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What to Ask Healthcare Providers About New Medications

When you first start taking a medication, you may have some questions about it, such as how long it will take to work and how often you should take it. Below is a list of essential questions to ask your healthcare provider before taking a new medication.

Ask Your Healthcare Provider

What is the name of the medicine and why am I taking it?
What will happen if I decide not to take this medicine?
- Tip: Ask how to both pronounce and spell the name of your medication, so you can easily communicate this information to another provider or caregiver.
Is there a less expensive alternative?
- Tip: Ask if insurance will cover the cost of the medication. If insurance doesn’t provide enough coverage, ask for a generic alternative.
What medical condition does this medicine treat?
- Tip: Ask how will it improve your medical condition and what the overall goal is for your treatment?
When should I expect the medicine to start working? How will I know if it’s working?
What type of side effects might I expect, if any? What should I do if I experience serious side effects?
- Tip: Know that everyone reacts differently to medications. Some people are completely unaffected, others get a headache or nausea, and a small percentage may have serious side effects.
Will this drug cause problems if I am taking other prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medicines, or supplements?
- Tip: Tell your doctor the name of every medication, supplement or herbal product you take, and ask how they may interact with the new medication.
What should I do if I want to stop taking this medicine? Is it safe to stop abruptly?
Will I need a refill? If so, will I need a follow-up appointment or other testing before I can refill the medication?
Should I take the medicine with food or not? Is there anything I should not eat or drink when taking this medicine?
Is the medication intended for short term or long term use?
- Tip: Ask when you should take the medication? Before bed, first thing in the morning or another time?
How much of the prescribed medicine should I take?
How many times a day should I take it? At what time(s)? If the bottle says take “four times a day,” does that mean four times in 24 hours or four times when I am awake?
What does “as needed” mean?
If I forget to take my medicine, what should I do?
Should I avoid anything while taking this medicine?
- Tip: Ask is it safe for you to drive or operate any equipment while taking this medication? Ask if you should avoid drinking alcohol while using the medication.

Be sure to tell all your healthcare providers about any new medications, OTC medicines and supplements you are taking. Always reach out to a healthcare provider if you start experiencing any serious side effects or have overdosed. Find additional resources on medication misuse here.