What are the alternatives to this medicine?

Find out what to expect when you take any new medicine your doctors prescribe. There may be other medicines to consider for your condition. Some medicines may be more effective, but have a greater risk of side effects.

It is important to compare the balance of benefits and risks for each medication option. The cost of medication may also vary widely, so you may want to ask if there are cheaper alternatives.

Are there treatment options other than a medicine?

In some cases, medication may not be the only or best approach to improve your condition. Sometimes all you need is to make lifestyle changes, for example quit smoking, lose weight (if you are overweight) or do the recommended minimum of at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.

For some conditions, there might be other options such as physiotherapy, counselling, surgery or more.

What happens if I choose not to have the medicine?

You might decide you don't want to take a medicine at all. You might think that you don't want to risk the side effects, or that you can't afford it, or that you'll get better anyway.

That is your right. But it's worth knowing that with some conditions, you will get quite unwell if you don't take a prescribed medicine.

Some questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist about the medicine

• What are the benefits and risks of this medicine for me?
• Are there simpler and safer options?
• If I take the medicine, will my condition progress faster or stay the same?
• If I don't take the medicine, will my condition progress faster or stay the same?
• If I don't take the medicine, will that affect my quality of life?
• If I don't take the medicine, will it increase my risk of future disease?

How long will I need to continue the medicine?

Some medications are taken for a short while but others are taken for life.

For example, antibiotics are usually taken for a limited time, but they need to be taken for as long as prescribed to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Always check with a healthcare professional if you plan to stop taking a medication. Suddenly stopping some medications, such as antidepressants, might also cause certain symptoms.

Here are some more questions to ask your doctor before you start taking the medication.

• Is the medicine for a short duration or is it expected to be for life?
• If I feel better, can I just stop taking it?
• Do I need to gradually reduce the dose or do I just stop?

What should I do if I have a problem with the medicine?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist:

• Should I stop taking it straight away?
• Who should I see if there are problems?

More resources

The NPS MedicineWise website has a tool to create your own list of questions.