Diana: Adjusting to multiple medicines – Adapting to loss of freedom, independence and capacity
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Diana
Female
Age at interview: 22
Number of medicines: 13
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Diana is resentful of her medicines because of what they are doing to her and her life at such a young age.
Due to the fact that I'm only 22, I'm sick of the fact that three-fourths of my pay cheque from a full-time job goes straight to medication. I'd rather learn actual coping mechanisms through therapy and try and go with the vitamins and more natural medications if possible. Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life poisoning my body; I've seen the decrease as it is over a couple of years. It terrifies me to think that this is how I'm treating my body. I’ve only got one, I'd rather use vitamins or more natural methods than constantly have myself drugged up to the point that I don't remember most days which, with a lot of the antidepressants, that's how it is. It's just constantly adding more to control the side effects.
I'm only 22 and I'm on, what, 13, 14 medications. I want to be able to just pack a bag and go away for a weekend, not have to go, okay, well what have I got, what do I need? I'm sick of being chained to the medications. They rule my life, not assist my life.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.