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Generic medicines home

Enquiries about
generic medicines

For more information
about generic medicines
email us an enquiry.

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Medicines Line
1300 888 763
Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm AEST

What is an active ingredient? What is an active ingredient?

Image of a man called Alan saying 'Same bloke. Different hat.' Also has the message that ‘Generic medicines are an equal choice. They contain the same active ingredient.’

The ingredients in medicines can be divided into two groups — active ingredients and inactive ingredients (also called ‘inert ingredients’ or ‘excipients’).

The active ingredient is the chemical in the medicine responsible for its therapeutic effect, in other words, it makes the medicine work. For instance, the chemical that lowers blood pressure is the active ingredient in a medicine to treat high blood pressure.

All prescription medicines — whether they are original brand medicines or generic medicines — contain active ingredients.

How do I find the active ingredient name?

The active ingredient name is shown on the medicine’s packaging and, if it’s a prescription medicine, on the label applied by the pharmacist (known as the pharmacy dispensing label).

Occasionally, a medicine has more than one active ingredient. If so, the name of each active ingredient is shown on the medicine’s packaging and pharmacy dispensing label.

The active ingredient name does not always appear in the same place on the medicine’s packaging and pharmacy dispensing label. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

In the example shown below of a pharmacy dispensing label for a prescription medicine, the active ingredient, simvastatin, is on the second line under the brand name, Superstat (this is not an actual brand).
Image of a perscription medicine dispensing label identifying where the brand name and active ingredient name can be found.
The over-the-counter medicine you can get without a prescription will also show the active ingredient (such as paracetamol) on the medicine’s packaging.

Knowing about the active ingredient in your medicine will help to make sure you avoid confusing your medicines. This is particularly important if you are taking multiple medicines or where you might have had a recent stay in hospital.

You can check the active and inactive ingredients in your medicine by reading a Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet, or by talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website for a tool that can help you find the name of your active ingredient using a simple search function.

Managing your medicines

A good way of keeping track of your medicines is to keep a list. Include the active ingredient name, the amount you take and how often you take it. Show your doctor your medicines list at each visit. The NPS Medicines List is free to order or download and it gives spaces for you to write down all the information about your medicines.

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