Annual Medication Review with a Pharmacist: How It Reduces Side Effects

Every year, thousands of people in the UK and beyond take medications they no longer need-sometimes for years. These extra pills don’t just clutter the medicine cabinet. They increase the risk of dizziness, falls, confusion, nausea, and even hospital visits. Many of these side effects are mistaken for aging or other illnesses. But they’re often caused by simple medication problems that a pharmacist can spot in under 30 minutes.

What an Annual Medication Review Actually Does

An Annual Medication Review (AMR) isn’t just a chat about your prescriptions. It’s a full audit of everything you take: pills, patches, inhalers, vitamins, herbal supplements, and even over-the-counter painkillers. Pharmacists don’t just check if you’re taking them correctly-they ask why you’re taking them at all.

In the UK, this service is widely available through community pharmacies and is often covered by the NHS for people on multiple long-term medicines. The goal? Cut out what’s unnecessary, fix what’s risky, and make sure every drug you take still has a good reason to be there.

The process isn’t theoretical. A 2023 study from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found that patients who had regular AMRs were 30% less likely to experience serious side effects like internal bleeding from blood thinners or kidney damage from NSAIDs. And it’s not just about stopping drugs. Sometimes, it’s about changing the dose, timing, or even switching to a safer alternative.

Who Benefits the Most

You don’t need to be elderly to need an AMR-but if you’re over 65 and taking four or more medications regularly, you’re in the highest-risk group. About 40% of older adults in the UK are on this kind of regimen, known as polypharmacy. That’s not just common-it’s dangerous.

But it’s not only seniors. People with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis often end up on five, six, or even eight different drugs. Add in antidepressants, sleep aids, or supplements bought online, and the list grows. Each new drug increases the chance of a harmful interaction. For example, taking St. John’s Wort with certain antidepressants can cause serotonin syndrome-a serious, sometimes fatal reaction.

Even younger people benefit. If you’ve been on the same painkiller for years after a sports injury, or if you’ve started new meds after a hospital stay and now feel constantly tired, an AMR can uncover hidden causes.

What Happens During the Review

There’s no mystery to it. You walk into your local pharmacy, bring all your medications in a bag (not just a list), and sit down with a pharmacist trained in medication safety.

They’ll ask:

• What’s each medicine for? (Many patients don’t know)
• Are you still taking all of them? (Some stop because of cost, side effects, or confusion)
• Have you noticed any new symptoms since starting a new drug?
• Do you ever skip doses because the schedule is too complicated?

Then they check for:

• Duplicate drugs (e.g., two different painkillers with the same active ingredient)
• Drugs that interact badly together
• Medications no longer needed because the condition improved or resolved
• Doses that are too high or too low for your current health

One real example: a 72-year-old woman in Leeds came in complaining of constant dizziness. She was on eight medications. The pharmacist found she was taking two different blood pressure pills that did the same thing-and both were too strong for her weight. After adjusting one and stopping the other, her dizziness disappeared in two weeks. Her GP hadn’t noticed the duplication because the names were different.

Why Pharmacists, Not Just Doctors

Doctors are busy. A 10-minute appointment doesn’t leave room to go through 12 pills, check for interactions, and explain why each one matters.

Pharmacists, on the other hand, are trained specifically in drug science. They know how every ingredient behaves in the body, how it interacts with food, other drugs, or even herbal teas. They spend hours each day reviewing prescriptions and spotting problems doctors might miss.

In fact, the NHS has found that pharmacist-led reviews catch up to 70% more medication errors than standard GP checks. That’s because pharmacists focus on the medicine itself-not just the diagnosis.

They also have more time to listen. If you’ve felt too shy to mention that you’re skipping your statin because it gives you muscle pain, or that you’re crushing your pills because you can’t swallow them, a pharmacist is the person who’ll hear you-and find a solution.

What to Bring to Your Review

Don’t rely on memory. Bring everything:

• All prescription bottles (even ones you think you don’t take anymore)
• Any over-the-counter medicines (ibuprofen, antacids, cold remedies)
• Vitamins, minerals, and supplements (including those bought online)
• Herbal remedies (ginkgo, turmeric, garlic pills-yes, even these)
• A list of any recent hospital visits or new diagnoses

Most people forget at least three things. One in two people don’t mention supplements. But that’s where the biggest risks hide. For example, fish oil can thin your blood. If you’re also on warfarin, that combination can lead to dangerous bleeding.

What Comes After the Review

The pharmacist doesn’t just give advice-they make a plan. That might mean:

• Stopping one or two drugs completely
• Switching to a different brand or form (e.g., liquid instead of tablet)
• Changing when you take your pills (e.g., at night instead of morning to avoid drowsiness)
• Setting up a blister pack or pill organizer
• Connecting with your GP to update prescriptions

You’ll get a written summary. And if any changes are made, the pharmacist will contact your GP to make sure the prescription system reflects them. No more confusion between your pharmacy and your doctor’s office.

Common Myths About Medication Reviews

Some people think:

• “I don’t need it-I’m not old.” Wrong. People on multiple meds at any age benefit.
• “My GP already checks my meds.” Not really. GPs focus on conditions, not drug combinations.
• “It’s just a sales pitch for supplements.” Legitimate AMRs are free through the NHS. No products are sold.
• “I’ll be told to stop everything.” No. The goal is to keep what works and remove what doesn’t.

The review is collaborative. You decide what changes make sense for your life. The pharmacist gives you the facts. You choose the path.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

In 2026, the UK population is aging fast. By 2030, one in five people will be over 65. More people will be on more meds. More side effects will happen.

But here’s the good news: we already know how to fix this. Studies show that annual medication reviews reduce hospital admissions by up to 25% for people on multiple drugs. They cut emergency visits for drug reactions by nearly half. And they save the NHS millions every year.

This isn’t just about safety. It’s about quality of life. If you’re tired all the time, forgetful, or feel off-but your doctor says “you’re just getting older”-an AMR might give you your energy back.

How to Get Started

You don’t need a referral. If you’re on four or more long-term medicines, walk into any community pharmacy and ask for an Annual Medication Review. Many pharmacies now offer it on a walk-in basis, especially during National Check Your Meds Day in October-but you can request one any time.

If you’re unsure where to go, call your GP surgery. They’ll tell you which local pharmacies offer the service. Some even offer home visits for people who can’t travel.

The whole process takes 20 to 40 minutes. No cost. No pressure. Just a chance to make sure your meds are helping-not hurting.