How to Prepare for a Medication Review Appointment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why a medication review isn’t just another doctor’s appointment

You’ve been taking the same pills for years. Maybe you’ve added a few more after a hospital stay. Your GP says it’s time for a medication review. You think, It’s just a chat, right? Wrong. A medication review isn’t a quick check-in. It’s a safety check on everything you’re putting into your body - prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, even the vitamins you grab off the shelf.

In the UK, if you’re on five or more medications, you’re at higher risk of harmful interactions, side effects, or taking something that no longer helps. That’s why practices like Godiva Group Practice NHS now treat medication reviews as mandatory. If you don’t show up, they’ll limit your prescriptions. After three months of no response? They stop issuing repeats altogether. This isn’t bureaucracy. It’s protection.

And it’s not just about pills. It’s about inhalers, creams, patches, liquid medicines, supplements, and even herbal teas that affect your heart or blood pressure. Missing one item on your list could mean your doctor misses a dangerous interaction.

What to bring: Your medicine suitcase

Don’t just list your meds. Bring them. All of them.

That means every single thing you take - even if you haven’t used it in weeks. Your GP or pharmacist doesn’t care if you think it’s "not important." They need to see it. This includes:

• Prescription tablets and liquids
• Over-the-counter painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin)
• Vitamins and supplements (fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium)
• Herbal remedies (St John’s wort, ginkgo biloba, turmeric)
• Inhalers, patches, eye drops, creams, and ointments
• Any medicine you got from a supermarket or chemist without a prescription

Bring the actual bottles. Not just a list. Why? Because labels tell you the exact dose, expiry date, and instructions. A handwritten note might say "as needed," but the bottle says "take one tablet every 6 hours, max 4 per day." That difference matters.

For Parkinson’s patients, timing is everything. Medications like levodopa need to be taken within strict windows. A missed 15-minute window can mean hours of stiffness or tremors. If your review is over the phone or video call, having the bottles in front of you helps you describe the schedule accurately.

Write down what you can’t remember

Your brain is full. Work, family, appointments - it’s hard to recall every side effect you’ve had in the last six months. That’s why you need a simple, clear list before you walk in.

Create a table or bullet list with these four columns:

1. Medicine name - Use the exact name on the bottle. Not "the blue pill for my heart." Write "bisoprolol 5mg."
2. Dosage and frequency - "Take one tablet every morning, with food."
3. Why you take it - "For high blood pressure," "For arthritis pain," "For sleep."
4. Side effects you’ve noticed - "Dizzy after lunch," "Dry mouth," "Constipated," "Felt sick after starting this."

Be honest. If you skipped doses because the side effects were bad, say so. If you stopped one because it was expensive, tell them. Your pharmacist can help you find cheaper alternatives. Your doctor can adjust the dose or switch you to something else.

Don’t forget to note if you’ve had any falls, confusion, memory lapses, or unusual fatigue lately. These aren’t "just getting older" - they could be signs of medication buildup.

Prepare your questions - don’t wait to think of them

Most people leave appointments with half their questions unanswered. That’s because they didn’t write them down.

Here are real questions patients ask during medication reviews:

• "Is this still necessary? I’ve been on it for 10 years."
• "Can I stop this one? It makes me feel foggy."
• "Are any of these causing my constipation?"
• "Is there a cheaper version?"
• "What happens if I don’t take this anymore?"
• "Are there other ways to treat this besides pills?"
• "Do any of these interact with my supplements?"

Write these down before you go. Bring the list. Use it. If you’re nervous, practice saying them out loud. You’re not being difficult. You’re being smart.

Know who’s doing the review - and what they can do

Not every medication review is with your GP. More and more, it’s a clinical pharmacist. That’s not a downgrade. It’s an upgrade.

Pharmacists are medicine experts. They know how drugs interact, what doses are safe together, and which ones are outdated. They can often change your prescription on the spot - no need to wait for a doctor’s signature. They can also help you switch to a cheaper brand or suggest a different form (like a liquid instead of a pill if swallowing is hard).

Ask at booking: "Will this be with my GP or a pharmacist?" If it’s a pharmacist, you can ask more detailed questions about how the drugs work. If it’s your GP, they’ll focus more on your overall health and whether the meds still match your goals.

Telehealth? Here’s what you need to do differently

If your review is over Zoom, phone, or another video call, preparation is even more critical. You can’t hand over your pills. So you need to be ready to describe them perfectly.

Before the call:

• Gather every medicine and lay them out on a table.
• Take photos of each bottle label - front and back.
• Have your written list open on your screen or printed out.
• Test your tech: make sure your camera works, your mic isn’t muted, and you’re in a quiet space.
• Have a glass of water nearby - you might need to take a pill during the call.

During the call, hold up each bottle one at a time. Say the name, dose, and why you take it. If you’re unsure, say: "This is the one for my blood pressure - I think it’s called lisinopril?" That’s fine. They’ll help you confirm.

What happens after the review?

Don’t assume it’s over when you walk out.

Your clinician might:

• Stop one medicine entirely
• Reduce the dose of another
• Switch you to a different brand
• Add a new medicine to fix a side effect
• Suggest a non-drug treatment - like exercise for arthritis instead of more painkillers

Ask for a printed summary or email with the changes. Write down any new instructions. Don’t rely on memory.

And if you’re told to stop a medicine - don’t just quit cold turkey. Ask: "How do I do this safely?" Some drugs need to be tapered off slowly to avoid withdrawal or rebound symptoms.

What if you can’t get to the clinic?

If you’re housebound, have mobility issues, or live far from your practice, you’re not out of luck.

The Northern Health and Social Services Board confirms that home visits for medication reviews are available - but you have to ask. Don’t wait for them to offer. Call your practice and say: "I need a home visit for my medication review because I can’t travel."

Some practices also offer phone reviews with a pharmacist. Ask if that’s an option.

Don’t wait until you’re in trouble

People often wait until they feel awful to book a review. But the best time to have one is when you’re feeling fine. That’s when you can spot subtle changes - like needing more sleep, feeling more tired, or having trouble remembering to take your pills.

Medication reviews aren’t about blame. They’re about keeping you safe, healthy, and in control. Every pill you take has a purpose. But if that purpose changes - or if the risks grow - it’s time to adjust.

Take 30 minutes before your appointment. Gather your medicines. Write down your concerns. Bring your questions. You’re not just showing up - you’re taking charge of your health.