Jane: Speaking with health professionals – Poor communication and lack of information
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Jane
Female
Age at interview: 53
Number of medicines: 8
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Jane felt she needed more information when she first started taking her medicines. She has found some of the most important information through her own efforts.
I think, at the beginning, when I wasn't well, it certainly was a problem then and ... I was confused. I didn't, at times, know what I was taking and why I was taking it. I certainly, you know, went on the internet and Googled what you are or are not meant to be doing. At times, I felt that some of the effects of those drugs maybe haven't been communicated clearly to other people. When I've gone into hospital for surgery, it's not helpful to take the lithium the night before or the day before. I only knew that really through Googling. If I go to get an antibiotic script, there are some antibiotics that aren't helpful to take with lithium, and erythromycin. I'm allergic to Bactrim and sulphur drugs, so I have to be on the ball to make sure I say to the doctor, ‘Can I take this with the lithium?’
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.