Medicines can significantly improve your health. However, if used incorrectly, medicines can also cause significant harm, and even death. Around 250,000 Australians are admitted to hospital ever year due to problems associated with the use of medicines.
Here are some ways you can ensure you are using your medicines safely, and minimising potential harm:
Do
- Ensure that you understand how to take your medicine. Clarify directions with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you know:
- How much to take, how often to take it, and what time of day?
- If you should take it with food, or on an empty stomach?
- Whether you must swallow pills whole, or if they can be crushed or chewed?
- What you should do if you accidentally miss a dose?
- If you need to avoid alcohol or other foods or activities?
- How long you should take the medicine for?
- Ask about any possible side effects, including how you should manage these and what you should do if you experience a serious reaction.
- Disclose all other treatments that you take to your doctor, pharmacist and other health professionals, including:
- Prescription medicines
- Over the counter medicines
- Vitamins
- Herbal supplements
- Let your prescriber know if you may be pregnant or have any other medical conditions.
- Request a Home Medicines Review from your pharmacist, which can help you to better understand and manage your medicines.
- Seek advice from a pharmacist if you have concerns about your medicines or that of a family member, particularly if they are in a residential aged care facility.
- Store medicines correctly, as per package instructions.
- Keep an up to date Medicines List that records all the medicines you currently use, what they are for, and dosage instructions.
Don’t
- Take medicines stored at home that are no longer required;
- Take medicines that have expired;
- Share other people’s medicines (prescription or over the counter);
- Take medicines contrary to instructions;
- Leave it to the last minute to get a repeat in case there is a medicines shortage problem;
- Buy medicines online from overseas.