Side effects
Side effects are linked to lots of prescription medicines, but not everyone will experience them. For most people who do experience side effects, they are mild, but some side effects can be very serious.
Every medicine comes with a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) which includes important about who it is suitable for, and known side effects. You should always read the PIL before starting a new medicine. You can reduce the risk of experiencing unpleasant side effects by following your doctor or pharmacist's instructions for taking your medicine.
If you are concerned about the side effects you're experiencing, contact your doctor or pharmacist, or 111 if you want to speak to someone non-urgently out of hours. If you believe you're having a severe allergic reaction or, in an emergency, call 999.
Yellow Card Scheme
If you experience any side effects not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet, you can register them with the Yellow Card Scheme. This is run by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to check the safety of medicines. The Yellow Card Scheme also allows you to report any problems with medical devices, or medicine you think might be fake.