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Medicines come in many forms including: tablets, inhalers, injections, eye drops, lotions, drinks, suppositories and patches. Medicines don’t just come on prescription from doctors but also from pharmacies, dentists, alternative practitioners, health food shops and supermarkets.

It is very important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medicines you are using, including: prescription medicines, over-the counter medicines, vitamins, traditional and herbal medicines, minerals, nutritional supplements and any medicines you have brought with you from overseas.

Although medicines can make you feel better and help you get well, it’s important to know that all medicines have both benefits and risks. In fact, 140,000 Australians are admitted to hospital each year due to problems related to their medicines.

Some of the risks involved with using medicine include:

• Harmful reactions when the medicine is combined with certain foods, beverages, vitamins, and traditional or other medicines. The more of these you combine, the greater the chance of a reaction.
• The medicine not working as expected.
• The medicine causing additional health problems.
  

Information resources

The information resources available below will help you become more familiar with medicines, manage medicines safely and learn more about your medicine options. Available in both Simplified Chinese and English, the resources below include:

• the Medimate brochure
• a downloadable Medicines List to help you keep track of your medicines by name and dose
• the Questions to ask about your medicines brochure
• Managing pain factsheet
• read more information about your medicine brand choices
• Learn about your medicines fact sheet
  
• information about conducting a Homes Medicines Review with your doctor and a local pharmacist
• radio community service announcements on using medicines wisely.

If you would like to know more about your medicines, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

	Medimate This brochure can help you understand and use medicine in partnership with your doctor, pharmacist, and other health professional. Download or order a copy of this brochure.
	Medicines List Keep a list of all your medicines. Show it to your doctor or pharmacist each time you visit. Download or order a copy of this brochure.
	Questions to ask about your medicines Get to know your medicines by asking your doctor or pharmacist these valuable questions about your medicines. Download or order a copy of this brochure.
	Managing pain factsheet This bilingual factsheet has information about managing pain and over-the-counter pain relief medicines. Download or order a copy of this factsheet.
	Why are we offered a choice of medicine? brochure A bilingual brochure to help you understand your choice of medicine brands and the importance of knowing the active ingredient in your medicine. Download or order a copy of this brochure.
	Learn about your medicines fact sheet A bilingual fact sheet to help you understand how to best manage your medicines. Download or order a copy of this fact sheet.
	Home Medicines Review Your doctor and pharmacist can work together to review all your medicines. Find out more about a home medicines review.

Radio community service announcements

In Cantonese

Other websites

For other translated health information see the following websites:

• NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service 
• Diversity Health Institute Clearinghouse 
• Victorian Government Health Translations Directory 
• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
  

NPS Medicines Line

Call Medicines Line on 1300 633 424 (1300 MEDICINE). NPS works with healthdirect Australia to provide consumers with information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. The service is available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST for the cost of a local call (mobiles may cost more).

If you need an interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to speak to Medicines Line on 1300 633 424 (1300 MEDICINE).  Medicines Line is not an emergency service.  

National Prescribing Service and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) work together to promote the safe and wise use of medicines with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

For more information, please email us.

 

For consumers

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 1300 134 237

Adverse Medicine
Events Line

Online via Therapeutic Goods Administration