How are your medicines making you feel?

Over time our bodies change. So to make sure they still work for you, your medicines may need to change too. It’s important that your medications are reviewed regularly. Your condition or circumstances may have changed, and the medicines you were prescribed may no longer be right for you. A review is for you and a healthcare professional to decide about your medication together.

Anyone who gets repeat NHS prescribed medication for long term health conditions should be offered a medicine review at regular intervals. This is usually done yearly, though it can depend on your condition and age.

If you have any changes in your condition or circumstances, or you notice any unwanted side effects, it is important you request a review as soon as possible, rather than wait for your regular review. This is so your health professional can make sure you are on the most suitable medication for you.

Your review is a private appointment between you and a qualified healthcare professional. It could be a Practice Pharmacist, a GP or practice nurse. The review may take place in person or over the phone.

At your review you may be asked these questions:

• Do you think your medicines are helping your health or stopping it from getting worse?
• When was the last time you didn’t take at least one of your medicines?
• Have you had any unwanted side effects from your medicines?

You may also be asked about your circumstances and if they have changed, or if you have any concerns or questions you’d like to discuss.

An appointment for tests may be made to see whether the medicine is working, depending on the type of medicine you are taking and any concerns raised (e.g. blood pressure checks).

The aim of a medicine review is to check that the medicines you are prescribed are still working for you and that you are getting the best from them. Stopping a medication may be the most appropriate outcome. However it is not always the outcome. Any concerns around changing or stopping medicines will be fully discussed with you, and your health professional will always ensure you are happy with any decisions made around your care.

We know it can sometimes be hard knowing where to start when raising questions or concerns related to your health. That is why we have designed a symptom tracker which can be used as an aid to help you in your medicine review. You can use the tracker to record any symptoms you might be feeling, both physical and mental. It will help you and your healthcare professional to see more clearly where common symptoms are arising. This will help you both with making decisions about your medication, and to monitor any changes to make sure they are working for you.

Usually, you have one yearly. However there are lots of reasons you might not have had a review for your medicines, it is not a reason to be worried. By having a regular review of your medicines, you can be confident that you’re receiving the most suitable treatment.