Book with your GP, clinic, or pharmacist; bring every medicine you use, and leave with a written plan you can follow.
Reviews help when you take many medicines, start a new drug, notice side effects, switch providers, or leave the hospital. They also help if you use supplements, as those can interact with prescriptions. In short, if your treatment feels confusing, heavy, or wasteful, a review can tidy it up and give you one clear plan.
What A Medication Review Includes
Across health systems the service looks similar. A clinician confirms your full list, checks purpose and dose, screens for interactions, weighs risks against benefits, and agrees next steps with you. In the UK, the structured medication review sets a clear template for this kind of visit. In the US, Medicare Part D plans offer Medication Therapy Management for people who meet plan criteria. Both models point toward the same outcome: one shared plan you understand and trust.
| Type | Who/Where | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Medicines Review | Primary care with your GP or practice pharmacist | Reconciliation of all items, dose tweaks, stop/start decisions, and a clear note in your record |
| Structured Medication Review (SMR) | Clinician trained in medicines optimisation, often longer visit | Shared decisions on goals, safety checks, deprescribing where helpful, and written follow-up |
| Medication Therapy Management (MTM) | Pharmacist through a Medicare plan or insurer | Comprehensive review, a personal medicine list, action plan, and outreach to your prescriber if changes are needed |
Getting A Medication Review: Step-By-Step
1) Check Your Best Entry Point
Start with your regular clinic. Ask for a medicines review or a longer appointment that includes one. If your plan offers MTM, the insurer may invite you or you can call the number on your card and request it. Community pharmacies often run review services as well. Pick the route that fits your access and coverage.
2) Make A One-Page Medicine List
Write every item you use, including inhalers, eye drops, patches, creams, vitamins, and herbals. Add dose, how often, and why you take it. Note allergies and past side effects. List your kidney or liver issues if any, as doses can depend on those. If you have a blood pressure or glucose log, add the latest numbers. Keep this list on your phone and print a copy for the visit.
3) Pack The “Brown Bag”
Place all bottles, boxes, and supplement tubs in a bag and take them with you. This simple step catches duplicate drugs, expired packs, wrong strengths, and interactions. The method is sometimes called a brown bag review and is backed by health quality toolkits from AHRQ. Bring device chargers and logbook apps if you use them.
4) Book Enough Time
Ask for a slot that allows an unhurried talk. Mention that you are bringing all medicines and want a review from start to finish. If mobility is tough, ask about phone or video. If language is a barrier, request an interpreter. If a carer helps you, invite them to join.
5) Share Your Goals Up Front
Say what you want from the visit: fewer pills, fewer trips, fewer side effects, better sleep, better control, or clarity on cost. Clear goals steer the plan. Be honest about missed doses, trouble opening packs, or prices you can’t meet. That honesty helps the clinician tailor choices that fit real life.
What To Bring On The Day
Your brown bag goes first. Bring home readings, your insurance or plan details, and any hospital letters. If a new medicine was suggested, bring the leaflet or screenshot of the message. If you track symptoms, bring that record too.
Paperwork Checklist
- Printed medicine list and allergy list
- Device data or logs for blood pressure, glucose, or peak flow
- Recent lab results if you have them
- Plan card for coverage and any MTM letters
- Names of all clinics and pharmacies you use
Questions Worth Asking
- Which items are still needed based on my goals?
- Which dose fits my kidney or liver function?
- Which combinations raise risk and should be spaced or changed?
- Can any item be simplified or switched to reduce cost?
- What signs should prompt a call or urgent care?
What Happens During The Review
Reconciliation And Purpose Check
The clinician matches every item on your list with the record, removes duplicates, and confirms the reason for each drug. You hear in plain terms what each item does, how long you need it, and what outcome to watch for.
Safety And Interaction Screen
They screen doses against your kidney and liver status, check timing, and flag combinations that raise risk for drowsiness, bleeding, rhythm changes, or stomach upset. If a risk outweighs benefit, the plan may change. If a dose is low for your condition, the plan may step up in stages with clear checks.
Deprescribing And Simplifying
Many plans work better after removing items that no longer help. Stopping can be as thoughtful as starting. Some drugs need a taper to avoid rebound effects. The review sets a safe sequence and follow-up. Pill burden often drops when long-term duplicates and outdated items go.
