For consumers
(1300 633 424)
Mon-Fri | 9am-5pm AEST
Your call will be answered by healthdirect Australia
For health professionals
Find out the active ingredient and other brand names of your medicines with the NPS Medicine Name Finder
For a medicinewise Australia
Independent. Not-for-profit. Evidence based.
Site Tools
Good medicines choices. Topics — find information, compare options Medicinewise choices — Topics
What should you think about when making medicines choices?
The topics below cover the different aspects you should consider when making decisions about your medicines — from gathering information and asking questions, through to comparing your options and understanding the scientific evidence about your medicines.
Making wise choices about medicines
- Is this medicine right for me?
Decide if a medicine or drug is right for you. Find out what medications or drugs do, as well as their side effects, compare options & make a decision. - What will the medicine do for me?
Find out what your medicines are likely to do for you, the best places to find information, the different ways drugs can work, questions to ask your doctor. - What are the medicine’s side effects?
Find out what you need to know about side effects of medicines, questions to ask your doctor, other places to find a list of medications’ side effects - Just because a medicine is new, does that mean it’s better?
Why new medicines aren’t always better than older medicines, why we may not know all their rare side effects and when it’s worth switching to a newer drug. - Will it mix OK with my other medicines?
Why some medicines, complementary medicines & foods make your other medicines work too strongly — or not strongly enough. How to avoid these interactions. - What about my complementary medicines?
Finding good information about complementary medicines on the internet. Avoid bad mixes with your other medicines by telling your doctor what you take.
Finding good information about medicines
- Finding good-quality information about medicines
Information about medicines or drugs: find the answers to your questions, which sources to trust & how to get the most out of your consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet. - Is it a good-quality website? Five questions to ask
Is a website a good source of information about medicines, medications or drugs? Ask these five questions.
Understanding medicine approvals and clinical trials
- How are medicines approved?
RA medicine’s journey from the lab to the public, approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) & assessment for subsidy under the PBS - What are clinical trials and why are they important?
What are clinical trials, what do they tell us about medicines, and why they are important. Links to follow if you want to go in a clinical trial. - How do we know what the side effects are?
Information about side effects of medicines & medications is gathered, before & after they go on sale. How to report a side effect from your medicine.
Buying medicines
- Where to buy medicines
Where to buy medicines and why some medicines are more freely available than others. - How can I keep my medicines costs down?
Find out how to save money on medicines by using the PBS Safety Net. Consider your medicine brand choices, including generic drugs, and have your medications reviewed.
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.
