Missed a dose of your medication? What to do next
Don't take a double dose to make up for it. Check the patient information leaflet that came with the medicine, or ask a pharmacist, because the right step depends on the medicine; then make a note of the missed dose so your next check is accurate.
Why is this harder than it sounds?
There is no single rule for missed doses, which is why searching for one is so confusing. For some medicines you take it as soon as you remember; for others you skip it and carry on; for some, timing really matters and you should get advice. The NHS's medicine pages give the answer for each medicine individually, and the leaflet in the box does too. What is true across the board is the NHS warning that taking a double dose later to make up for a missed one can be dangerous.
What should you do?
Don't double up
Whatever else you do, don't take two doses together to catch up unless a pharmacist or prescriber has told you to.
Read the leaflet
The patient information leaflet in the box has a section on what to do if you forget a dose. The NHS medicines A to Z has the same kind of guidance for common medicines.
Ask a pharmacist if you're unsure
Pharmacists can advise on how to use your medicine, including missed doses, and you don't need an appointment for advice. If it's out of hours and you need help now, NHS 111 can advise in the UK.
Write down what happened
Note the medicine, the dose you missed and roughly when. If it happens again, that note is what lets your GP or pharmacist see a pattern.
Fix the cause
Was it a broken routine, running out, side effects you were avoiding, or not being sure whether you'd taken it? Each has a different fix, and side effects are worth raising with whoever prescribed it.
What tends not to work
Guessing based on what you did with a different medicine. The advice genuinely varies.
Stopping a medicine because you've missed a few doses and feel fine. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before stopping anything.
Hiding repeated missed doses from your GP. They need to know whether the medicine is being taken to judge whether it's working.
Common questions
Should I take it as soon as I remember?
Sometimes, but not always. It depends on the medicine and how close you are to the next dose. The leaflet or a pharmacist will tell you which applies.
When is a missed dose urgent?
If you've taken too much, or you feel unwell after a missed or extra dose, get help: call NHS 111 in the UK, or 999 (911 in the US) in an emergency.
Where Nura fits
If you tell Nura you missed a dose, it notes it so it's reflected next time and points you to the leaflet or your pharmacist. It never tells you to double up or change a dose. If missed doses keep happening, or you mention new or worsening side effects, it encourages you to contact your pharmacist or clinician, and it can set up a daily check-in to make the next one less likely.
Sources
General information, not medical advice. Nura does not diagnose, prescribe or replace your clinician. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US); in the UK, NHS 111 can help if you need medical help but it isn't an emergency.