Medicine waste

Making sure that you get the best out of your medicines is one way of helping to ensure the best health outcomes for you as well as reducing excess prescribing and medicines waste. 

You can get help with your medicines from:

• NHS Inform
• Community Pharmacist
• Practice Pharmacy Team
• Practice Nurse (for long term conditions)
• GP

What is a medication review?

A medication review is a structured assessment by a healthcare professional of a patient's medicines in relation to their health conditions.  

The aims are to:

• Optimise the contribution medicines make to patient's health.
• Minimise the risk of medicines related problems.
• Remove unnecessary medicines.
• Ensure prescribing is cost-effective.

Medication reviews don't always happen with the patient present so they may be unaware that one has been done.  

Most GP practices have a rolling programme of medicine reviews in place. 
 

Who are medication reviews for? 

Medication reviews are available to anyone who is receiving long term prescriptions.

You can request a review with the Pharmacy Team in your GP Practice by contacting us by email.

They are especially important if: 

• You are taking your medication differently from the dispensing label on the pack:
  • If you are taking the medication "when required" rather than at prescribed intervals
  • If you are taking a different dose - e.g. one tablet daily instead of two tablets daily
  • If you are taking your medicine at a different time interval  - e.g. two tablets once a day rather than one tablet twice a day
     
• You are struggling to manage your medicines on a daily basis
  • you have concerns about the medications you are taking
  • you feel you are taking too many types of medications
  • the medication you are taking is making you feel unwell, or unable to participate in usual activities
     
• You are continuing to receive repeat prescriptions for medicines you no longer need / take 
  • You are receiving significantly more (or less) than a 2-month supply of your regular medicines (unless your medicines are dispensed in instalments, or you intentionally receive a 1-month supply).
     
• You have excess supplies of your usual medication at home

How to request a medication review?

You can request a medication review by contacting the East Lothian Pharmacy Team by email below.

Request a medication review