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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

to be on tablets/to be taking tablets

Hello,
Is there any difference between: "Are you still taking the tablets that the doctor prescribed you last month." and "Are you still on the tablets that the doctor prescribed you last month."? They look about the same to me.

Thank you
  

Top answer

"on" and "taking" can both be asking whether or not the prescribed course of tablets has come to an end. e. the patient is not obeying the doctor's instructions).

— GPY

  • "on" and "taking" can both be asking whether or not the prescribed course of tablets has come to an end.
  • e.
  • the patient is not obeying the doctor's instructions).
  • "on" also feels a bit more informal.
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17 Answers
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"on" and "taking" can both be asking whether or not the prescribed course of tablets has come to an end.

"taking" can alternatively be asking whether the patient has stopped taking the tablets even though the prescribed course has not ended (i.e. the patient is not obeying the doctor's instructions).

"on" also feels a bit more informal.
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Are you still taking the tablets that the doctor prescribed you last month? This is what I would ask.
Also:
My sister takes insulin every day for her childhood diabetes.
Doctors advise people over 50 to take a mini-aspirin every d
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Thank you too, A.Stars. I realize that in some contexts "take" sounds better than "on" and vice versa. I have two sentences, but I am not sure whether they sound okay. Here they are: "I am still taking the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last month." and "I am still on the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last month." Which one sounds better to you? When the form of the medication/substance i
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Gene93 "I am still taking the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last month." and "I am still on the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last month." Which one sounds better to you?
taking
Gene93When the form of the medication/substance is not important (tablets, pills, powder, etc) I think we can use "on", can't we?
Yes.
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Could you tell me what's wrong with "I am still on the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last week."? The form is not made mention of, only the substance.
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Gene93Could you tell me what's wrong with "I am still on the Oxycontin the doctor prescribed me last week."?
You asked "what sounds better?" and I answered "taking."
I did not say that "on" was wrong.
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I didn't say that, A. Stars. I am just a little confused. Some people tell me that "take" doesn't collocate well with "medication/pills/etc" for reasons unknown. Others say it's fine.
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Gene93ome people tell me that "take" doesn't collocate well with "medication/pills/etc" for reasons unknown.
If they cannot give a reason, then they are untrustworthy in giving good advice.

These are fine and natural:

I take three pills every morning.
I take vitamin D as recommended by my doctor.
Be sure to take your medications at ex
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Yes, they do. Emotion: smile On the other hand, I think it might be natural to say: "I advise you not to drink vodka. You are still on antibiotics
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