Medicines adherence: involving patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence

Making a decision

Your healthcare professional should make sure that you have the chance to be involved in decisions about medicines so that you can make an informed choice about your treatment. They shouldn't assume that you would prefer a particular treatment. They should talk with you about your preferences and what you know about a medicine, and about any worries (such as side effects or becoming dependent). They should ask you what you hope the treatment will achieve.

Your healthcare professional should understand that you might have different ideas from them about the benefits, risks and side effects of a medicine. They should know that you might not want to take too many medicines, that you might want to talk about alternative therapies and what might happen if you don't take the medicines suggested. They should accept that you have the right to refuse a medicine or to stop taking a medicine, even if they think this could mean that your condition might get worse. Together, you and your healthcare professional should decide whether a medicine should or should not be prescribed.