Ask the pharmacist: What should I do if I miss a dose of medicine?

Ask the pharmacist: What should I do if I miss a dose of medicine?

Our pharmacist answers your common medicine queries:

Answer: It depends on the medication and when you take it during the day. Most drugs such as blood pressure pills or indigestion remedies can be taken later the same day.

But this may not be that appropriate with certain contraceptive drugs, such as some progesterone-only pills, as these have to be taken within a three-hour window, while steroids should be taken in the morning (to avoid disrupting sleep), and some cholesterol tablets at night (to be most effective).

Don't simply double the dose the next day: taking two blood pressure tablets, for example, could cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low, while a double dose of aspirin may cause bleeding or overdose.

With antibiotics, adjust the timings of the remaining doses so they are spaced out through the day.

If you are worried, talk to our pharmacist.