If you think your medicine has caused an unwanted side effect, you can report it through the Yellow Card Scheme in one of the ways below:
- visit the Yellow Card Scheme website and complete a Yellow Card form online
- pick up a Yellow Card form from your GP surgery or your local pharmacy. Complete the form and send it to the freepost address given on the form call the Yellow Card freephone hotline on 0808 100 3352 (weekdays 10am to 2pm)
If you’re worried about side effects from your medicine, in the first instance check the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine. If you want advice, speak to your GP or pharmacist. You can also call 111 if it’s available in your area.
Why should I report a side effect?
Sometimes, medicines cause unwanted side effects. Reporting these side effects can help to ensure that medicines are made safer in the future.
Any medicine can cause side effects. However, sometimes side effects are not known about until many people have used a medicine for a long time.
If you think that your medicine is causing other symptoms that are not listed in the patient information leaflet as a side-effect, it’s best to report it, even if you’re not sure.
You can also make a report for someone else. For example, if you think that your child or someone else you’re responsible for is getting side effects from their medicine.
Reporting side effects using the Yellow Card Scheme
You can report suspected side effects from any type of medicine through the Yellow Card Scheme. Healthcare professionals such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses can also complete Yellow Card reports.
The Yellow Card Scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government body responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and that they’re acceptably safe. The MHRA collects reports on all types of medicines, including:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (those purchased without a prescription) alternative therapies, such as herbal or homeopathic remedies
medicines thought to be counterfeit (fake)
Making a Yellow Card report
If you want to report a side effect but don’t want to give your name, you can ask someone else to complete the form for you, giving their contact details. The MHRA may get in touch if they need more information.
Yellow Card Reports are treated in strict confidence, and information revealing a patient’s identity is never released without their consent.
When you complete a Yellow Card form, you should give as much information as you can about:
- the suspected side effect
- the person who had the suspected side effect (even if you prefer not to give a name)
- the medicine that might have caused the side effect
- any other medicines being taken at the same time
The MHRA will let you know that they have received your Yellow Card report. If you give permission on the form, they will also send a copy to your GP.
Reporting problems with medical devices
As well as reporting suspected side effects to medicines, you can now report any suspected problems or incidents associated with medical devices, from cochlear implants, contactlenses and condoms to heart valves and walking frames. You can also report defective and fake healthcare products. Read more about what you can report on the Yellow Card Scheme.
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