Carbon Filter Pads

My Interpet CF1 filter comes with a carbon pad but are they necessary ? Iv seen on other forums there only used to filter medication out of the water or something

I'll leave the topic here in case anyone else asks the same question.

As you have found, carbon is a hangover from decades ago and doesn't need to be run routinely. It does have its uses though. I bought a plant a couple of days ago and because I have snails and shrimps in my tanks I can't risk a trace of a chemical designed to kill snails left on the plant so it is in my quarantine tank with a filter containing a carbon sponge. It'll be there at least a week.
Keep the carbon pad in the cupboard, you never know when it will come in handy