Treatment & Medicine Checks

Check your thyroid treatment

If you have an underactive thyroid, you need to check at least once a year that you’re getting the right treatment and taking the right medicine.

What an underactive thyroid is

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include:

  • tiredness
  • weight gain
  • depression
  • being sensitive to the cold
  • dry skin and hair
  • muscle aches

These symptoms often feel like other conditions, and they usually develop slowly. This means you may not notice them for years.

Read more about symptoms of an underactive thyroid.

Find out if you need treatment

Request an appointment and ask for a blood test.

Read more about testing for an underactive thyroid on the NHS website.

What treatment involves

You can treat an underactive thyroid by taking tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid is not making.

What causes an underactive thyroid

Most cases are caused by either:

Check your diabetes treatment

If you have diabetes, you should check regularly that you’re getting the right treatment.

Request an appointment with our clinic

We also run clinics, which help to prevent complications from diabetes.

Our practice nurse helps with regular monitoring of diabetic control and lifestyle advice. We give annual eye and foot checks, and we may be able to refer you to a dietician for advice with your diet.

Request an appointment

Check your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you should check regularly that you’re getting the right treatment.

What COPD is

COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

It includes:

  • emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
  • chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.

Who it affects

COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people do not realise they have it.

Check your medicine

If you take medicine regularly, you should check it is right at least once a year. This is called a ‘medication review’.

You should have a medication review if:

  • you’re having issues with your medication, for example side effects
  • your medication review is overdue by 3 months or more
  • a GP or nurse has told you to book a review

Check your contraceptive pill

You should check regularly if your contraceptive pill is still right for you.

Non-urgent advice: Emergency contraception

You cannot ask for emergency contraception with this service. This is because you may not get your treatment in time.

Instead you should either:

get urgent advice from your local chemist, GP practice or family planning clinic or call 111

Get help on the NHS website

Visit the NHS website guide to where you can get contraception