How to prepare for a GP appointment to review your medicines
A well-prepared medication review helps you understand your treatment and lets your doctor assess whether each medicine is still needed.
In short
- Ask for an appointment specifically to review your medication, rather than raising it at the end of another visit.
- Bring all your medicines or an up-to-date list, including what you buy without a prescription, vitamins and herbal remedies.
- Prepare three or four questions: what each medicine is for, how long you should take it and whether there is any you no longer need.
- Note down any side effects you have noticed and leave with your updated treatment sheet.
For a medication review to be useful, arrive with three things ready: all your medicines (or a complete list), what you have noticed since your last visit and a few specific questions. With that, your doctor can quickly assess whether each medicine is still necessary and right for you.
This guide helps you prepare for the appointment step by step, so you leave with clear ideas and no unanswered questions.
| What will you find in this article? |
Why is it worth reviewing all your medicines from time to time?
Because your health changes and your treatment can fall out of date: some medicines were added for a one-off problem and are still there, doses could be adjusted and some combinations need watching. MedlinePlus recommends asking your clinician whether you still need each medicine on your list and whether any dose should change.
The review is a good moment to talk about how your medicines agree with you, how they fit into your daily life and what you expect from your treatment. NHS Scotland polypharmacy reviews stress that your views matter and that you remain the one who decides, with support from the professional.
What should you bring to the appointment?
The most practical approach is to bring all the packs you take in a bag, or a complete, up-to-date list. Many people cannot remember the exact names or doses during the appointment, and seeing the packs avoids omissions and mix-ups.
- All your medicines: prescribed ones, what you buy without a prescription, vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies.
- Your medication list: if you do not have one yet, here is how to make your medication list.
- Your active treatment sheet: you can view it in your region's health app, as we explain in electronic prescriptions on your phone.
- Reports from other specialists and recent treatment changes.
- Your records if you keep them: blood pressure, glucose or weight.
- A note of side effects or discomfort, and since when.
Which questions should you prepare?
Bring a few well-chosen questions. The Spanish Ministry of Health's 5 Moments guide suggests questions like these for when your medication is reviewed:
| Question | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| What is each of my medicines for? | Understanding why you take each one |
| How long should I take each medicine? | Knowing which are long-term and which are temporary |
| Am I taking any medicine I no longer need? | Opening the door to possible deprescribing |
| Could these effects I notice be caused by a medicine? | Helps manage side effects |
| When should I come back to review my medication? | Setting the next check |
If you think you take too many tablets, there are ideas for raising it in how to talk to your doctor if you think you take too many medicines.
How can you make the most of the appointment?
Ask for an appointment dedicated to your medication and say so when booking, so your doctor can set aside the time needed. Start with what worries you most and, before leaving, repeat the agreed changes out loud to check you have understood them.
- Say at the start that you have come to review all your medication.
- Raise your two or three main questions first.
- Be honest: if you do not take a medicine or take it differently, say so.
- Ask for your treatment sheet to be updated with the changes.
- Do not stop or change any medicine on your own, before or after the appointment.
If it makes you feel more at ease, you can bring someone with you. Your pharmacist can also help you prepare for the review and spot possible interactions.
A practical example: Marta prepares for her review
Take the case of Marta, 58, an administrative assistant with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. She takes four prescribed medicines, a stomach protector she was prescribed years ago, ibuprofen now and then for her back and a magnesium supplement.
She books an appointment to review her medication and the night before puts all her packs in a bag, including the ibuprofen and the supplement. She writes down three questions: whether she still needs the stomach protector, whether ibuprofen is compatible with her blood pressure treatment and why she has been feeling more tired lately. At the appointment, her doctor goes through each medicine, explains the changes she considers appropriate and gives her the updated sheet. Marta leaves knowing what she takes and why.
How can IMA Health help you?
With IMA Health, your medication arrives prepared by a specialised pharmacy, organised by day and time. When your doctor changes your treatment after the review, the pharmacy adapts the preparation and the pharmacist can answer your questions about the new dosing.
We coordinate with the pharmacy, deliver your medication to your home and provide personalised follow-up. More information in the IMA Health service.
Sources
- Spanish Ministry of Health: 5 Moments for Medication Safety. Guide for health professionals (2022)
- MedlinePlus: Taking multiple medicines safely (Spanish version)
- NHS Scotland (Orchard Medical Practice): Polypharmacy Review, Making Medicines Personal
This article is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.