Questions to ask about your medicine

It is a good idea to have some questions ready to ask your doctor when you get a new medicine. 

Feel free to print out this list and take it with you. Doctors expect their patients to ask more questions, and to be more involved in decision making these days.

• Why am I taking the medicine?
• What is the dose, and will it change in the future?
• How long does it take to work?
• What are the benefits of taking it?
• What will happen if I don’t take it?
• What are the possible side-effects?
• Is there anything that can help me cope with the side-effects?
• Are there any long-term side-effects?
• If I miss a dose, what should I do?
• If I take too much, what should I do?
• How long will I be on this medicine for?
• Will it affect my ability to have children in the future?

There is information to help with many of these questions on the website, but it is general to all young people in England. You can use this information to talk to your doctor about how this will affect you personally.