Keep track of medicines and access important health info any time and anywhere, especially in emergencies.
Consumer medicine information (CMI) is designed to inform you about prescription and pharmacist-only medicines. The CMI gives you the important facts you need to know before, during and after taking your medicine.
Consumer medicine information (CMI) is designed to inform you about prescription and pharmacist-only medicines. CMI leaflets are written by pharmaceutical companies, who have to follow government guidelines about what to include and ensure their information is accurate, unbiased and easy to understand.
Providing standard key information in a non-biased, plain English style, the CMI will include:
A CMI leaflet must be produced by the manufacturer for all prescription and some non-prescription medicines. Sometimes it is included in the pack. You can search for and download the CMI leaflet for any medicine in our Medicine Finder, or you can ask your pharmacist.
Read the CMI to ensure you get the best and safest use of the medicine, or to learn more about a medicine you’re already taking. For example, you can find out about its side effects and interactions. Take it with you to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss any questions about the medicine.
To ensure you have the right CMI, check that the brand name on the CMI (usually the largest text) exactly matches the brand of your medicine.
Always read the CMI before starting a new medicine. You may also want to refer to it while using the medicine — for example, to check if another medicine interacts with it, or what to do if you miss a dose.
All CMIs follow the same format, so it’s easy to find the information you need.
Keep it handy so you can refer to it later. Don’t use it to try and diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness yourself.
CMIs are written by the pharmaceutical company that makes the medicine. The company has to follow government guidelines to ensure the information is accurate, unbiased and easy to understand.
Adapted with permission from: Pharmaceutical Health and Rational use of Medicines (PHARM) Consumer Sub-Committee, Using Consumer Medicine Information (CMI): a guide for consumers and health professionals. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra: 2000.
Information about the benefits and side effects of medicines can come from many sources, including the internet, the media, even family and friends. It can often be hard to judge which information is useful and what is exaggerated hype — or even nonsense. For example, news stories might describe 'new research', or 'scientific evidence' in a way that sounds conclusive, but may not be reliable, so it pays to be careful.
Learn more about finding good information about medicines.
We collaborate with healthdirect Australia to deliver Medicines Line, a telephone service providing consumers with information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary (herbal, ‘natural’, vitamin and mineral) medicines.
When you call 1300 MEDICINE, you will speak with an experienced registered nurse. Your question may be answered on the spot, or you may be referred to your GP or pharmacist, or to another health professional. If you have a complex enquiry, you may be put through to an NPS pharmacist.
Information provided by Medicines Line includes:
In addition to receiving information, callers will be encouraged to discuss the information with their own doctor or pharmacist, who are best placed to help interpret the medicines information.
This telephone service is not for emergencies, medical advice or second opinions
Information provided by Medicines Line does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
NPS MedicineWise is bound by and observes all obligations it may have under the National Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 in respect of collection, storage and use of your personal information. Read the NPS MedicineWise privacy policy or ask one of our pharmacists.
Read more information about the services available from healthdirect.
