Safe Use of Medicines

Medicines are invaluable in treating and preventing many illnesses. However, they are only one of a number of measures that can help improve your health. You should not assume that taking a medicine is necessarily the best approach to treating a condition. Doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals can provide information on a variety of treatments that might improve your health and well-being.

Medicines are potent substances that must always be used with care. Many medicines can only be obtained when dispensed by a pharmacist on the prescription of a doctor (known as a Prescription Medicine). Dentists, midwives and some nurses can also prescribe certain medicines for their patients. Other medicines can be purchased, either from a pharmacist personally (Pharmacist Only Medicines), from a pharmacy (Pharmacy Medicine) or from a retail outlet such as a supermarket or petrol station.

When you collect a prescription you will have to pay part, or all, of the cost of the medicine. The government sets the basic prescription fee (the $3 or $15 charge that everyone has to pay). In addition, Pharmac (the agency that manages pharmaceutical subsidies) places extra charges on some medicines or some brands of a medicine. If you have any queries about the amount you are asked to pay, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Labels on medicines
Interactions
Safety packaging
Storage
Disposal
Poisonings & overdoses

Labels on medicines

It is important that medicines are taken according to the instructions printed on the label. Taking more than the recommended dose can cause serious problems e.g. too much paracetamol can cause liver damage.

The label should tell you:

how much medicine to use (e.g. take one tablet or inhale two puffs)
how often it should be used (e.g. twice a day or every six hours or at night>
how long to use it for, if for short term treatment (e.g. until finished)
how to use a medicine that is not swallowed (e.g. instil into the nostrils or insert into the vagina)

The label may also give some special instructions to follow when taking the medicine e.g take with food, or on an empty stomach, or avoid alcohol.

Other information may be included on the label. For example, eye drops will indicate an expiry date after which the medicine should be discarded. Some medicines may be labelled swallowed whole which means they should not be chewed or crushed.

It may not always be possible to fit all the necessary information on a label. Your pharmacist will tell you any extra information you need to know. Listen carefully to what your pharmacist tells you and don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for something to be repeated.

Read the label before you start the treatment. If you are unsure about what to do, or the instructions are vague, contact your pharmacist for clarification.

It is important that inhalers, eye drops, suppositories, pessaries etc. are used correctly. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you are unsure of how to use your medicine.

Always keep medicines in their original container and do not remove the label.

Prescribed medicines should not be shared - they should only be taken by the person they were prescribed for.

Always measure liquid medicines in a medicine measure or dropper so that the correct amount is given. These special measures can be purchased from a pharmacy. Don’t use a household teaspoon to measure medicines as they vary in size.

Interactions

Some medicines can interact with other medicines so that they don’t work as well or cause unpleasant or harmful effects. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines you are taking so that interactions can be avoided. Don’t forget to include all medicines that you use, whether they are prescribed or purchased from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines can also interact with food. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which foods to avoid while taking the medicine.

You should also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are pregnant, become pregnant while on medication or are breastfeeding, so that a medicine is not prescribed that could harm the baby.

Safety packaging

Some tablets and capsules are required by law to be supplied in ‘blister’ safety packs, which makes the medicine more difficult for a child to access. Pharmacists are also required to dispense certain liquid medicines, considered more toxic to children, in bottles with child resistant closures e.g. paracetammol. Child resistant closures make the container more difficult for a child to open, but can also be a problem for older people or those with conditions such as arthritis.

If you find blister packs or child resistant closures difficult to manage, tell your pharmacist. Medicines can be dispensed in ordinary bottles in these circumstances.

If you have young children, talk to your pharmacist about having all medicines dispensed in containers with child resistant closures.

Storage

To prevent accidental poisonings, store all medicines out of reach and sight of children.

It is important that medicines are stored correctly so that they don’t degrade and lose their effectiveness. Unless stated on the label, store medicines in a dry, cool place such as a high cupboard in a room that isn’t steamy or excessively hot. Don’t store medicines on a windowsill, in the glovebox of the car or in the bathroom.

Some medicines must be stored in a fridge - this will be stated on the label. Only keep medicines in the fridge if you are told to. Don’t put them in the freezer. Ensure they are stored at the back of the fridge, out of sight of children.

Disposal