Making sure medicine is safe for everyone

Advice and Information - 23 November 2017

Have you or a family member had a side effect after taking medicines? Find out why it's important to share your experience to make medicine safer for everyone.
A young woman is holding a tablet to her mouth with a glass of water in one hand

A trip to the pharmacy for the proper medicine can help with a cold or cough. Most people take medication without experiencing any noticeable side effects. However, if you experience a side effect, it's important to report it to help make medicine safer for everyone.

Aren't medicines safe?

Although medicines undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are safe, 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 feeling 'a bit off'.

You must share your experience, as reported side effects can help regulators review how the medicine is 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.

Find out more

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