Risks vs. Benefits of Medications: How to Know?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on June 2, 2025.

Key Points

The risks vs. benefits of medicines are important to consider when you start any new treatment. Risks can include minor unwanted side effects like an upset stomach or headache, or more serious, unexpected events such as bleeding or liver damage. Benefits include the helpful effects you receive, such as curing an infection, easing pain controlling blood pressure or lowering your blood sugar.

The medications you take play an important role in your overall health. But all medicines can have side effects, warnings or drug interactions, so it's important to understand your treatments, the expected outcome and alternative treatments, if needed. Risks can range from minor side effects that clear up quickly, to longer, more serious adverse events that may require treatment or hospitalization.

If the FDA considers a medication safe enough to approve, that means its benefits outweigh its known risks for a given condition. You and your doctor should work together to determine which treatments are most beneficial and safe for you.

Related: What happens during the FDA drug approval process?

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may have questions or feel concerned about the medication or treatment plan your doctor has prescribed. It is important for you to ask questions and learn as much as possible about your condition.

You'll want to know about:

• Your full treatment plan and possible side effects
• Medications, tests, or other therapies
• The timeline of your treatment (short-term or long-term)
• Your expected outcomes (will you have a cure, control of a chronic disease, or palliative care to improve quality of life)

Asking questions and learning about the risks versus benefits of medications can help you become a fully informed participant in your own health care plan. You should provide information to your healthcare provider so they can gain additional knowledge about your current medications or treatment plans. This information helps your provider to make the right choices for your health care going forward.

Here is a general outline of 6 actions you can take to ensure your treatment is as safe as possible and produces the expected outcome.

1. Talk to your healthcare provider

This seems so obvious, but it is very important to have face-to-face discussions with your healthcare provider. Write down your questions ahead of time, and be sure to take them with you to your appointment. Consider taking a trusted friend or family member to help make notes about the discussion.

Things you might consider talking with your doctor or other healthcare provider about include:

• Your allergies to medications or foods.
• Your current medications, including vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary or herbal supplements.
• Your current and past medical history, including any relevant family history and success or failure you have had with other medications
• If there are any drug interactions with your prescribed medications, including over-the-counter or herbal supplements. Be sure to ask your pharmacist, too.
• Possible side effects of your treatments.
• How to start and stop any medication, and does it need to be stopped slowly.
• A frank discussion of medications costs, your ability to pay for medications and your preferences for generic or brand name drugs.

If you feel your appointment may not offer enough time for discussion, call your healthcare provider’s office and schedule additional time. Ask questions not only of your doctor, but also of your pharmacist, nurse, dentist, physical therapist, or other healthcare professional that you see.

2. Write down important information

Write down the information you want to discuss with your healthcare provider and take to your appointment. Be sure to write down important points or take a friend or family member to help. It is easy to forget details, which may be complicated. You may need to share this information later with family, caregivers or other healthcare providers. 

You might consider writing down:

• The names of your medication (both brand and generic), and be sure to include nonprescription medications, such as vitamins or over-the-counter drugs.
• The strength and dose of your medications.
• How often and when you take the medication.
• Important drug interactions or special food or beverage restrictions.
• Possible side effects and what to do if one should occur.

Learn More: Generic vs Brand Drugs: Your FAQs Answered

3. Read reliable patient advice in plain language

Medical information written for healthcare professionals can often be complicated. Plus, there is a lot of false and misleading health information online. Be sure to use reliable sources of information that are developed by healthcare professionals, written specifically for patients, and that come from trustworthy medical institutions. For example:

• Professionally developed medication and disease information written in plain English for patients can be accessed from your doctor, pharmacist or online. Ask your healthcare provider for the best and most reliable sources.
• FDA-approved Medication Guides. These are handouts that address issues that are specific to particular drugs and drug classes. Medication guides contain approved information that can help patients avoid drug warnings, side effects and drug interactions.

