Table 2.

Prescription checklist

• What are the patient's views?

• What is the diagnosis (or diagnoses) you are treating?

• What is the aim of treatment?

• What are the treatment possibilities in this patient?

Nonpharmacological

Pharmacological

• How is your preferred drug (and its metabolites if relevant) cleared?

• Will other disease states affect your choice?

• Will physiological states affect your choice?

• Could one drug treat more than one problem?

• What is the best route and starting dosage?

• How will treatment be monitored?

• When will you increase the dose?

• What will its duration be?

• What are the potential adverse effects?

• What potential drug interactions are relevant?

• Would discontinuing another drug help?

• What information should you discuss with the patient?