Do I Need to Keep Taking my Medication if I Feel Better? | Browns Pharmacy Guide

This article has been written and medically approved by Pharmacist Conor McSorley GPhC Reg No. 2223070

Although your symptoms may have passed you should always take medication as prescribed by your healthcare professional, even if you are tempted to stop. There are many different types of medication and the advice for each one may be very different to another, but as a general rule, if you have been prescribed medication, you should speak to a healthcare professional before stopping it. By stopping taking your medication early you can increase the chances that you relapse into illness.

Antibiotics

When taking antibiotics, the current guidance from the World Health Organisation is to “always complete the full prescription, even if you feel better, because stopping treatment early promotes the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.” It is therefore important that unless you experience side effects or are in agreement with a healthcare professional, stopping treatment early should not be an option. It can allow antibiotic resistance to develop or allow the infection to come back. It is also strongly recommended that you do your best not to miss any doses.

Pain Relief

There are two types of methods to controlling pain. You may be taking the medication prophylactically or when required. Each involves a different approach to medication when you feel better. If you are taking pain relief medication long term to prevent the build-up of pain, then stopping this medication will cause the pain to come back. However, if you are suffering from a headache and it has gone after an hour or so, continuing to take pain relief medication would not be helpful and could actually be harmful.

Long-term Prevention Medication

The majority of medicines dispensed every year in pharmacy are designed to prevent conditions from worsening. These preventative medications are critical in averting the progression of many diseases and conditions and therefore it is paramount to remember that although you may feel better while taking these drugs, the condition can quickly decline if you stop taking them.

Information is correct at the time of writing, all medication is different and therefore generalised information should be taken alongside specific information from a healthcare professional.