Adherence Support
Small hurdles sink good plans. If you struggle with timing, child-proof caps, or small print, say so. Options include larger labels, easy-open caps, dosing aids, calendar packs, or a switch to once-daily forms. Phone reminders or smart caps can help if forgetfulness gets in the way.
Written Outputs You Should Receive
- A current personal medicine list with dose and timing
- An action plan with adjustments and start/stop dates
- Any required monitoring (labs, BP checks, weigh-ins) with dates
- Clear signs that mean “call the clinic” or “seek urgent help”
Table Of Common Problems And Practical Fixes
| Problem Found | How It Shows Up | Typical Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Therapy | Two brands with same active ingredient | Keep one, align dose, update records across clinics |
| Wrong Dose For Renal Function | Higher dose than your eGFR allows | Adjust dose or switch drug; add repeat labs |
| Risky Combo | Added bleeding or rhythm risk from overlaps | Change timing, pick safer options, set alerts in the record |
| Side Effects Driving Nonuse | Nausea, dizziness, poor sleep | Lower dose, switch class, add food timing; monitor |
| Cost Barriers | Missed refills or splitting doses to stretch packs | Switch to covered options, larger packs, or assistance routes |
How To Book A Medicines Review Appointment
Call your clinic and ask for a medicines review with your GP or a practice pharmacist. If you use a community pharmacy, ask at the counter for a review service and the length of the slot. If you have Medicare Part D, look for MTM details on your plan site or letter and call the number to enroll if you qualify. Some plans invite you by phone; you can still ask even if no invite has arrived.
Ask three things when you book: how long the slot runs, whether you can bring a carer, and whether a printed plan will be given on the day. Add your goals to the appointment note so the team sees them ahead of time.
Pricing And Coverage
Coverage differs by country and plan. In England, structured reviews are part of primary care for those who need them. In the US, Medicare plans run MTM at no extra cost for people who meet plan rules; see the section on plan safety programs and MTM for details. Private plans often run similar services. Pharmacies may offer reviews supported by the health system or the insurer. Ask about cost when you book so there are no surprises.
Drug-specific handouts add clarity without extra fees. The FDA site lists patient handouts and databases you can use to check risks and safe use. If you want to read more before or after the visit, start with Drugs | FDA and the page on Medication Guides.
How To Act On The Plan
Confirm Changes Before You Leave
Repeat the plan back in your own words. That quick step catches mix-ups. If a dose starts low and rises, write the date for each change. If anything stops, ask how to dispose of leftovers. If a taper is set, add the day and time for each step.
Sync Refills And Pick One “Home” Pharmacy
Fewer pick-ups cut misses. Ask to align renewal dates, use 90-day supplies where allowed, and keep one pharmacy whenever possible. That makes checks easier and lowers the chance of hidden overlaps.
Use Simple Cues To Remember
Match timing to daily habits: teeth brushing, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or bedtime. Set silent alerts on your phone. Keep the list on your fridge and in your wallet. If your phone allows lock-screen widgets, place a small checklist there.
Know When To Call
Call if new symptoms appear, if you miss several doses, if cost blocks a refill, or if your readings shift sharply. Many clinics can fix these snags by message or phone, without a trip in. If the plan calls for labs, book them before you leave the clinic so the dates are locked in.
Practical Tips That Make Reviews Work Better
- Bring your own priorities and say them early
- Bring every bottle and tub, not just prescriptions
- Ask for one page with the final list and timing
- Use large-print labels or easy-open caps if you need them
- Agree one pharmacy to keep checks in one place
- Set follow-up while you’re still in the room
When A Review Is Most Helpful
Right after a hospital stay, when medicines often change. When you start or stop a long-term drug. When you cross five or more daily items. When side effects build up. When pregnancy is planned or confirmed. When kidneys or liver numbers change. When you’re paying out of pocket and need lower-cost routes. These moments repay the time you spend on a review.
Carers can request a review on behalf of someone who forgets doses, struggles with packs, or moves between homes. In such cases, a shared plan with clear roles for family and staff keeps everyone aligned.
What Good Looks Like
The best visits feel collaborative. You talk; the clinician listens and asks sharp, plain questions. You agree on goals and next steps. You leave with a plan that trims waste, trims risk, and fits your day. The next refill is easier. The next check makes sense. Your plan becomes your plan, not just a list on a screen.