Treatment and medication
End of life care
To accompany our drug directory, our clinical experts have created articles covering the treatment and medication you may require for various medical conditions, as well as advice on immunisation. From ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure, to steroids for eczema, find out what options are available, how they work and the possible side effects.
End of life care
End of life care is about comfort and dignity. Discover how services support patients and families through symptom control, emotional care, and decision making.
First aid
Accidents happen anywhere. Learn essential first aid skills that can help you treat common injuries and potentially save a life in an emergency.
Medicine information
Medicines help manage or cure many conditions. Learn about how they work, common side effects, and why taking them as prescribed matters.
- Ace inhibitors
- Acne treatments
- Alpha-blockers
- Alternatives to HRT for menopause symptoms
- Aminosalicylates
- Antacids
- Anti-inflammatory tablets
- Antibiotics
- Anticoagulants
- Antidepressants
- Antifungal medication
- Antihistamines
- Antipsychotic medicines
- Antispasmodics
- Antithyroid medicines
- Aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines
- Atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention
- Benzodiazepines and Z drugs
- Beta-blockers
- Biological medicines for rheumatoid arthritis
- Bisphosphonates
- Buprenorphine replacement for heroin
- Bupropion for quitting smoking
- Calcium channel blockers
- Cannabis-based medicinal products
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Cough medicines
- Decongestants
- Diarrhoea medicine
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
- Drug allergy
- Drug dependence treatment
- Emollients and eczema creams
- Epilepsy medication and side-effects
- Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases
- Fingertip units for topical steroids
- Free or reduced cost prescriptions
- Generic medicines vs brand names
- H2 blockers
- Head lice treatment and prevention
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Indigestion medicine
- Insulin
- Laxatives
- Local preparations for anal disorders
- Loop diuretics
- Medication and treatment for dementia
- Medication-overuse headache
- Medicine for high blood pressure
- Medicines for urinary urgency and incontinence
- Medicines to keep at home
- Methadone replacement for heroin
- Migraine treatment
- Mucolytics
- Muscle relaxants
- Nausea medicine
- Nitrate medication
- Oral bronchodilators
- Oral steroids
- Painkillers
- Peripheral vasodilators
- Polypharmacy
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Sleeping tablets
- Statins and other lipid-lowering medicines
- Steroid injections
- Steroid nasal sprays
- Steroids
- Strong painkillers
- Thiazide diuretics
- Topical anti-inflammatory painkillers
- Topical steroids
- Topical steroids for eczema
- Worm medicines
Other treatments
From complementary therapies to experimental options, learn about alternative treatments and how to explore them safely with medical advice.
Self-referral
In some cases, you can refer yourself to a specialist without seeing a GP first. Learn how self-referral works and when it’s an option.
Surgery and procedures
Surgery can range from minor outpatient procedures to major operations. Learn what to expect, how to prepare, and what recovery involves.
Anaesthesia
- Anaesthesia
- Anaesthetic for hip or knee replacement
- Death or brain damage from anaesthesia
- Epidural pain relief after surgery
- Nerve damage after epidural injection
- Post-dural puncture headache
- Sickness after anaesthetic
- Spinal anaesthetic
Endoscopy
- Bronchoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration
- ERCP
- Gastroscopy
- Hysteroscopy
- Nasoendoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy
Other surgery and procedures
- Arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery
- Botox
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Breast uplift
- Colposcopy and cervical treatments
- Common postoperative complications
- Coronary artery bypass graft
- Cystoscopy
- Facelifts
- Female sterilisation
- Hip replacement
- Hysterectomy
- Kidney transplant
- Knee replacement
- Laparoscopy and laparoscopic surgery
- Laser eye surgery
- Laser hair removal
- Lip enhancement
- Local anaesthesia for your eye operation
- Menorrhagia surgery
- Post-operative chest infection
- Preventing infection after splenectomy
- Sterilisation
- Surgical drains
- Vasectomy
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Therapy
Therapies include physical, psychological, and occupational approaches. Learn how therapy can help you recover, manage pain, or improve mental wellbeing.
In this topic:TherapyMental health therapy
Vaccinations
Vaccines protect individuals and communities from serious illness. Learn how they work and which ones are recommended for different age groups.
Weight loss treatments and surgery
When diet and exercise aren’t enough, treatments or surgery may help. Learn about weight loss options and what to expect from each approach.