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Does your GP need to know when you get medications online?
In a nutshell, whether or not your GP needs to know about the treatments you get online depends on what you're prescribed and the risk involved. For the majority of medications, it's not mandatory to tell your GP.
For chronic conditions that require regular monitoring like asthma, COPD, and diabetes, it's essential to inform your GP about any medication you’re taking. And while it’s not essential for all conditions and medications, we still advise that you tell your GP about any other medications you get elsewhere.
Medically reviewed by
Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
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Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on Mar 18, 2026.
Meet Alexandra Cristina
Last updated on Mar 24, 2026.
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What medications does your GP need to be aware you’re taking?
There are lots of treatments that your GP will need to know about if you’re taking them. This is because some medications can interact with others, making them potentially unsafe, and certain chronic conditions require regular, close monitoring.
If you get treatment from us at Treated, for example, we’ll inform your GP when prescribing medication for any of the following chronic conditions:
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- COPD
- Hypertension
- Morning sickness
Whereas for conditions like erectile dysfunction, it’s not mandatory to inform your GP (but we still recommend that you do).
| Condition | Mandatory GP notification? | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | Yes | Requires annual asthma reviews to check inhaler technique, how often you use relievers, and whether your treatment plan needs changing. |
| Diabetes | Yes | Many diabetes medicines require monitoring to see how they affect your blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and kidney function. Certain diabetes meds can interact with other treatments. |
| Hypothyroidism | Yes | Hypothyroidism is a chronic condition that requires regular monitoring. Levothyroxine, a common treatment for hypothyroidism, interacts with many foods and medicines. |
| COPD | Yes | Requires annual COPD reviews to check your condition is under control and whether your treatment plan needs changing. |
| Hypertension | Yes | High blood pressure is regularly monitored. Uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to serious health risks, so the medicine and dosages must be correct for you. |
| Morning sickness | Yes | To inform your doctor and midwife about any medicine you're taking while pregnant. |
| Erectile dysfunction | No, but advisable | Many ED meds interact with other medicines. To check your medical history to determine whether a certain treatment is suitable for you. |
| HRT | No, but advisable | Hormonal treatment can cause serious side effects and interact with other medicines. |
| TRT | No, but advisable | Hormonal treatment can cause serious side effects and interact with other medicines. |
| Stop smoking | No, but advisable | Some stop smoking treatments can cause serious side effects and carry mental health risks. |
| Weight loss | No, but advisable | To help verify your BMI and check your medical history. |
The list is not exhaustive and can change in the future.
What medications does your GP not need to be informed about?
We at Treated recommend you tell your GP about any treatments you’re getting privately. But this is less essential for over-the-counter medicines — medicines you can buy without a prescription at your local shop — like antihistamines for hay fever or loperamide (Imodium) for diarrhoea.
What medications require enhanced risk assessments?
For some medications, our clinician may want to do extra checks beyond what is discussed in the questionnaire or online consultation. They’ll request consent to view your health record or Summary Care Record (SCR) in England – an electronic overview of your medical information, including current medication, allergies, and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines, created from GP medical records. Your SCR can be accessed remotely with your consent.
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the health record is referred to by different names. In Scotland, for example, it’s called the Emergency Care Summary (ECS). Additionally, clinicians in England may not have remote access to this information. So we may ask you to obtain a copy from your GP and upload it to your Treated profile for our clinician to review.
Your clinician might ask to view your SCR if you’re transferring over from public to private prescriptions, so they can check what medicine you’re already taking, or for treating conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes. They might also ask for it to verify information from your consultation.
We’ll let you know during your consultation if we need your SCR or equivalent and why.
Will my GP want me to get the medication from them instead?
Typically, your GP should have no issues with you getting medication through private services. Many people opt for private online services due to the convenience they offer, such as faster or subscription-based delivery for repeat prescriptions, easier access to private appointments, or the difficulty of obtaining certain treatments through the NHS. Weight loss treatments like Wegovy and Mounjaro, for example, can be harder to get with the NHS due to stricter eligibility criteria.
Using a private service like Treated makes it easier for you to get the treatment you need.
Can my GP stop me getting treatment privately?
While your GP can stop you from receiving private treatment, it’s unlikely they’ll do so unless there’s a serious health concern. For example, if they believe a private medication isn’t safe for you, they may raise an objection.
As long as your medication is deemed safe for you, they can’t stop you from obtaining it privately. We understand that some people worry that if their GP finds out they’re going private to receive medication, it may affect their ability to receive treatment. You don’t need to worry about that. We provide treatments that adhere to NHS guidelines and do our utmost to ensure that they’re right for you. Your GP shouldn’t have any concerns unless there’s a serious health risk.
Whose responsibility is it to verify the information given in an online consultation is correct?
As a patient, you must be honest about all the information you provide during your health assessment. We typically ask you to confirm that all the information given during your online consultation is correct to the best of your knowledge. To ensure clarity, we have frameworks in place to verify the information provided. For example, to help verify your BMI for weight loss medication, we may ask you to provide a photo or video.
Other examples of information we might request include:
- Test results for treatments related to STIs, TRT, or vitamin deficiencies.
- Blood pressure readings.
- Blood sugar readings.
- Pictures of affected areas when prescribing dermatological treatment.
If you are unable to provide this evidence, an online pharmacy may refer you to in-person care. In some cases, a clinician may also contact you via telephone to verify these details.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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