Compare Medicines
Compare medicines side by side
Pick up to three medicines and see what each is, how it works, its uses, advantages, disadvantages, cautions and side effects — laid out together. Dose-free, referenced, and clear about where decisions belong.
Education and reference only. This compares medicines in plain, dose-free terms to help you understand the differences. It does not say which is “best” and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. For doses and prescribing, use the BNF and the product SmPC.
Add at least two medicines to compare (up to three).
How to read a comparison
Differences, not verdicts
Two medicines in the same class can differ in meaningful ways — how they are taken, what they interact with, who should avoid them, and which side effects are most likely. Seeing those side by side helps you ask better questions and understand your own treatment. What this tool deliberately will not do is crown a winner: the “right” medicine depends on the person, their other conditions and medicines, and their preferences, which is a conversation for your prescriber or pharmacist. Every column links to the full, referenced guide for that medicine, so you can always trace a statement back to its source and its last-reviewed date.
Answers
Compare medicines: frequently asked questions
Does this tell me which medicine is better?
No — and that is deliberate. It lays out what each medicine is, how it works, its advantages, disadvantages, cautions and side effects side by side, so you can see the differences clearly. Which medicine is right for a given person is a clinical decision that depends on the individual, and belongs with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does it show doses?
No. Every guide on this site is deliberately dose-free. For doses, always use the BNF and the product Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).
Where does the information come from?
Each column is drawn from our own clinically-reviewed, referenced guide for that active ingredient (sourced to the BNF, SmPC and UK guidance). Click any medicine name to open its full guide with its references and last-reviewed date.
Can I compare a brand name?
Search by the active ingredient (generic) name — for example "atorvastatin" rather than a brand. Brand names are listed within each medicine’s guide.
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