Every patient’s circumstance is unique, be sure to always double check medical information with your healthcare provider.

4. Follow your doctor's advice

Joining an online chat support group might be a reassuring and comforting method of communicating with others who may have your same condition or have similar questions. However, what may apply to another person’s situation may not apply to yours. Your healthcare provider is always your best source of any medical information.

• If you read medical or drug treatment advice on the Internet, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider prior to taking action to confirm the information is safe and correct.
• Never share personal health information, such as your insurance policy numbers, social security number or other private health information that may put you or your family at risk for fraud or identity theft.
• Purchasing medication online can be risky and dangerous, and it is best to avoid this practice unless medications are sent directly from a confirmed and reputable U.S. pharmacy. Always check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

5. Consider your options - pros and cons.

How critical is the medication to your treatment plan? How serious are the side effects? What would happen if you did not use the treatment? Ask your healthcare provider to discuss your different treatment options and the pros and cons of each option.

For example, if you are receiving a medication that has only minor side effects, and you are using the medication only for a short period of time, the side effects will be temporary. An example of this is an upset stomach, mild diarrhea or softened stools while taking an antibiotic treatment for an infection. Once the antibiotic treatment is finished, the stomach upset or loose stools will usually clear up.

On the other hand, if you have a cancer diagnosis and treatment is critical, you may be willing to tolerate more difficult side effects in favor of the beneficial or even life-saving effects of the medicine. Even with serious side effects, such as severe nausea or vomiting that may occur with some cancer treatments, your healthcare provider may have methods for minimizing these side effects.

Consider what medical conditions you have that would make medication side effects dangerous. Discuss your medical conditions (for example: migraine headaches, type 2 diabetes or psoriasis) with your provider. There may be a possibility of adverse interactions (called a drug-disease interaction) for any new medication that you may be prescribed. 

• For example, if you have a history of stomach ulcers you should not take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain as it may lead to stomach or intestinal bleeding. You may want to use an alternative pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, for pain.
• Do you have specific drug allergies - for example, penicillin or a seizure medicine? Your doctor can possibly choose from other drug classes to lessen your risk.
• Do you have a mental health diagnosis like depression or anxiety? Many different types of medical conditions can make certain medications more risky, so be sure to tell your doctor about your full medical history.

6. Can you afford the prescribed medication?

It is important to discuss the cost of medications with your healthcare provider. Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed if you cannot afford your medication. Healthcare is expensive, and there are many people who do not have adequate health insurance or funds to cover their medications costs. In the U.S., the price of medical care and medications is some of the highest in the world.

• Your healthcare provider may be able to direct you to special programs, social workers, a manufacturer assistance program, or a drug discount coupon that can help you afford your medication.
• Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you prefer generic medications over brand names. Generic medicines usually are much more affordable than the brand. Thew pharmacist can usually make this substitution, so ask them if needed.
• If you find that you must skip medications partially or completely due to costs, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor or pharmacist who may be able to offer more affordable alternatives.

Be sure to review the Drugs.com Price Guide for medications. Here, you can learn about brand and generic options, their costs, any possible Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, or other coupons, rebates, savings, copay cards, or trial offers.

See also

• Common Drug Side Effects
• Does grapefruit juice interact with my medications?
• Drug Expiration Dates - Are expired drugs still safe to take?
• Generic vs Brand Drugs: Your FAQs Answered
• How do I remember to take my medications?
• How do I stop my medication safely?
• How to Safely Dispose of Your Old Medications
• Imprint Code FAQs - For Oral Medications
• Injection Types and Sites
• Is it safe to split my pill in half?
• Medical Conversions - How many mL in a teaspoon?
• Top 150 Prescription Abbreviations & Medical Meanings
• Top 5 Ways to Avoid Drug Errors
• Top 9 Ways to Prevent a Deadly Drug Interaction
• What are pharmaceutical salt names?
• What is the half-life of a drug?
• What is the placebo effect?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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