What Is a Medicine Use Review and Why Your Pharmacy Offers Them

If you take regular medication, you may have been invited by your pharmacy for something called a Medicine Use Review, or MUR. It's one of those pharmacy services that many people don't hear about until we mention it — but it can be genuinely useful, particularly if you take multiple medicines or have questions about how well they're working for you.

Here's what a Medicine Use Review involves, how it works at your pharmacy, and why it's worth accepting when you're offered one.

What Is a Medicine Use Review?

A Medicine Use Review is a structured conversation between you and your pharmacist about the medicines you're taking. It's a free NHS pharmacy service that happens in a private consultation room, and typically lasts around 10 to 15 minutes.

The point is simple: to make sure you're getting the most benefit from your medication, and that everything is working as well as it should be. Your pharmacist will go through each of your medicines with you — how you're taking them, whether you've hit any problems, and whether you have any questions or concerns about what you're taking and why.

It's not about your pharmacist changing your medications — that's your GP's role. Instead, an MUR is about understanding, communication, and partnership. We're here to make sure you and your GP are on the same page about your treatment.

What Happens During a Medicine Use Review?

During an MUR, your pharmacist will typically:

• Review each medication you're taking, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and supplements
• Check how you're actually taking them — the time of day, with food or without, how often, and whether you're remembering to take them
• Ask about any difficulties — for instance, trouble swallowing tablets, mixed-up instructions, or confusion about what each medicine is for
• Discuss side effects you might be experiencing but haven't mentioned before
• Explain what each medicine does and why your GP prescribed it, if you're unsure
• Spot potential problems — such as medicines that might interact with each other, or over-the-counter products that don't mix well with your prescriptions
• Answer all your questions about your medicines, in plain language

If the pharmacist identifies something that needs further conversation — say, a troublesome side effect or a medicine that isn't achieving what it should — they'll make a note to send to your GP.

Who Can Have an MUR?

MURs are offered to patients who take regular prescribed medicines. Your pharmacy may specifically invite you for a review if:

• You take multiple medicines (sometimes called polypharmacy)
• You've recently come home from hospital
• You're taking a high-risk medicine that needs monitoring
• You seem to be struggling with your medication — for example, requesting early repeats or repeatedly calling about doses

However, don't wait for an invitation. If you'd like a review of your medicines for any reason, ask your pharmacist directly. This is especially valuable if you're over 65 or managing multiple conditions, as medicine reviews become increasingly important as our health needs become more complex.

If you've recently transferred your prescriptions to Kingfisher Pharmacy, an initial MUR can help us understand your full picture from the start.

Why Have a Medicine Use Review?

If your medicines seem to be working fine, it's fair to ask: why bother? There are several solid reasons.

Better Understanding of Your Medicines

Many people take medicines without fully understanding what each one does, how it works, or why the timing or dosage matters. An MUR gives you the chance to ask questions in a relaxed, private setting, without the time pressure of a GP appointment. If you're ever unsure about whether to take your tablets with breakfast, or why one medicine needs to be taken at night, an MUR is the time to get a clear answer.

Catching Side Effects Early

Some people live with side effects for months or years, assuming it's just something they have to put up with or that it will eventually settle. A review can bring these issues to light. You might be experiencing something you didn't even connect to your medicines — fatigue, dizziness, or nausea. A conversation with your pharmacist can reveal the link and lead to a discussion with your GP about alternatives or adjustments. Read more about what happens when your GP changes your medication.

Improving How You Take Your Medicines

Small changes sometimes make a big difference. Taking your tablet at a different time of day, adjusting whether you take it with food, or using a reminder system (like a pill organiser or phone alarm) can improve how well your medicines work and how you feel. Your pharmacist can suggest practical strategies tailored to your lifestyle.

If you order repeat prescriptions without visiting your GP, our team can help you set up a routine that works and review whether you're actually using what you order.

Spotting Drug Interactions

If you've started a new over-the-counter product, a supplement, or a herbal remedy without telling your GP or pharmacist, an MUR can catch potential interactions. Some common products — like certain cough medicines, pain relief, or iron supplements — can interact with prescription medicines in ways that reduce effectiveness or cause problems.

Reducing Waste and Staying on Track

If you're ordering medicines you're not actually taking, an MUR can help identify this. Unused medicines cost the NHS money and can lead to confusion at home — you might forget which tablets you're supposed to be on, or accidentally take a double dose. Understanding your prescription labels and codes can also help prevent mix-ups.

An MUR is a good opportunity to review whether your current approach still makes sense, especially if you've been ordering the same prescriptions for months without stopping to think about whether you're actually taking them all.

The Difference Between an MUR and a New Medicine Service

You might also hear about the New Medicine Service (NMS), which is a different pharmacy service. While an MUR is for people already taking regular medication, the NMS is for people newly prescribed a long-term medicine. The NMS includes follow-up check-ins in the first week or two after starting the new medicine, to make sure you're tolerating it well and taking it correctly.

Both services aim to help you get the best from your medicines, but they serve different purposes. Your pharmacist and GP work together to support your health, and MURs are one of the tools we use. NICE guidance on medicines optimisation (NG5) sets out the wider framework that NHS pharmacies work within.

How to Book a Medicine Use Review at Kingfisher Pharmacy

If you take regular medication and think an MUR might help, speak to our team at Kingfisher Pharmacy, 192 Kirkgate, Wakefield city centre. We can arrange a convenient time for a private consultation, go through your medicines with you, and help make sure everything is working as well as it should. It's a free NHS service, and it could make a real difference to your health and how you feel.

You can nominate Kingfisher Pharmacy for your NHS prescriptions online if you haven't already, and then speak to us about booking an MUR. Or simply call us on 01924 291898 and ask to schedule one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Medicine Use Review take?

A typical MUR lasts around 10 to 15 minutes. This gives you enough time for a proper conversation without rushing.

Is a Medicine Use Review really free?

Yes. It's an NHS service, so there's no charge. It's funded through the community pharmacy contract — the same contract that funds your prescription medicines.

Will my pharmacist tell my GP what we discuss?

Your pharmacist will only contact your GP if they identify something that needs further action — for instance, a significant side effect, a potential interaction, or if a medicine doesn't seem to be working. Otherwise, the review is private to you and us.

Can I have an MUR even if my medicines are working well?

Absolutely. An MUR isn't just for people with problems. Even if your medicines are going fine, a review can answer questions, explain things you've been unsure about, and make sure you're taking them in the best way possible.

What if I don't want to change anything about my medicines?

That's fine. The pharmacist isn't there to push change. The review is about understanding and communication. If your current approach is working, your pharmacist will likely confirm that. If there's room for improvement — a better time to take a tablet, for example — they'll suggest it, but the choice is always yours.

What if I'm on a lot of medicines? Will the pharmacist judge me?

No. Pharmacists understand that managing multiple medicines is common, especially as we age or when managing several conditions. The review is about supporting you, not judging. If anything, the pharmacist will want to help you manage multiple prescriptions more easily.

Can I bring a family member or carer to my MUR?

Yes, if you'd like. Some people prefer to have a partner or carer present, especially if they help manage your medicines. Just let us know in advance so we can arrange the consultation room appropriately.

How often should I have an MUR?

There's no fixed rule. Some people have one every year, others when circumstances change — if they've been discharged from hospital, started new medicines, or moved to a new pharmacy like Kingfisher. Ask your pharmacist what makes sense for you.