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
Quick Links
Be medicinewise
Medicines information
for the cost of a local call.
Medicines Line
1300 MEDICINE
(1300 633 424)
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm AEST
Your call will be answered by healthdirect Australia.
Report a problem with
your medicine
Call the Adverse Medicine Events Line on 1300 134 237.
Free consumer resources
Previous health promotion Previous health promotion
Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics
Common colds are caused by viruses and usually get better on their own in 7 to 10 days. Antibiotics work on bacteria, not the viruses which cause common colds. Antibiotics won't help a cold get better faster or stop it from getting worse, and they won't stop a cold from spreading to others. The best treatment is to rest, treat the symptoms, and see your doctor or pharmacist if it gets worse.
Find out more about our 2008 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign and resources.
Find out more about our 2011 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign.R U OK? Day
On 7 October 2010, R U OK? Day brought Australians together in a bid to reduce the risk factors contributing to suicide. This day promoted awareness and support by raising the profile of organisations that provide these services. The campaign encouraged people to reach out to friends and loved ones and simply ask, 'R U OK?'.
As a provider of independent, quality information about medicines, NPS was a unique supporter of R U OK? Day.
Read about the 2011 R U OK? Day.
Sleep right, sleep tight: natural sleep before medicines
How well do you sleep? Are you as focussed, energised and on-the-ball as you'd like to be?
We've all experienced a bad night's sleep from time to time, but it can be problematic if it continues for several nights or weeks. Sleep problems are common, but there are techniques that can help — sleeping pills aren't the only solution.
Let us show you better ways to wake up feeling refreshed.
Generic medicines are an equal choice
NPS launched its Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign in October 2008, which aimed to provide consumers with independent information so they can make an informed choice when it comes to generic medicines.
This multifaceted health promotion included an integrated series of television commercials, online resources and marketing, in-pharmacy advertising, and a tool kit for community pharmacy staff to support them when discussing generic medicines options with consumers. It also involved a range of community-based activities that will focus on seniors and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
As part of the NPS Be medicinewise health promotion campaign launched in 2011, the issue of medicine brand choices has been revisited, with a new focus being placed on understanding why there is a choice of medicine brands and the importance of consumers knowing the active ingredient in their medicine.
Find out more about the Medicine brand choices campaign.
Get to know your medicines campaign — Targeting Chinese- and Italian-speaking seniors
NPS and the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia work together to promote the safe and wise use of medicines with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
In 2008, we ran a national campaign with Chinese- and Italian-speaking seniors (aged 50+) sharing information about the risks and benefits of medicine use and how to minimise risks and use medicines safely.
NPS has also produced translated information resources to assist people in managing their medicines.
See our translated medicines information.
2007 campaigns
In 2007, NPS ran a successful awareness campaign about quality use of medicines and generics as an equal choice.
The first stage of the quality use of medicines campaign, Get to know your medicines, launched 6 August, raised awareness of the issues associated with medicines. The second stage of the campaign focused on generic medicines and was called Generic medicines are an equal choice.
Television commercials screened in August 2007 encouraged viewers to think about their medicines usage, including complementary medicines, such as herbal remedies and vitamin supplements, while television commercials screening in September that year focused on the key message 'Generic medicines are an equal choice'. Both commercials ended with a prompt to speak to your doctor or pharmacist, call Medicines Line or go to the NPS website for more information.
Campaign newsletters were also sent out.
Date published: 2011-09-02 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 when providing medical advice or treatment. 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.
