Starting a new medication can feel like a big decision. It’s not always easy to know how it’s going to affect you, or whether you’ll get any side effects. When you try something new, neither you nor your doctor can know for sure how well it’ll work until you’ve been taking it for a while. You might need to try a few medications and different dosages before you find one that feels right.
To help you decide, here are a few questions you might want to consider:
Not every medication works the same for everyone. After a bit of time taking it, think about whether the medication makes you feel better or not.
Many medications need time before you feel the effects, and even longer before they work fully. Think about how waiting might affect your mood and what else you’ve got going on.
All medications have side effects, but not everyone experiences them. And everyone is affected differently. Side effects could be similar to your illness or completely different. They can also improve or go away over time.
Most of the time, it’s your choice if you want to take a medication or not. But in some cases, if there’s a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, doctors might give it to you without your consent. This is to keep you and everyone around you safe.
If you’re unsure or worried about a medication, talk it through with your doctor, mental health team, or a trusted adult. Medication usually works best when you and your mental health team agree to try it together, and having a parent or carer involved can give you extra support and improve the chances of it working.
To get medication, you’ll need a prescription. This is an official printed note with your medication and dosage on that you get from your GP or another medical professional.
You’ll need to take this to a pharmacy and give it to the pharmacist – they’ll let you know if they can give you your medication now or if they’ll need to order it in for collection at a later date.
Your first prescription for a mental health medication could come from your GP, but it’s more likely to come from a specialist doctor, like a psychiatrist.
In the first few weeks, you’ll usually need to see or chat with them again to check how things are going. After that, a nurse or pharmacist might start handling your prescriptions.
Once you’re doing well on your medication, you might see other mental health professionals for repeat prescriptions and follow-ups. If things are going well, your GP might take over and give you repeat prescriptions, though you’ll still have check-ups now and then.
Once you have a prescription, you’ll need to take it to a pharmacy.
In England, prescriptions marked with FP10 can be taken to any pharmacy. Prescriptions marked FP10HP are usually for hospital pharmacies. If you’re not sure where this is, ask the person who gave you the prescription.
In Scotland, GP prescriptions are on a GP10 form. Hospital prescriptions are on an HBP form.
In Wales, GP prescriptions are on a WP10 form. Hospital prescriptions are on a WP10HP form.
Lots of people take medication for a long time. Instead of getting a new prescription every time from your GP, you can ask for a ‘repeat prescription’ for the same medication and dose.
Some GP practices let you order repeat prescriptions online. If you’re doing it in person, here’s what you need to do:
Getting your next prescription can take a bit of time, so don’t wait until you’ve run out to order. Put in your request when you’ve got about a week’s supply left.
If you live in Scotland or Wales, prescriptions are free. You just need to be registered with a GP there and get your prescription from a pharmacy in those countries. If you live near the English border, there are special ‘entitlement cards’ that mean you don’t have to pay. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this.
If you live in England, you might have to pay for your prescription. You don’t have to pay if you:
You might be asked to show proof that you don’t have to pay, but if you can’t, you should still be given your medication. If you’ve applied for an exemption certificate but haven’t received it yet, you should pay the fee and ask for an NHS England receipt (FP57). When you get your certificate, you can claim a refund. Your pharmacist can show you how to do this.
There are two ways you can get help with costs on your prescriptions:
As a student, you can apply to get help with prescription costs if you’re:
To do this, you need to complete an HC1 form, which you can get from your GP or pharmacy. You might need to send proof of your income too.
If you’re aged 16-17 and leaving care, you can get a short version of the HC1 form. Your key worker should help you fill it out.
If you qualify for help, you’ll receive an HC2 certificate. Once you’ve got it, you can start ticking the box on the back of your prescriptions that says: ‘is named on a current HC2 charges certificate’.
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) is a way to pay a set price for all NHS prescriptions for a set period of time. You can get a three-month or 12-month PPCs.
If you don’t qualify for free prescriptions, a PPC could save you money. You can buy a PPC online.
Once you have your PPC, you can start ticking the box on the back of your prescription that says: ‘has a valid prepayment certificate’.
If you’re still waiting for your certificate, pay the fee for your medications for now and ask for an NHS England receipt (FP57). Once your certificate arrives, you can claim a refund at any pharmacy. Refunds are valid for up to three months.
For more information on getting help with prescription costs, check out these websites:
Some medications aren’t available on the NHS, but you can still get them privately. With a private prescription, you’ll always need to pay, even if you normally get NHS treatment for free.
Costs aren’t fixed, so it’s best to ask the pharmacist how much it will be before collecting your medication.
