How to Talk about Your Medication Problems
Author: Dr. Vrolijk | Updated: August 23, 2025 | Disclaimer | Review Process | References
Do you feel nervous about telling your doctor a medication isn’t working? Worried you’ll seem difficult if you ask to switch? Not sure if your side effects are “bad enough” to mention?
You’re not alone. Even doctors (including me) get nervous as patients.
Below are ways to start the conversation, help talking about common medication problems, and where to get extra help.
On This Page:
Talking About Your Medications Is Important
Speaking up as a patient is hard. Many people (including this author) get nervous about discussing medication problems. I have worried about seeming difficult or complaining. But, as a doctor, I realized that clinicians want to know. We need this information to find the best medication for you.
Even Doctors Have Questions Sometimes
A doctor or pharmacist trains 6+ years and may still have questions when they’re the patient. Be patient with yourself!
Your Healthcare Provider Wants to Help
You don’t have to deal with side effects on your own. Your healthcare provider can help you:
- Understand if the side effect will go away
- Tell you your options (switching medication, treating the side effect, etc)
- Help you understand the cost/benefit of continuing the medicine
This allows you to make the best decision for you and your health.
It's Okay to Ask the Same Question More than Once
You might need to ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist the same question. One might explain things in a way that makes more sense to you.
Ways to Start Talking about Common Problems
Here are ways you might approach common medication conversations. Use whatever words feel right to you – these are just examples to help if you feel stuck.
Before You Bring This Up
- Figure out how long you’ve been taking it
- Write down your current symptoms or readings
- Think about any doses you might have missed
- Consider if you have questions about how to take it (with food, timing, etc.)
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’ve been taking [medication] for [time] but my blood pressure is still [numbers]”
- “This medication doesn’t seem to be helping. What are the next steps?”
- “Should I be concerned that my medication isn’t working yet?”
- “I want to make sure I’m taking this correctly. Can you review the instructions with me?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Ask about how you’re taking it
- Explain whether the medicine is working and how
- Check if enough time has passed for the medication to work
- Discuss adjusting the dose or trying a different medication
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m still confused about whether this medication is helping me. Can you help me understand what signs to look for? I’m uncomfortable not knowing if my treatment is working.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down what time you take the medication
- Note when you first noticed the side effect
- Track how the side effects affect your daily activities
- Think about whether the side effects are getting better, worse, or staying the same
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’m having [specific side effect] that’s making it hard to [daily activity]”
- “I started noticing [side effect] about [time] after I began taking this medication”
- “Is it normal to feel [symptom] on this medication?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Ask about timing, severity, and how the side effects affect your daily life
- Suggest ways to manage them
- Adjust your dose
- Switch medications
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m concerned about these side effects, but I don’t understand if the benefits outweigh them for my situation. Can you help me understand the trade-offs? I’m uncomfortable making this decision without more information.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down how long you’ve been taking it
- Note any changes you saw after starting the medication
- Write down why you want to stop and any concerns you have about continuing
- Think about how you’ve been feeling lately compared to before you started
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’ve been taking this for [time period] and my [symptoms/readings] have been [stable/normal]. Do I still need this?”
- “I’m wondering if I can reduce or stop my medication because [reason]”
- “Can you help me understand when people can safely stop [this type of] medication?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Discuss your individual risk factors
- Review how long you’ve been stable
- Explain whether stopping is safe for your specific situation
- Create a plan for reducing medication if appropriate
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m concerned about taking this long-term, but I don’t understand the risks of stopping versus continuing. Can you help me understand what’s best for my situation? I’m uncomfortable making this decision without knowing the full picture.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down your specific concerns and how you think this might affect you
- List your other health conditions and medications
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’m concerned about taking this medication with my other health conditions”
- “I’ve heard about [specific concern] and I’d like to understand how it applies to me”
- “Can you help me understand the safety of this medication for my situation?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Address your specific concerns
- Explain how they monitor for problems
- Discuss the safety profile for someone with your health conditions
- Review any interactions with your other medications
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m still worried about the safety of this medication for me specifically. Can you help me understand how you’re monitoring for problems and what warning signs I should watch for? I’m uncomfortable continuing without understanding the risks.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Think about what makes it hard to remember (busy mornings, side effects, etc.)
