Yes! In fact, if you combine the Tri-Immune injection and the Energy+, it is pretty close to an infusion.
How long does an infusion take?
Most infusions take around 45-60 minutes.
General FAQs
What states can Vital Functional Medicine serve?
Iowa, Illinois & Missouri
Do you accept insurance? Do you accept FSA and HSA?
No. We are stepping outside of the insurance world. Without insurance, labs are inexpensive. Hospitals and clinics upcharge knowing insurance will pay, but when they are denied that cost goes to the patient. Vital Functional Medicine will not be part of this. Our prices are transparent. You know what you will pay BEFORE you get started.
You can use FSA and HSA for every service Vital Functional Medicine provides. You can even use it for your supplements!
We also accept Care Credit.
Where do the supplements come from?
Almost all of the supplements will be sent from Fullscript. This company provides pharmacy grade supplements. They can only be sent to patients after being invited by a provider. This allows them to use the maximum beneficial dose! The dose that will actually help you (unlike over the counter supplements). You will also receive 15% off for being sent a supplement recommendation.
You will need to create a login and password. Orders and refills will be purchased directly from Fullscript. iPhones are able to download the Fullscript app.