Finding reliable information about medicines online

There is a lot of information available online, but not all of it is reliable. Often, information can be based on the opinion of the author and not on scientific evidence.

This leaflet is designed to help you find information on medicines online that is safe and reliable.

Remember – although online information can be helpful – the most reliable source of information on medicines will always be a pharmacist. Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council and are experts in the use of medication.

• Anyone can post information online. Although some websites carefully check the information they share, this isn’t true for every website.
• Some people use the internet to make money, for example by selling medicines illegally or recommending ‘wonder cures’ that don’t work.
• Healthcare in the UK differs from other countries. Some medicines might not be available in the UK or have different criteria for when they are prescribed.
• Some medicines also have different names – for example, paracetamol is called acetaminophen in the United States. Even in the UK, medicines often have two names – a generic name and a brand name. Ibuprofen is a generic name, and Nurofen® is a brand name.
• Some medicines were originally developed to treat one condition but were found to help treat a completely different condition so information might seem misleading.
• The dose prescribed by your doctor may be different to dose listed online or on the leaflet in the medicine package. Always follow the directions on your prescription’s label and what your doctor or pharmacist has told you to take – the dose has been checked and tailored to you.
• Medications have to list all the possible side effects which have been reported. This can be worrying, but remember that a lot of these reported side effects are extremely rare.

When you read information, you might see that a medicine is not licensed for use in children and young people. This doesn't necessarily mean the medicine isn't safe for them – it means that the drug company only has a licence to recommend it is used by adults. Sometimes, we still prescribe these medicines to children and young people if there is no suitable licensed alternative available.

You can read more about unlicensed medicines on the charity Medicines for Children’s website.

• Who has written the information and posted it? Look at their ‘Home’ or ‘About us’ page to find out more.
• When was the information written or posted? As a general rule, be wary of any medicines information that was written more than four years ago, as it may be out of date.
• What is the purpose of the website? Is it trying to recommend or sell you a particular product or brand? If the website is selling something, the information it provides may be biased.

Some search engines like Google now automatically produce an ‘AI summary’ in response to your search.

This can be unreliable, as AI may summarise information from untrustworthy sources or ‘hallucinate’ an answer – the answer it gives you might look right, but may not be based on any factual information.

Pharmacists and doctors prescribe medication or treatment specifically tailored to your individual needs. AI may overlook your situation and provide only general advice.

Always discuss any information on medicines that you have found using AI with a healthcare professional.

A pharmacist. Most pharmacies have a quiet room where you can talk to a pharmacist in private, and lots have information leaflets on health conditions too.

You can also contact NHS 111. NHS 111 is a 24-hour, 7-days a week service that provides medical help and advice and can provide reliable advice about medicines.

NHS 111:

• Telephone: 111. This number is free to call.
• Website: www.111.nhs.uk

In most cases, they will take your name and telephone number and arrange for a qualified healthcare professional to ring you back to answer your questions.

If you are looking for information online, we suggest using the websites below, as these are reliable, regulated and safe.

Information from the NHS

The NHS website contains information on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living: www.nhs.uk

Great Ormond Street Hospital information leaflets

We produce a range of information sheets on medicines, particularly those that do not contain a patient information leaflet in the packaging.

Manufacturer’s medicine information leaflets

Most medicines come with an information leaflet written by the manufacturer. Some of these are available on the Electronic Medicines Compendium website.

The British National Formulary is the main reference guide used by health professionals in the UK for prescribing, dispensing and giving medicines. The information is written for health professionals, but the information is laid out in a clear and consistent way and updated twice a year.

• The British National Formulary
• A version for children’s medicines

Patient.info provides clear, trusted advice from UK doctors and experts. Information about the most commonly used medicines is available under ‘Medicines and treatment’, and then ‘Medicine information’.

Medicines for Children produce a range of information sheets on medicines, and generic advice and guidance for how to take medicines.

Charities and organisations

Condition-specific charities and organisations can also provide useful information on medicines.

The organisation Contact is a useful place to find reliable and reputable UK charities and support groups.

Telephone: 0808 808 3555

It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the information you have found.

As information on the internet can change daily, it’s helpful to make a note of where you found the information and on what date. It can also be helpful to print out a copy of the webpage, including the web address, to refer to.

It can be helpful to write brief notes or take a list of questions about the information, to your appointment.

The NHS has produced a webpage called ‘What to ask your doctor or other healthcare professional’ which provides some helpful examples.

If you a patient at GOSH, you can contact the GOSH Medicines Information team for more information on medicines.

Medicines Information team:

• Call: 020 7829 8608
• Or contact us through the Medications page on the MyGOSH app
• Available Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays).