Why you should only order what you need
To stay well
- All prescriptions have an expiry date. Unused, out of date, medicines might not work as intended, meaning your care might be compromised.
- Stockpiling medicines can contribute to serious drug shortages.
To stay safe
- Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can be dangerous if accidentally accesses by children and pets.
- Medicines are prescribed for you only, it is not safe to share prescribed medicines with anyone else as this could endanger their health.
To keep green
- When you dispose of medicines properly, by returning them to your local pharmacy, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines are destroyed safely and do not pollute our rivers and seas.
- Only ordering what you need means that you are helping the environment because once medicines have left the pharmacy, if you do not need them, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.
Action list – do and don’t
Do
- Ask for a review of your prescription medicines at your GP surgery if you haven’t had one for a while.
- Let your healthcare professional know if you’ve stopped taking any medications or have concerns about your current prescriptions.
- Check which medications you already have at home, before reordering, to avoid accumulating excess amounts.
- Tick only the boxes for the medications you truly need on your repeat prescription form online or on paper.
- Remember to take all your medications with you in a clearly marked bag and if possible include a copy of your repeat prescription list of drugs if you are admitted to a hospital.
- Store medications securely, out of reach of children and pets.
- Take care to ensure medications are stored at the correct temperature especially in hot weather.
- Return unused or expired medications to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not
- Put medications in the bin or flush them down the toilet, as this can be harmful to the environment.
- Share prescribed medications with others, as they are only for individual use.
Medication reviews
We want you to get the best from your medicines. Please speak to a healthcare professional if you need advice.
To get the most benefit from your medication, you should take it in exactly the way that it has been prescribed and as written on the label on each of your treatments.
If you want to stop taking your medication – or if you stop taking it in the way it was prescribed – it is important to make an appointment to talk to the person who prescribed the medicine or another healthcare professional about this. They will help you to make an informed choice about your medication and may be able to prescribe an alternative treatment to help you. It is important your GP knows you have stopped taking any prescribed medication as soon as possible so as to help you with your overall care.
You should be invited for medication reviews with your practice at least once a year so it is important to take this offer up and attend the appointment. If you feel you haven’t had a medication review for a long time, or have concerns about your medication, contact your GP practice.
More information on medicines
The following resources provide more information:
Age UK – More than Harm than Good. Why more isn’t always better with older people’s medicines & leaflet