Making your brand choices Making your brand choices

How can I keep track of my medicines?

Remember it’s your choice. You may choose an alternative brand of medicine or stay with your prescribed or usual brand. Be medicinewise about your choices by discussing them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Benefits of having a choice

• Choosing an alternative brand of medicine may cost you less than another brand.
• It allows you to get your medicine if the pharmacist doesn’t have your usual brand in stock.

Why you may choose not to switch brands

• Some people may not want to change brands to avoid confusion. It’s best not to keep switching brands, especially if you take several different medicines.
• For a few people there may be certain risks in changing brands, such as having an allergy or intolerance to an excipient in a brand of medicine. Excipients are inactive ingredients such as fillers, binders or coatings used in the manufacturing process.
• People with certain conditions may be advised to stick with their original prescribed brand. Your doctor will explain if this is the case.

Keep track with the NPS Medicines List

Recording all the names of your medicines on a Medicines List can help you, your doctor and pharmacist keep track of your medicines and choice of brands. It is a handy way to remember the active ingredient name in your medicines and brand choices. If you help care for someone else you might also find it useful to keep a copy for them.

You can order or print out an NPS Medicines List.

Get Medicines List on your iPhone — convenient to carry, keeps a record of your medicine changes, or email and print. Available now as free download in the App Store.