Your choice to take a dose every day.

Easy to take and carry around

Can change your dose (up or down) quickly and usually easily

“Sustained release” (SR, XL, MR etc) tablets and capsules can help reduce side effects and reduce the number of times a day you need to take a dose

Can easily forget a dose (or accidentally take two doses)

You need a glass of water or liquid to swallow a dose, so is a reminder that you’re “taking a tablet”

Some can be difficult to swallow

Not all medicines can be given by mouth, as they have to be able to survive the acid in the stomach

Sometimes they have to be taken with or after food

Your choice to take a dose every day.

Easy to swallow

Can change your dose (up or down) quickly and usually easily

Can easily forget a dose (or accidentally take two doses)

Might not taste very nice

Difficult and heavy to carry around and you need a way of measuring the liquid

Not all medicines can be given by mouth, as they have to be able to survive the acid in the stomach

Sometimes they have to be taken with or after food

May enter the body quickly so might give you more side effects.

Your choice to take a dose every day.

Easy to take and carry around (unless you don’t like the taste)

You don’t need a glass of water or liquid to swallow a dose, so doesn’t feel like you’re “taking a tablet”

Can change your dose (up or down) quickly and usually easily

Can easily forget a dose (or accidentally take two doses)

Not all medicines can be given by this type of tablet, as they don’t taste very nice

May enter the body quickly so might give you more side effects.

Your choice, but only every few weeks

Can live life between injections without reminder of illness

No worrying about forgetting a dose (or taking a double dose), especially if you know the medicine keeps you well

Some medicines can’t be given by mouth but can be injected

Regular contact with nurses and the service every couple of weeks

Because the medicine is released slowly and gradually, there may be fewer side effects

You get an injection (usually into your bum) every fortnight or so, which can be painful and distressing

The effects last several weeks so you can’t change your mind between doses

You can’t stop the drug or reduce the dose suddenly (although if you do stop, your blood levels do reduce gradually)

Needs someone to do it for you

Although generally the side effects may not be as marked, you may get more side effects for the few days after an injection

Your choice every day or two

You always know if you’re having a dose

Some medicines can’t be given by mouth but can be given by patches

Because the medicine is released slowly and gradually, there may be fewer side effects

The patch can be taken off if you need to stop a medicine quickly

Can fall off (and stick to someone else!)

New technology so not many drugs can be given this way yet

Have to remember how long ago a patch went on and when the next one is due

Can get a rash when the patch is stuck on