• Printer Friendly
  • Text Resizer - Small
  • Text Resizer - Large
  • Email this page

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI): get to know your medicinesConsumer Medicine Information (CMI): get to know your medicines

Download PDF

18 December 2006

Facts and stats about medicines use

  • Annually, it is estimated that around 140,000 people are hospitalised because of a medicines mixup.1
  • 20% of people said they did not know how to store their last prescription medicine.2
  • 34% didn’t know the possible side effects, and only half knew what to do if they missed a dose or took too much.3

Some of these statistics may seem daunting, but there are things you can do to help avoid medicines mix-ups. When you are able to get to a doctor or pharmacist, you should always talk about the medicines you are taking.

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflets are also useful. CMIs can be stored with your medicine and can be used as a helpful back-up to find out more about your medicine. CMIs are available for each prescription medicine and for some medicines you purchase over-the-counter.

Written by the manufacturing pharmaceutical company, CMI will help you use your medicine in the most appropriate way. They do not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist but they can give you information on:

  • What the medicine is used for
  • How much of the medicine to take
  • When to take the medicine
  • Possible side effects
  • How to store the medicine
  • Possible interactions with other medicines.

To help you get to know your medicines, CMIs are available on the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) website at www.nps.org.au/consumers. The website has many CMI leaflets in PDF format for you to view and print and has a search facility so they can be searched under the brand or generic name.

If you do not find the CMI you are looking for on this site, you can get them from GPs, pharmacists, by calling Medicines Line or by contacting the company who makes the medicine. The NPS website also provides you with information about how to use the leaflets.

If you still have questions about your medicines, you can call NPS Medicines Line and talk with a pharmacist on 1300 888 763 between 9am and 6pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the cost of a local call (mobile calls may cost more).

NPS is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

 

1 Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Statistics on Medicines 1999-2000. AusInfo, Canberra: 2003

2 Roy Morgan Research. Quality use of medicines benchmark study. Roy Morgan Research, Sydney: 2003

3 Roy Morgan Research. Quality use of medicines benchmark study. Roy Morgan Research, Sydney: 2003


Media enquiries
Journalists & editors

Contact Stephanie Childs,
Media Manager
Call: (02) 8217 8667 or
0419 618 365
Email an enquiry

 Contact us

Date published: 2006-12-18 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.