Medicines Use Review If you are taking two or more prescribed medicines for a long term condition, the NHS Medicines Use Review, also known as a medicine check up or medicine MOT is another free NHS service that can help you get maximum benefit from your medicines. This service is available throughout England and Wales and a similar scheme, ‘Managing your Medicines’ is offered in Northern Ireland. Scotland offers a ‘Chronic Medication Service’ which aims to increase medicines understanding for patients with long-term conditions. What is an MUR? An MUR is a personal NHS consultation with your pharmacist to help improve your understanding of your medicines and get the maximum benefit from them. You may want to discuss the drugs you have been prescribed, any problems or side effects you are experiencing or whether there is a more effective way of taking them. For most people, taking medicines will be trouble free but problems can occur. You may have several different medicines to take at different times of the day and find this difficult to manage. Your tablets may be hard to swallow or may not be compatible with other medicines or foods. Or you may be experiencing side effects from one or more of your drugs. An MUR is the ideal place to raise these issues. Can’t I ask my pharmacists questions about my medicines anytime? You can ask your pharmacist questions about your medicines at any time, particularly if you have an urgent problem, but an MUR provides a perfect opportunity for an in-depth conversation with a pharmacist in a consultation room where you won’t be overheard. How do you arrange an MUR? You may be invited for a review by your pharmacist, either in person or by letter, or you can ask for a review at the pharmacy where you normally pick up your prescription, although you must have been getting your prescription there for three months or more. The consultation is free, often with no appointment necessary. What will happen during the consultation? Your pharmacist will listen to your concerns and answer your questions but it’s important to remember that they will only know about the medicines you have received from that pharmacy. They will not have a record of medicines prescribed by a hospital, nor will they have access to your medical records. So it’s important to tell them as much as you know. Make sure you have a note of all the medicines you take, what you take them for, how much and how often. If possible take the medicine with you. Your pharmacist will discuss how you are getting on with the medication, whether it is working and whether you have any concerns such as side effects. It is also your chance to ask questions. For example: Do I really need to take all these medicines? Will the medication still be effective if I have a stomach upset? Will my medicine interact with other drugs I have been prescribed? Can I be certain the drug is safe for me to take? Are there any other treatment options? Is there anything that will help to remind me to take my medicines? Your pharmacist will then draw up an action plan recording what took place during the meeting and what you agreed together. Both you and your GP will receive a copy. If you think it would be useful, you can also ask for another copy to be sent to a health professional such as a district nurse or your carer. If your pharmacist recommends a change to your prescription, this will need to be agreed by you and the person who prescribes your medicine – usually your GP. No changes will be made without your consent.