Sandy: How people feel – Having no problems with multiple medicines

Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.

Sandy
Female
Age at interview: 72
Number of medicines: 14
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian

When Sandy began taking medicines for her kidney condition, she was more upset by what the future held than by the medicines themselves. She feels the same way about her heart medication.

Jacqueline:

So what was it like starting on big medicines when …

Sandy:

Horrible.

Jacqueline:

You weren't on any others at the time? Is that right?

Sandy:

[Shakes head] Because I had to deal with knowing that I was going to be on dialysis eventually and so that was a bit of adjusting. So no I was pretty angry initially. But with a bit of help from comrades at work, mates at work, it was fine … I think if I was taking more heart stuff I'd start to worry a bit because your heart relies on that medication. So it's only one little one that I take for that.

 
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The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.