{"id":531728,"date":"2026-04-15T06:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T06:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531728\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T06:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T06:46:16","slug":"glasgow-health-chiefs-encourage-patients-to-ask-questions-about-their-prescriptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531728\/","title":{"rendered":"Glasgow health chiefs encourage patients to ask questions about their prescriptions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The health board say many people may be on prescriptions which are no longer effetive or cause unwanted side effects, and are encouraging people to be confident talking to their GP about the issue.\"Medication<\/p>\n

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spends more than \u00a31 million per day distributing medicines to the community.(Image: BSIP\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Glasgow health chiefs<\/a> have launched a campaign encouraging people to question the prescribed drugs they take.<\/p>\n

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde<\/a> (NHSGGC) health board is asking patients, families and carers to speak to healthcare professionals about whether their medicines are still the right choice for them.<\/p>\n

The campaign is part of their commitment to \u2018realistic medicine\u2019 and recognises that many people are taking medicines which they have been on for years for conditions which may have changed or improved.<\/p>\n

And while these medicines may have been life-saving and essential, it may be the case that they are no longer needed, and could in fact be causing unwanted side effects.<\/p>\n

People either starting a new prescription or who are looking to review their medications are being encouraged to ask:<\/p>\n

What is this medicine for?What are the benefits for me now?Are there any risks or side effects?Are there alternatives?What might happen if I reduce or stop it?<\/p>\n

The campaign poster launched by the NHS.<\/p>\n

The health board said conversations about prescription medications can take place at any appointment, including with a GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, hospital doctor or other healthcare professional.<\/p>\n

It could lead to a person having their medication changed or stopped, something called \u2018deprescribing\u2019.<\/p>\n

Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping medicines that may no longer be providing benefit, or where the potential risks outweigh the benefits. It is always done safely, with support from a healthcare professional such as a GP, pharmacist or nurse, and should never be done without advice.<\/p>\n

Anne Thomson, NHSGGC Lead Pharmacist, Clinical Services, said: \u201cMedicines play a vital role in treating and preventing illness, but they should always be reviewed to make sure they are still right for the person taking them.<\/p>\n

\u201cReviewing medicines involves having open, informed conversations and making shared decisions that reflect someone\u2019s current health, priorities and circumstances. It should always be done carefully and with professional support, never on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NHSGGC added that deprescribing is not about \u201ctaking medicines away\u201d. It is about making sure each medicine is right for the person taking it, at the right time in their life.<\/p>\n

For more information about Realistic Medicine, medicines waste, and how to get involved in shaping NHS services, visit: nhsggc.scot\/your-health\/right-care-right-place\/pharmacy\/medicines-waste<\/a> or nhsggc.scot\/contact-us\/get-involved<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The health board say many people may be on prescriptions which are no longer effetive or cause unwanted…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531729,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[679,102,6591,104,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-531728","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-glasgow","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-medication","11":"tag-nhs","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}