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What is the Yellow Card Scheme? How & When to Report Medicine Side Effects

minute read
Pharmacy2U Team
A young woman in a yellow jumper holding a blister pack of medicine and checking information about it on her phone

All medicines come with the possibility of side effects, ranging from mild to severe. That’s why it’s so important to make yourself aware of the possible adverse reactions of any medicine before you take it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s been prescribed to you by a doctor or pharmacist, or you have bought over-the-counter medication, because every person, and how their bodies react to the medicine, is different.  

You can do this by reading the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with medication you’ve been prescribed or purchased. Certain medicines will also have side effect information on the pack.  

Many people will not experience any side effects at all, but if you do, it’s important to know what they are and what to do. This article outlines where you can find information about side effects of your medicine, how and when to report side effects with the Yellow Card Scheme, and what to do if you have concerns with any medication you’re taking. 

In this Article:

01: Where can I find information about side effects?02: What is the Yellow Card Scheme? 03: How and when to report side effects 04: What do I do if I have concerns?05:

Where can I find information about side effects?

When you start taking a new medication, prescription or otherwise, it’s important that you familiarise yourself with the possible side effects of that medicine. It’s even more important to do this if you’re taking any other medication at the same time or have other conditions you might need to take medication for. 

You can find out all the essential information about your medication, including any possible side effects by: 

  • Reading the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medication (or any side effects listed on the packaging)  

  • Talking to your prescribing GP, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional about your medication 

  • Using the NHS New Medicine Service which gives you the opportunity to have a phone call with a pharmacist about a new medicine (if it’s eligible for the service) you’re taking and any questions you might have, with a follow-up call two weeks later 

  • Calling NHS 111 (or by visiting A&E in emergency cases only) 

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What is the Yellow Card Scheme?

The Yellow Card Scheme is the system for collecting information on suspected adverse drug reactions (i.e. the reporting of side effects) to medicines in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 1964 and since then, people experiencing side effects with any kind of medication have submitted over 1 million reports. This contributes to the ongoing monitoring of the safety of medicines, vaccinations, and other healthcare-related products and equipment in the UK.  

The scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which uses the information to identify potential safety issues, update medicine labels, and take action against fake or unlicensed products. 

The Yellow Card Scheme is not just for reporting side effects you’re having with medication prescribed by a GP or other healthcare professional. It is also for the reporting of any issues with over-the-counter medication, vaccinations, medical devices, blood products, and e-cigarettes or vapes (including liquids). 

How and when to report side effects

You can report side effects or any issue you may be having in two ways.  

  • Download the Yellow Card Scheme app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store - sign-up, search for the medication, and fill out the forms that appear 

You should always report any side effects or any issue you have had with any prescribed or over-the-counter medication, vaccinations, medical devices, blood products, and e-cigarettes or vapes (including liquids). This is important because it can help other people, as well as yourself. By alerting the MHRA to safety issues as early as possible, your experiences help to keep healthcare products safe for the whole population. Reporting any side effects or issues is completely comfidential. 

You can also help the relevant authorities to be aware of any fake or unauthorised medicines and equipment. If you suspect any medication to be fake or unauthorised, stop using and immediately seek medical advice, taking the medicine and any packaging with you. 

For more information about the impact your reporting has, you can check out Yellow Card’s page of Case Studies and what’s recently been reported. 

What do I do if I have concerns?

If you have concerns or questions about any medication you’re taking, it is not just a case of reporting issues with medication side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme. You should speak to your prescribing healthcare provider as soon as you can. They can recommend ways to counter the side effects or explore different medicines to treat your condition. 

You should always speak to your pharmacist or GP before taking any other medicines to counter side effects, as certain medications can have negative interactions when taken at the same time. And you should never just stop taking a medicine prescribed by a healthcare professional without discussing with them first.  

If you experience swelling, difficulty breathing, or other severe symptoms, call 999 or go to A&E immediately. 

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