When you have a cold or cough, a trip to the pharmacy for the right medicine can help. Most people take medicines without experiencing any noticeable side effects. However, if you do experience a side effect, it's important to report it to help make medicine safer for everyone.
Aren’t medicines safe?
Although medicines go through rigorous testing to ensure they are safe to use, no medicine is completely risk free. Regulators, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) rely on people reporting side effects to make sure medicines on the market are effective and as safe as possible.
To help make medicines safer, MHRA want more people to report negative side effects. Potential side effects can range from headaches or stomach aches, to flu-like symptoms or just ‘feeling a bit off’.
It’s important that you share your experience, as reported side effects can help regulators review the way the medicine can be used, and the warnings given to people taking it.
What can you do if you have a bad reaction?
If you or a family member has experienced a side effect after taking medication, you can find out more and report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.