Why is this medication being considered over other alternatives?
It it important that you discuss this question with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
If you are prescribed a medicine, then there may be many reasons why that one has been chosen. These might include:
side effects (which ones are important to you)
local policies or agreements (such as what that GP surgery uses, in your county etc)
national policies (e.g. NICE, SIGN – see last question)
familiarity (it may be better to get best out of a medicine you are familiar with)
relative costs for similar medicines
personal preference (either yours or your prescriber)
how bad your symptoms are
any medicine you might have done well with in the past (as it’s more likely to work again)
The answer will depend on why you are taking the medication. Click on one of the links below to read more information about particular conditions.