Check your medicines to make sure you are taking them the right way

Medicines can help improve the quality of our lives in many ways, for example, by treating or preventing illness. It is really important to follow the instructions which come with a medicine carefully as this will help you use your medicines in the right way.

Tips on using medicines safely

  • For medicines which are prescribed for you, the dose instructions are on the pharmacy label. If you buy a medicine over-the-counter in a pharmacy, the instructions are on the package.

  • Never take a medicine that was prescribed for someone else. It may not be safe for you. 

  • Don’t share your medicines with anyone else.

How to take medicines safely

All medicines come with a package leaflet which is sometimes known as a patient information leaflet. It is important to read this information as it helps make sure your medicine is right for you.

The package leaflet will tell you about any special instructions for your medicine. It will also tell you if there are side affects you should look out for and what to do if you think you may have a side effect.

If you do not have a package leaflet for your medicine, you can ask your pharmacist for one

This information is also available on MedsInfo. This website is designed to help you find, view and save Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) and Product Information (PI) documents for prescription medicines, some non-prescription medicines and some biologicals included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

If you have any other questions about how to use your medicines, ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse.

Side effects

While most of us take medicines without any problems, all medicines have some risks and some people can develop side effects.

A side effect is when something unwanted or unintended happens after taking medicine. In many cases, side effects to medicines are mild and you can continue to take the medicine. However, for some people, the side effects can sometimes be more serious. They may need a change in their medicines or, in rare cases, some additional medical treatment.

It is important to look at the risks associated with medicine in the context of the overall benefit of the medicine to your health and the condition being treated.

Dangers of buying medicines online

Buying prescription medicines on the internet might seem like a good idea but there is no way of knowing how safe these medicines are or if they will work properly. At best, you could simply be wasting your money. At worst, these medicines could cause you serious harm. 

 

 

 

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