- Consider what reminder methods you’ve tried, if any
- Think about your daily routine and when taking medication might work better
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’ve been having trouble remembering to take my medication. What should I do?”
- “I missed several doses recently. Is that dangerous?”
- “I sometimes skip doses when I feel fine. Is that okay?”
- “My schedule makes it hard to take this at the same time every day.”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Suggest reminder strategies
- Discuss the importance of consistency for your condition
- Explore if a different dosing schedule would work better
- Help you find solutions that fit your lifestyle
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m concerned about missing doses, but I don’t understand why consistency matters so much for my specific condition. Can you help me understand what happens when I miss doses? I’m uncomfortable not knowing how serious this is.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down what you’ve noticed with your current medicine
- Any problems? How do they affect you?
- Are there reasons you don’t want to take it anymore? What are they?
- Write down what you’re looking for in a different medicine
- Include any preferences (once daily vs. multiple times, pills vs. other forms)
- If there’s a specific medication you want to try, write down why
Ways You Might Say This
- “This medication is causing problems for me. Can I switch to something else?”
- “I’d like to try a different blood pressure medication. Is that possible?”
- “Can you help me find a medication that works better for my lifestyle?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Discuss other medication options
- Explain why different medications might be better or worse for your situation
- Create a plan for switching safely
- Consider your preferences and lifestyle needs
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m concerned that this medication isn’t working well for me, but I don’t understand what other options might be better. Can you help me understand the different choices and why one might work better than another? I’m uncomfortable staying on something that’s not right for me.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down how much you paid or were asked to pay at the pharmacy
- Think about what amount would work for your budget
- Note what you know about your insurance coverage
Ways You Might Say This
- “I need help finding a more affordable option for this medication”
- “The pharmacy told me this costs [amount]. Is there a less expensive option?”
- “My insurance doesn’t cover this well. Can we try something else?”
- “Is there a generic version or patient assistance program available?”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Suggest generic alternatives
- Provide samples
- Help you apply for assistance programs
- Work with your pharmacist to find cost-effective options
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I’m still confused about whether this medication is helping me. Can you help me understand what signs to look for? I’m uncomfortable not knowing if my treatment is working.”
Before You Bring This Up
- Write down any symptoms you had before starting this medicine
- Note any changes you’ve noticed since starting it (or lack of changes)
- Think about what would help you feel confident this medication is right for you
Ways You Might Say This
- “I’d like to understand better why this medication is necessary for me”
- “Can you help me see how this medication is benefiting my health?”
- “I don’t notice any difference since starting this. Is it actually helping?”
- “I want to understand what this medication is doing”
What Your Doctor Might Do
- Explain your condition and why treatment is important
- Describe how the medication helps prevent problems
- Discuss what risks you face without treatment
- Help you connect your symptoms (past or current) to the need for medication
If You Need Clearer Communication
“I want to understand the value of this medication for my specific situation. Can you help me see how it’s helping me, even if I don’t feel different? I want to make an informed decision about continuing it.”
Getting Extra Help
Sometimes you need support beyond talking to your doctor. These resources can help you get additional information, assistance, or advocacy.
Your pharmacist is a medication expert who can provide free consultations in a private area.
They can help with:
- Explaining how medications work and potential side effects
- Checking for interactions with other medications
- Finding ways to remember to take medications
- Discussing generic or less expensive alternatives
- Reviewing all your medications together
These consultations are free and usually don’t require an appointment.
Patient advocates are professionals who can help you communicate with your medical team and navigate the healthcare system.
What a Patient Advocate Can Do
- Talk to your medical team for you
- Make appointments and coordinate care
- Help you understand your options
- Work with your insurance company
- Provide support during difficult conversations
Where to Find a Patient Advocate
Your Hospital
- Online – Search for your hospital’s name and “patient advocate”
- Call – Call the hospital and ask to speak to a patient advocate
- Go to the front desk – Ask staff how to talk to a patient advocate
Nonprofits
- If you have been diagnosed with a health condition (such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, etc.)
