Medicine whys and hows

Why don’t I know more about what I'm taking?

Medicinewise answers in detail

Why be medicinewise?

Being medicinewise will help you make better health decisions for you and those you care for. It will help you to get the most benefit from your medicines.

By being medicinewise you’ll know what you’re taking and why and how it could affect you — and whether a medicine is the best option in the first place. It means knowing how to take your medicine correctly, what the possible side effects are and what other treatment options are available.

Being medicinewise means knowing the right questions to ask about your medicines, and that if you are unsure about something you can ask your doctor, pharmacist or search by topic on our website.

Why should I know it’s a medicine?

Remember that anything you take or use for a therapeutic benefit is a medicine. This is important because all medicines have possible risks or unwanted effects, regardless of where you get them from or what form they’re in.

Medicines are not only prescribed by your doctor or recommended by a pharmacist. Other health professionals such as dentists, nurses, physiotherapists or naturopaths may suggest medicines for you. You can also purchase medicines yourself from a pharmacy or chemist, health food store or supermarket.

Medicines include pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements and herbal products. Medicines are not only those taken by mouth, but they may come as injections, inhalers, lotions and creams, suppositories, drops and patches.

Why do I need to know the active ingredient in a medicine?

Most medicines have two names: the active ingredient and the brand name. The active ingredient identifies the chemical in the medicine that makes it work. The brand name is the name given to the medicine by its manufacturer.

The same active ingredient can be found in more than one medicine under different brand names. So it’s important to check the active ingredient every time you get a medicine to avoid doubling up and taking too much. This can happen when you get a different brand of the same medicine from a doctor or pharmacist, or when you leave hospital, or when you purchase a medicine yourself that has the same active ingredient as your other medicines.

By knowing the active ingredient you can also check that you’re not taking a medicine you’re allergic to, or shouldn’t be taking with your other medicines. Knowing the active ingredient enables you to identify suitable alternatives to your medicines when travelling overseas. It helps you understand the packaging and labelling of medicines that you get from a hospital, where the active ingredient is used to prescribe and dispense medicines.

How do I find the active ingredient on the pack?

Read an example medicine label or watch a video to find where the active ingredient is printed on the pack of your medicine. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you where to find the active ingredient on your medicines.

Why should I ask the right questions?

Knowing the right questions to ask will help you to get the most benefit from your medicines and make the best decisions about your treatment options. Take a look at the top 5 medicinewise questions to ask when you are taking a medicine or thinking about starting one. You can also learn more about what questions to ask or visit our Medicinewise Choices site.

Why should I find out about the benefits and risks of medicines?

Medicines have both benefits and risks. While most of the unwanted effects of medicines are usually mild in nature, they are sometimes serious and can affect certain people more than others.

Understanding the benefits and risks of a medicine will help you decide whether it is the best option for you, and to know what to expect or look out for when taking it. Getting information from the consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet for your medicine is a good place to start. You can get a copy from our website or from your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor or pharmacist can discuss with you the benefits and risks of your medicines. You can also learn more by visiting our Medicinewise Choices site.

Why should I keep a list of my medicines?

Your medicines may be affected by such things as other medicines, your health and lifestyle. So it’s important that you and your doctor, pharmacist and other health professionals know about all of the medicines you are taking or using, so that you get the best results from them.

All of your medicines are not usually recorded in a central place, so you often need to be the gatekeeper of this information. Keeping a list of all of your medicines, including vitamins and herbal remedies, will help you to keep track of them.

You can use a medicines list to list all of your medicines. It also includes some of the most important things you need to know, such as what your medicine is for, how much to use and when to use it. Learn more about how to use a medicines list here.

Why should I always follow instructions from my doctor or pharmacist?

You may experience unwanted effects from your medicines if you don’t take or use them as directed. For example, taking or using more medicine than what you’re prescribed or recommended will not necessarily make it more effective for you — it is more likely to cause you side effects or serious harm. Even high doses of medicines that you can purchase yourself, such as pain relievers, can cause enough harm to require hospitalisation.

Why should I read the labels and packaging of my medicine?

This will make a difference to how well the medicine works and will help you to avoid problems from taking too much medicine. The label gives you instructions such as how much medicine to take, how often, for how many days, and whether to take the medicine with or after food. The label or packaging may also carry important warnings, such as not to drive or operate machinery while taking the medicine.

Why do better choices mean better health?

Better choices are based on good quality information, which takes into account evidence about the benefits and possible risks of your treatment options, as well as your individual circumstances. By making well informed choices for yourself and those you care for, you make better health decisions.

Being actively involved in asking the right questions and in understanding your treatment will help you to make better choices about your health, be they relating to a medicine, a test, a lifestyle change, or waiting and watching.

VIDEO

Health Minutes: Tips for being medicinewise
(2:01m)

You can learn more about your choices by visiting our Medicinewise Choices site.

• Know it's a medicine
• Find the active ingredient
• Ask the right questions
• Medicine whys and hows
• Be medicinewise in the media
• Medicinewise articles