What questions should I ask my doctor at an appointment?
CDC's notes say time is limited during doctor visits. This page sorts question lists from federal health agencies by what a visit can bring up: a test, a medicine, a diagnosis or the next step.
Arun Verma, co-founder of Triangle · 2026-10-17
This is not clinical evidence and not medical advice. It does not replace your care team. Discuss anything here with your clinician before you act on it.
What questions should I ask my doctor at an appointment?
AHRQ's Questions Are the Answer initiative offers a starting list, and its first eight questions cover tests, medicines and treatment: What is the test for? When will I get the results? How do you spell the name of that drug? Are there any side effects? Will this medicine interact with medicines that I'm already taking? Why do I need this treatment? Are there any alternatives? What are the possible complications? CDC's Good Questions for Good Health handout says the questions you may want to ask during your appointment depend on what your doctor does, such as giving a diagnosis, recommending a medical test or giving a prescription for medicine.
Why ask questions at all?
NIA says that if you don't ask, your doctor may assume you already know the answer or that you don't want more information, and that a doctor "may not know it's important to you" if you wait for him or her to raise a subject. AHRQ's brochure puts the case this way: "Patients who ask questions and make sure they understand the answers tend to get more timely, accurate diagnoses and have better outcomes."
What can I get ready before the visit?
MedlinePlus suggests jotting down your questions and concerns, plus every medicine, vitamin and supplement you take, over-the-counter and herbal ones included. AHRQ's brochure lists writing down your questions, bringing all the medicines themselves, from prescriptions to aspirin or antacids to dietary supplements, and knowing your current medical conditions, past surgeries and illnesses. If you are having symptoms, MedlinePlus also suggests writing down what they are, when and where they appear, how long you have had them and whether they have changed. Family history is on CDC's list too: its notes mention knowing your family's health history, such as your parents' health conditions.
Which questions should go first?
CDC's notes say time is limited during doctor visits and suggest starting with the questions that matter most to you. AHRQ's brochure asks for your top three questions. Telling the nurse or the person at the front desk that you have questions is another step the same CDC notes describe. They add that if your doctor does not ask whether you have any, you could ask when the best time would be.
What are fair questions about a test?
AHRQ's list starts with "What is the test for?" and "When will I get the results?" CDC's notes add "What happens during the test?", "Are there risks associated with this test?" and "What will the results tell me?" NIA's list for a medical test adds: Why is the test being done? How should I get ready? What will we know after the test? It also says you may want to ask for a written copy of the results and, if a specialist did the test, to ask for the results to be sent to your primary doctor. CDC's notes say to call for test results rather than assume no news is good news.
What are fair questions about a medicine?
AHRQ's list has three questions about a medicine: "How do you spell the name of that drug?", "Are there any side effects?" and "Will this medicine interact with medicines that I'm already taking?" MedlinePlus adds "What is each medicine supposed to do?" For a newly prescribed medicine, CDC's notes list "How do I take it?" and "What do I do if the medicine causes problems or doesn't seem to work?"
What are fair questions about a diagnosis?
When a doctor gives a diagnosis, CDC's notes list "What is my diagnosis? What are my treatment options? What are the benefits of each option? What are risks and side effects?" From AHRQ's list, you could also ask "Why do I need this treatment?" and "Are there any alternatives?" NIA's questions about a diagnosis add "What may have caused this condition? Will it be permanent?" and "How can I learn more about my condition?"
What can I ask before I leave?
A fair question to close on is what happens next, and in what form it will arrive. AHRQ's brochure lists written instructions, brochures, videos and websites among the things to ask for. MedlinePlus lists "When should you contact your provider if your symptoms do not improve?" and asking when to schedule more appointments. CDC's notes also list "Do I need to change my daily routine?" and, in an activity about questions after a diagnosis, "Will I need any more tests?"
What if I don't understand the answer, and can someone come with me?
AHRQ's brochure lists asking questions to make sure you understand what your doctor is telling you, and letting your doctor know if you are worried about being able to follow instructions. NIA gives examples: when you don't know the meaning of a word, or when instructions aren't clear, such as whether taking medicine with food means before, during or after a meal. MedlinePlus says that if you need support, you can invite a friend or family member to come with you, who can help you understand and remember what you need to do. It also notes that writing things down makes it easier to remember details at the time of your visit, and that notes can go in your phone or in an email to your provider. After the visit, it says to write down any new questions about your health, medicines or treatment. AHRQ's QuestionBuilder app lets you save a question list to a calendar appointment or send it to an email address.
Sources
- AHRQ: The 10 Questions You Should Know, Questions Are the Answer (content last reviewed November 2020) (list items 1-8): AHRQ's Questions Are the Answer page says its questions can get you started, and its list begins: What is the test for? When will I get the results? How do you spell the name of that drug? Are there any side effects? Will this medicine interact with medicines that I'm already taking? Why do I need this treatment? Are there any alternatives? What are the possible complications?
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Take-Home Handout, During Your Appointment; Slide 15): CDC's handout says the questions you may want to ask during your appointment depend on what your doctor does, with giving a diagnosis, recommending a medical test and giving a prescription for medicine among its examples.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 14): CDC's presentation notes say time is limited during doctor visits.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (Tips for Patients): AHRQ's brochure says: "Patients who ask questions and make sure they understand the answers tend to get more timely, accurate diagnoses and have better outcomes."