- Online – Search for your health condition’s name and “patient advocate”
- Call or Ask Staff – Ask your doctor’s office about nonprofits that can help
- Visit Patient Advocate Foundation – a nonprofit with advocates and other patient support resources
In addition to talking to your healthcare provider, some of these programs may be able to help:
- Manufacturer programs – Many drug companies offer assistance programs
- Discount programs – GoodRx, SingleCare, and similar apps
- State programs – Many states have pharmaceutical assistance programs
- Nonprofit assistance – Organizations like NeedyMeds connect people with programs
- Pharmacy programs – Some offer discount programs or 90-day supplies
Quick Answers
Yes, definitely. Your doctor may be able to:
- Pick a cheaper medicine
- Help you find a patient assistance program
Their doctor’s office may have a social worker. A big part of their job is helping people get the medicine they need.
First, your fear is natural. Most people would be afraid to tell their doctor. But your doctor can only help if they know what you need. Their job is to help you make the right decisions for your health. So, telling them and the reason why will help you both. You can ask what your options are. Or ask if there are other ways to take care of your health.
Some over the counter medicine and supplements can make your blood pressure medicine not work as well. Others can cause health problems or make health conditions worse.
It’s okay to disagree! The important thing is that you understand what and why your doctor recommended it. This allows you to make the right decision for you. Some ways to make sure you understand:
- Explain your understanding and ask if you missed anything – You can say something like “I want to make sure I’m understanding you. Are you saying that I need blood pressure medicine, so I don’t have a stroke? Did I miss anything?”
- Ask questions – You might think of questions when you explain what the doctor recommends. For example, “But why is taking medicine the only way to prevent a stroke?” or “Is this the only way I can protect myself?”
- Share why you disagree – For example, “I am worried that my body will be dependent on the medicine. And I think I can make lifestyle changes.”
- Try to remember that your healthcare provider wants the same thing you do: for you to be healthy
Yes, it’s always a great idea to bring someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Let your doctor know ahead of time that someone will be joining you. Some things that might be helpful:
- Ask them to take notes.
- Tell them about your questions and concerns for the doctor. They can help you remember to discuss everything.
- Tell them if you’re nervous about any part of the appointment, so they can help support you.
This worry is normal! Most people don’t ask important questions they have. This can be harder depending on what culture you grew up in. Many people were taught it’s disrespectful to ask questions. There are two reasons why it’s important to ask questions
- You need to understand your health and healthcare. This way you can make the best decisions for you. And take care of yourself.
- Your healthcare provider needs to know their patients’ questions. This way they can better explain things.
Medicine is confusing. Part of a physician’s job is teaching. So, your questions will help them communicate better.
If you still don’t feel comfortable asking questions – you might need to find a doctor that’s a better fit. You can do this in the same practice or somewhere else. Changing doctors is common, so try not to worry about what your doctor might think. If you chose to do this, you are taking an important step in taking care of yourself.
If the side effects are bothering you or you’re concerned about them, it’s a good idea to call or send a portal message. Your provider can help you come up with a plan. This could be a sooner appointment, changing your medication, or explaining more about what to expect.
What to Read Next
All of Our Conversation Tools
Resources We Used
Clinical experience from multiple physicians
Adriani PA, Hino P, Taminato M, Okuno MFP, Santos OV, Fernandes H. Non-violent communication as a technology in interpersonal relationships in health work: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24(1):289. doi:10.1186/s12913-024-10753-2
Altmiller G. Teaching clinical nurse specialist students to resolve conflict: strategies that promote effective communication and teamwork. Clinical Nurse Specialist. 2011;25(5):260-262.
Ha JF, Longnecker N. Doctor-patient communication: a review. Ochsner journal. 2010;10(1):38-43.
Jagosh J, Boudreau JD, Steinert Y, MacDonald ME, Ingram L. The importance of physician listening from the patients’ perspective: Enhancing diagnosis, healing, and the doctor–patient relationship. Patient education and counseling. 2011;85(3):369-374.
Lang F, Floyd MR, Beine KL. Clues to patients’ explanations and concerns about their illnesses: A call for active listening. Archives of family medicine. 2000;9(3):222.
Rosenberg MB, Chopra D. Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships. PuddleDancer Press; 2015.
Stewart MA. Effective physician-patient communication and health outcomes: a review. CMAJ: Canadian medical association journal. 1995;152(9):1423.
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