Medicines need to be taken exactly as instructed so that they work properly. It’s important that you understand how and when to take your medicines and whether they should be taken with or without food.
If you take more than one type of medicine it’s vital to take them in the right way and make sure they don’t work against each other to cause side effects or make your condition worse.
Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist about the medicines you’re taking and how often you should be taking them. They will explain to you how your medicine will help you and improve your condition, and listen to any worries.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you can’t take your medicine because you can’t open the packaging, or if it is difficult to take medicines at the same time each day.
Ask about side effects that may result from your medication and whether you’re likely to experience them. Not everyone gets these, but it’s good to be prepared. You can also read about side effects in the information leaflet in the medicine packet. If the writing on the leaflet is too small or is hard to understand, ask the pharmacist for a further explanation. If you develop any side effects, tell your GP or pharmacist.
What to do about side effects
You can report a serious side effect using the Yellow Card Scheme. This is a national scheme that tracks bad reactions to medicines. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about the suspected side effect and they can report it for you. Or report it yourself in one of these ways:
- Visit the Yellow Card Scheme website and complete a Yellow Card form online.
- Pick up a Yellow Card form from your GP surgery or your local pharmacy. Complete the form and send it to the address given on the form.
- Call the Yellow Card freephone hotline on 0808 100 3352 (weekdays 10am to 2pm).
Even if you’re feeling better or you don’t notice any change, don’t stop taking your medication without speaking to your GP or pharmacist first. Some long-term conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) have no symptoms. Your medicine may not make you feel better, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Stopping treatment without telling your GP could be dangerous to your health. Always check with your GP or a pharmacist first.
Ultimately, you have the right to refuse to take a medicine. Your health professional can discuss ways to minimise any risk you might be exposed to by not taking a medicine. For example, trying a diet or exercise programme might help.
Tips for taking your medicines
Here are some tips to make taking your medicines easier.
- Keep the medicines where they’re easy to find and make them part of your daily routine.
- If you have difficulty taking your medicine, ask your pharmacist for help.
- Tell your GP or pharmacist if you have difficulty opening the medicine container with your hands, for instance if you have arthritis. Most pharmacists can supply easy-to-open containers.
- If you have difficulty remembering the details of a complicated treatment, ask your GP or pharmacist to write a daily timetable.
- If you’re taking several different medications and have difficulty opening containers or remembering which medicines to take when, speak to your pharmacist who may be able to give you further advice or a device to help you.
- Some mobile phones have calendars on them that can make an alarm go off at the same time every day with a message saying what tablets you should be taking.
- Let your pharmacist know if you have difficulty getting to the pharmacy for your prescriptions. The pharmacy may be able to deliver them to your home at no extra cost.
Find out all about the medicines you are taking with our A-Z medicines guide.