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (opening paragraph): NIA says that if you don't ask questions, your doctor may assume you already know the answer or that you don't want more information.
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (opening paragraph): NIA says not to wait for the doctor to raise a specific question or subject, because he or she may not know it's important to you.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (How to Prepare): MedlinePlus says to jot down your questions and concerns before your visit.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (How to Prepare): MedlinePlus says to write down all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements, and to bring the list to your appointment.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (Before Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure lists writing down the questions you have for the visit among its tips for before your appointment.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (Before Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure lists bringing all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines such as aspirin or antacids, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (How to Prepare): MedlinePlus says that if you are having symptoms, write down details before the visit: describe your symptoms, when and where they appear, how long you have had them and whether they have changed.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (Before Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure lists knowing your current medical conditions, past surgeries, and illnesses among its tips for before your appointment.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 20): CDC's presentation notes list knowing your family's health history, such as your parents' health conditions, among tips for preparing for your next appointment.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes say to start by asking the questions that are most important to you.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (My Questions for This Visit): AHRQ's brochure asks: What are the top three questions you want to be sure to ask during your appointment?
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes say to tell the nurse or person at the front desk that you have questions for your doctor.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes say that if your doctor does not ask whether you have questions, you can ask your doctor when the best time would be to ask them.
- AHRQ: The 10 Questions You Should Know, Questions Are the Answer (content last reviewed November 2020) (list items 1-2): AHRQ's list begins: What is the test for? When will I get the results?
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes list, for when your doctor recommends a test or medicine: What is the test for? What happens during the test? Are there risks associated with this test? What will the results tell me?
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (Questions to ask your doctor before a medical test): NIA's questions to ask before a medical test include: Why is the test being done? How should I get ready? What will we know after the test?
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (Learn about medical tests): NIA says you may want to ask your doctor for a written copy of the test results.
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (Learn about medical tests): NIA says that if a test is done by a specialist, you can ask to have the results sent to your primary doctor.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 16; Take-Home Handout, Other times to call your doctor): CDC's presentation notes list calling your doctor to get results of any tests you've had, and say not to assume that no news is good news.
- AHRQ: The 10 Questions You Should Know, Questions Are the Answer (content last reviewed November 2020) (list items 3-5): AHRQ's list includes: How do you spell the name of that drug? Are there any side effects? Will this medicine interact with medicines that I'm already taking?
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (What to Share and Ask, Medicines and supplements): MedlinePlus lists the question "What is each medicine supposed to do?" among questions to ask about the medicines you take.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes list, for when a medicine is prescribed: How do I take it? What do I do if the medicine causes problems or doesn't seem to work?
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15): CDC's presentation notes list, for a diagnosis: What is my diagnosis? What are my treatment options? What are the benefits of each option? What are risks and side effects?
- AHRQ: The 10 Questions You Should Know, Questions Are the Answer (content last reviewed November 2020) (list items 6-7): AHRQ's list includes: Why do I need this treatment? Are there any alternatives?
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (Questions to ask your doctor about your diagnosis): NIA's questions about a diagnosis include: What may have caused this condition? Will it be permanent? How can I learn more about my condition?
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (During Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure says to find out what to do next, and lists written instructions, brochures, videos and websites among the things to ask for.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (What to Share and Ask, Symptoms): MedlinePlus lists the question "When should you contact your provider if your symptoms do not improve?" under symptoms.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (What to Share and Ask, Follow-up): MedlinePlus says to ask your provider when you should schedule more appointments.
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 15, Other Questions): CDC's presentation notes list the question "Do I need to change my daily routine?"
- CDC: Good Questions for Good Health workshop toolkit, presentation notes and take-home handout (Slide 22): CDC's presentation notes list "Will I need any more tests?" among possible responses to the activity on writing questions after a diagnosis.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (During Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure says to ask questions to make sure you understand what your doctor is telling you.
- AHRQ: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare, tips for patients (content last reviewed November 2024) (During Your Appointment): AHRQ's brochure says to let your doctor know if you are worried about being able to follow his or her instructions.
- NIA: What Should I Ask My Doctor During a Checkup? (content reviewed February 3, 2020) (opening paragraph): NIA says to ask questions when you don't know the meaning of a word or when instructions aren't clear, for example whether taking medicine with food means before, during, or after a meal.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (How to Prepare): MedlinePlus says that if you need support, you can invite a friend or family member to come with you, who can help you understand and remember what you need to do.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (How to Prepare): MedlinePlus says writing things down makes it easier to remember details at the time of your visit, and that notes can go in your phone or in an email to your provider.
- AHRQ: QuestionBuilder App (content last reviewed June 2022) (intro steps 1-3): AHRQ says the QuestionBuilder app lets you select or create questions to ask and save them to a calendar appointment or send them to any email address.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Make the most of your doctor visit (review date 9/15/2024) (After Your Visit): MedlinePlus says to write down any new questions about your health, medicines, or treatment after your visit.
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