New or Bothersome Medicine Effects: Record and Discuss

By the Pain Care Questions Team

What should you do about a new or bothersome medicine effect?

New or bothersome medicine effects deserve a few clear notes before you call your pharmacist or doctor — not a guess about the cause. Write down when the effect started, what you noticed, and what else was happening, then bring those notes to your next conversation with your care team.

When does a medicine effect need emergency care?

Some reactions need emergency attention right away rather than a note for later. If you or someone you’re with is having trouble breathing, sudden swelling, chest pain, fainting, or any symptom that feels severe or rapidly worsening, call local emergency services immediately. Recording details can wait until after the emergency has been addressed.

What does “record and discuss” actually mean?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourages people to ask specific questions about every medicine and to keep a running list of what they take, so any change can be checked against a clear baseline. Applying that same habit to a new or bothersome effect means capturing four things as soon as you notice them:

• Timing — the date and approximate time the effect started, and whether it followed a new medicine, a dose change, or no change at all.
• Description — plain, factual language for what you noticed (for example, where on the body, what it looked or felt like), without guessing at a cause.
• Context — anything else happening around the same time, such as food, other medicines or supplements, illness, or a missed dose.
• Change over time — whether the effect has stayed the same, gotten worse, improved, or come and gone.

If your notes show the effect started right around a new medicine, a dose change, or a missed dose, say that specifically when you talk to your pharmacist — it helps them evaluate the timing quickly, rather than starting from scratch.

A simple format to use

You don’t need special software. A notes app, a piece of paper, or the medicine list format FDA describes all work. For each entry, jot down: date/time, medicine name, what you noticed, and any context. For a broader framework on organizing your medicines before an appointment, see our Start Here guide — keep it alongside these notes rather than replacing it.

What’s established, and what isn’t?

It helps to separate what’s well established from what only a clinician or pharmacist can determine for your specific situation.

• Established: Keeping a written medicine list and asking structured questions about each medicine are practices FDA recommends to help prevent and catch medicine-related problems.
• Established: Serious or unexpected reactions to FDA-regulated medicines and other products can be reported through MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program, which accepts reports from patients and consumers as well as health professionals.
• Not something this page can tell you: Whether a specific effect is actually caused by a specific medicine, whether it’s serious, and whether anything about your medicine routine should change. Those determinations depend on your health history and belong to your prescriber or pharmacist.

What are the practical next steps?

1. Write down the date, time, and a plain description of what you noticed, as close to the moment as you can.
2. Add any context — other medicines, supplements, food, illness, or missed doses — from the same day.
3. Keep tracking briefly so you have a short timeline rather than a single snapshot.
4. Bring your notes and your current medicine list to your pharmacist or care team, and ask directly whether the effect could be related to a medicine you take.
5. Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether your situation is one they think is worth reporting through MedWatch — they can help you decide, or you can review the reporting program yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stop taking a medicine if I notice a new effect?

This page can’t tell you to start, stop, or change any medicine. Record what you noticed and talk with your prescriber or pharmacist before making any change — stopping some medicines abruptly can itself cause problems.

Who should I tell about a bothersome medicine effect first?

A pharmacist or the prescriber’s office is a reasonable first call for a non-urgent effect. For anything severe or rapidly worsening, contact emergency services first.

Is it worth reporting a medicine effect directly to the FDA?

It can be. MedWatch accepts reports from consumers as well as health professionals. Your pharmacist or doctor can help you decide whether your situation fits, or you can review the program’s own guidance.

Do I need to know the cause before I write anything down?

No. Record what you observed and when — the cause is something your pharmacist or doctor works out with you, not something you need to determine yourself.

Medical information disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose conditions, recommend treatment, or tell you whether to start, stop, or change any medicine. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider or pharmacist about your specific symptoms and medicines, and contact emergency services for any urgent or worsening symptoms. To understand how we select and verify the sources behind pages like this one, see How We Research.

By Pain Care Questions Editorial Team. Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Last updated September 9, 2026.