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Medicinewise choices — Multimedia stories Medicinewise choices — Stories
What do other people think about when they are making choices about medicines? Read stories and watch videos about other people’s experiences.
Making wise choices about medicines
Is this medicine right for me?
Why your doctor wants you to ask questions about your medicines, says Gill, a doctor
It's up to you, so decide how much information you want about your medications, and ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for it, says Gill, a doctor. More…
Don't be afraid to ask questions about your medicine, says Eva, a nurse
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist questions about your medications and your health — ‘it’s not like shopping, you can’t take the goods back’, says Eva, a nurse. More…
Don’t forget! Keep a list of your medicines questions to ask your doctor
A list of questions about your medications or drugs for your health professional is a good idea, so you don't walk out the door and think ‘Oh I should have asked that question’says Anne, a consumer advocate More…
Medicines during pregnancy: doing my homework about medicines helps me
I was very cautious during my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding, and I like to do my own research before I talk to my doctor and pharmacist about taking a medication or drug — Myung Jin talks about her experience. More…
Is this medicine right for me? Starting an antidepressant
I had been feeling pretty down for about 6 months before I finally decided I needed to do something. More…
What will the medicine do for me?
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What are the benefits for me? Preventing stroke with warfarin
Read a personal story about how someone decided whether to take a medicine by being aware of all their choices and their implications. More…
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Get the most out of your consumer medicine information (CMI)
Your CMI gives you information about your medication’s side effects, what it’s for, how to take it and more. You don’t have to read the CMI from beginning to end, you can just go to the bit you are interested in, says Gill, a doctor. More…
What are the medicine's side effects?
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Which side effects matter? A smoker’s story
I’ve been a smoker for years. I started in my teens and now I’m 30. I’ve tried to quit before but it’s not easy, and I’ve never been able to stop for more than a month. More…
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How to deal with your medicine’s side effects
If you ask your doctor about your medicine’s side effects, or adverse effects, you will know what to expect and sometimes you can deal with them yourself. If you get nausea from your medication, it is not a very nice feeling. You might be able to switch to a different one that doesn’t make you feel sick, says Eva, a nurse. More…
What I need to know about medicine side effects
The list of side effects almost put me off starting a new asthma medication for my daughter, until I found out they were really rare — Vanessa talks about her experience. More…
Just because a medicine is new, does that mean it's better?
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Should I change to a new medicine? A diabetes story
The other day someone on the online forum I use mentioned sitagliptin (brand name Januvia), a new medicine for type 2 diabetes. He said he felt really good on it and I wondered if it could be for me. More…
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New versus older drugs — why I go for the tried and true
I’m careful of new drugs on the market, especially with my kids because I don’t want them to be the guinea pigs — Vanessa talks about her experience. More…
Will it mix OK with my other medicines?
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Could my mix of medicines be making me sick? A story of two medicines
My wife had brought in my cholesterol medicine, called simvastatin, which apparently should not be taken with clarithromycin, the drug for my chest infection. Mixing them could cause problems with my muscles. Read more. More…
Get a check up for your medicines too, not just you
It’s important to ask your doctor once a year to check if you still need all your medicines. ‘I was absolutely aghast when she emptied out 30 tablets at breakfast. I said “You have to get that checked!”’ — Harold talks about his experience. More…
What about my complementary medicines?
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Could a complementary medicine help? A story about hot flushes
I’m going through menopause at the moment and the hot flushes are a nuisance. A friend told me about a herbal medicine that people use to treat them. More…
Complementary medicines or mainstream medicines — how I decide
I’m happy to use complementary medicines for some things, but not others — Vanessa talks about her experience. More…
Finding good information about medicines
Finding good-quality information about medicines
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Medicine information on the web: sort the good from the bad
Google has become almost the friend you talk to first about your health, but is it good medicine information? It helps to ask ‘Is this website trying to sell me something?’, says Anne, a consumer advocate. More…
Don’t use the internet as your doctor!
Looking up your symptoms on the web won’t give you a proper diagnosis, so make sure you go and get properly checked by your doctor, says Eva, a nurse. More…
Tell us your story
We are capturing stories about how you, or people you care for, use medicines — we want to know the good, the bad and what you have learnt.
Share your experience and be inspired by other people's medicinewise stories.
Date published: 2011-01-24 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
