Helping someone take medication
Your friend or family may need your help with organising and taking their medicine. They may also need help with eyedrops or creams. It can feel like a big responsibility and it’s OK if you don’t feel comfortable helping with this – there are other options and people who can help you.
On this page:
Tips for giving medicines
Your friend or family member’s medication will come with patient information leaflets explaining how they should take it. Ask the pharmacist, GP or district nurse if anything’s unclear or you have questions like:
- if they should take the medicine with food or between meals
- what to do if they miss a dose
- if it’s OK to crush a pill to make it easier to swallow
- if there are special storage instructions, like keeping it in the fridge.
Make sure you’re following the instructions in the patient information leaflet and any given by the GP or pharmacist.
You may need to help your friend or family member to sit up if they’re in bed. Speak with their GP or district nurse if they struggle to do this.
If they’re using a syringe driver, it’s usually set up by the doctor or nurse. The syringe driver is usually set to give medicines continuously over 24 hours. The medicines will be changed or topped up each day by the nurse. They'll also change the tube every few days.
Read more about syringe drivers.
You should also speak with the GP or district nurse:
- before giving your friend or family member anything that’s not prescribed for them, such as herbal supplements that can react with their medication
- if they have diarrhoea or vomiting, as they may not absorb the medicine properly.
Safe storage
Keep your friend or family member’s medicines in a safe place where children and pets can’t access them.
Read more about managing medication.
When you’re not around
There are ways to help your friend or family member take their medicines when they’re on their own. You could phone to remind them. You can also get pill or dosette boxes with compartments that show which pills need to be taken when. Some have compartments that open automatically at the right time. There are other products available in pharmacies and online that can help. Your local pharmacy, GP or district nurse can advise you.
Giving pills or tablets
Before giving them any medication, check:
- the medicine’s label to make sure it’s the right medicine and it’s in date
- the dose so you know exactly how much to give
- when the medicine should be taken
- if it should be swallowed whole, dissolved in water or taken with food.
Have a glass of water ready. Ask your friend or family member if they’re ready and take the medicine out of its packaging. Hand them the dose and the glass of water.
Some medicines shouldn’t be taken with alcohol or grapefruit juice and some shouldn’t be chewed – check the medicine leaflet or ask a pharmacist.
If you make a mistake
Try not to panic if you make a mistake while helping your friend or family take their medicine.
Read through the instructions again or ask someone else to read through them with you.
Contact the GP or call the NHS on 111 if it’s out of hours.
Giving eyedrops
Check the instructions to make sure you’re giving the right amount at the right time. Make sure the eye drops are in date.
Wash your hands and have some tissues ready. With your friend or family member sitting up, ask them to tip their head back. Gently pull the lower lid down and apply the eyedrops using a tissue to catch any liquid that spills out. Take care not to touch their eye or the eyelid with the eye drop applicator. Ask your friend or family member to blink.
Applying creams
Wash your hands and put on disposable gloves (available from chemists). Check the instructions to see where to apply the cream, how often and how much. There may be specific instructions on whether to massage in the cream or to leave it to be absorbed. If you’re not sure, ask the pharmacist, GP or district nurse.
Disposing of medicines and equipment safely
You can return any left-over medicines to the pharmacy. Don’t put them in the ordinary rubbish at home.
If they can’t take their medicine
It can be worrying if your friend or family member can’t take their medicine or refuse it. It’s best not to insist if they don’t want to take it. Try asking them why – it might be that they don’t like the side effects or feel it’s not working. Speak with the GP or nurse if you’re worried to see if they can supply it in soluble or liquid form.
More medicines tips for carers from the NHS.
Feelings and worries
As your friend or family member becomes more unwell, they might need more support from you. This can bring about lots of different feelings for both of you. You might find some of the tasks physically and emotionally difficult. The person you care for might feel a loss of control and confidence. And they may be worried about losing their dignity and privacy.
If either of you have concerns or don’t feel comfortable, speak to the GP or district nurse. They can talk you through the options and organise for someone to help with your friend or family member’s personal care. You could also ask for a professional to be there to support you the first time you carry out a care task. If they’re not able to be there in person, they might be able to give you support over the phone.
Need to talk?
Life is more challenging right now, but we're still here for you.
No matter your worries, our nurses, trained officers and volunteers are here to listen.
- Call our free Support Line on 0800 090 2309
- Chat to us on webchat
- Send us an email at support@mariecurie.org.uk
- Speak with other people in similar situations on our online community
Our Support Line is open 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 11am – 5pm on Saturday. On bank holidays we're open 10am – 4pm.
External websites
About this information
This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.
Did you find this page useful?
Help us be there for anyone with an illness they're likely to die from by telling us what you think.
If you are completing this survey using a desktop computer, hold down the Ctrl button to select multiple options.