If you run out of your medicine before your next prescription is ready, you can ask your pharmacy for an emergency supply. You'll need to fill out an emergency prescription form on NHS website. You can then pick up your supply from your chosen pharmacy.
When you go to the pharmacy, take your empty box with you to show them if you can. You should be given at least five days’ worth of medicine.
If you pay for your prescription, they might take the prescription charge to cover your emergency supply and then you won’t have to pay it again when you bring in your prescription.
Sometimes, the pharmacy will give you the emergency supply as a ‘loan’. This means it’ll be taken out of your next prescription when you get it. Otherwise, you might be asked to pay a small fee.
If the pharmacist questions if your case is an emergency, you can remind them that missing your dose puts you at risk of your symptoms coming back or could cause withdrawal symptoms. But know that the pharmacist has the final say and might still refuse your request.
If you can’t get an emergency supply from the pharmacy, contact your hospital team or go to the nearest hospital with your empty medication box.
You can’t get an emergency supply for controlled medicines, like methylphenidate or methadone. These are restricted by law.
Some controlled drugs like benzodiazepines can be given in small amounts with a maximum of five days’ supply. But the pharmacist will decide if this is okay after talking to you.
For medicines that are not controlled drugs, you can get up to 30 days’ supply.
A pharmacist is an expert on medicines and the person who gives you your medication. When you start taking a new medication, it’s a good idea to talk to your local pharmacist. You can use a different pharmacy every time you get your prescription if you want, but there are some advantages to finding a pharmacy you like and sticking with it.
Using the same pharmacist means:
You can visit a pharmacy during opening hours without an appointment, or give them a call to discuss anything about your medication. Most pharmacies have private areas where you can talk, so don’t be afraid to ask if you want to chat about something personal.
If you’d rather speak with a specific staff member or would prefer talking to a man or a woman, it’s okay to ask. You might have to come back later or on another day if they’re not available, but your pharmacist can help with that.
Your pharmacist can also offer you an annual Medicine Use Review (MUR). This is a chat about your prescribed medications and how well they’re working for you. They usually won’t talk to your GP about this, but they might write to them to suggest changes if they think this is needed after talking to you. You should be given a copy of the letter they write.
Taking medication for your mental health can feel like a lot, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Having people you trust to remind you, go with you to appointments, or just check in can make things easier.
If you need to take your medication at school, college, uni or work, you might want to let someone know who can help you. A lot of mental health medications only need to be taken once or twice a day, so you might be able to avoid taking them while you’re out if you stick to morning and evening doses. But if you need to take it while you’re out, there are things you can get support with to make this easier.
Here are some tips to help:
Having support from family or friends can help you get the most out of your medication. Not only can they help with managing your medication, they can be there with you to celebrate your progress too.
Here are some practical ways they could help:
They can also help keep you safe if you’re not noticing changes yourself. For example, they can ride with you when driving to check you’re handling things okay, especially in the first few weeks of starting a new medication.
If you’re taking your medication at school or college, you might be asked to keep it with the nurse or in the office, especially if it’s a controlled medicine. This is just to make sure it’s stored safely.
Try to pick a time in the day that feels easiest for you to take it, and find a place where you feel comfortable. If you’re not sure where that could be, ask a teacher or staff member to help you work something out.
If it ever feels tricky to manage your medication at school, talk to your doctor or a trusted adult. They can also speak to the school with you if that would help.
It can sometimes help to tell a close friend too, so if you don’t feel well they can check in or let a staff member know.
If you’re heading to uni, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for your medication. Talk to your GP or hospital team before you go so your treatment is sorted, and think about how you’ll manage prescriptions during the holidays.
When you arrive, register with a local GP so it’s easy to get repeat prescriptions. You can also sign in with your home GP as a temporary resident when you’re back for the holidays.
Find a nearby pharmacy too and get to know the pharmacist. They can answer questions and help you feel more confident about your medication, and you don’t need an appointment to pop in.
If you’re living in halls or a shared house, keep your medication somewhere safe and private, ideally in a lockable space. You might also want to tell a trusted friend, so they can look out for you if you feel unwell.
It can also help to let your personal tutor know about your medication. They can support you with your studies if your mental health ever gets in the way.
If you need to take medication at work, here are some tips that might help:
If your shifts make it tricky to take medication on time, talk to your doctor about what might work better.
If your job needs lots of focus – like driving or operating machinery – ask your doctor about possible side effects so you can stay safe.
It can also help to tell someone you trust at work, so they can support you if you ever feel unwell.
