Pharmacy technician Vicky is talking to customer Liza Philips.

“How’s that slipped disc treating you, Liza?” asks Vicky.

“Still in agony, to be honest,” replies Liza. “I went to see a physio, but he says it is too inflamed to do anything, and so far the GP has tried me on co-codamol, naproxen and an antidepressant, but none of them have touched it. Now he wants to put me on this.”

Liza shows Vicky a prescription for pregabalin.

“I’m really not sure about taking it,” Liza continues. “On the one hand, I’m desperate – for a good night’s sleep, for a start, which I’m sure would make a huge difference – but on the other, I’ve read that this can cause all kinds of side effects, and you can get hooked on them. The specialist at the hospital said it would get better on its own, but it’d take a few months. I really don’t know. What do you think? Should I give it a few more weeks to see if it gets easier? I could always get this prescription filled then if I think I need it.”