Evidence hub

For how to use your own medicine

The patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine explains its licensed use, warnings, storage and instructions. The electronic Medicines Compendium publishes UK leaflets and professional product information. Check the name, strength and formulation: an injection and a tablet containing the same ingredient can have different instructions.

Use the leaflet alongside your prescriber’s directions. If they appear to conflict, ask your pharmacist or prescribing team to clarify before changing anything.

For medicine safety and new announcements

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) publishes authorisations, safety updates and advice for the public. These can change after a medicine is first licensed. Read the publication date and any update date, and check whether advice applies to your particular product.

We link to original regulator and product information in our medicine guides. Older general advice and newer product-specific wording can differ; the breastfeeding guide gives one example of why the details matter.

For NHS eligibility and treatment pathways

NICE recommendations describe evidence and cost-effectiveness for particular NHS uses. NHS England guidance explains how some recommendations are put into practice in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. Local availability and individual assessment still matter.

Read our NHS access guide, then check the relevant current national and local information. Meeting a medicine’s licensed criteria does not automatically mean immediate NHS treatment is available.

For understanding research results

Ask who took part, how long the study lasted, what the treatment was compared with and how many people stopped taking part. Look at side effects as well as average weight change. Results in a trial may not describe people with your medical history or your experience in everyday care.

Two percentages from separate studies are not automatically a fair head-to-head comparison. Our guides avoid promising a particular amount of weight loss and direct individual decisions back to your healthcare team.

For price evidence and corrections

Price data has a different source and a shorter useful life than a medicine guide. Each table names its source and collection date. Our comparison method explains first-order offers, ranking and how old figures are hidden.

If a statement seems outdated, send us the page address and the source you found. Our editorial policy explains the limits of this information service and how corrections are handled.