OCCASIONAL users of medicines - including prescription, over-the-counter, and alternative or complementary forms of medicines - are potentially not getting the full benefits from their medicines, compared to people who take medicines more often.
Survey findings released for Be Medicinewise Week (August 22-28) showed that people who take medicines less often or who take fewer medicines are more likely to stop a course of medicine early without speaking to the health professional who prescribed or recommended the medicine, and less likely to follow instructions relating to their medicines.
NPS MedicineWise medical adviser Dr Jeannie Yoo said that becoming medicinewise - and in particular, asking the right people for information about your medicines, and then following the right advice - was important even if you don't take medicines all the time.
The Be Medicinewise Week survey indicated that while nearly one in six people (15%) don't take their medicine as instructed, this is more common in those who are younger, those who take medicines less than daily, and those who take fewer medicines.
The survey showed that of all respondents, 15% do not take their medicines as instructed.
In those who take medicines less often than daily, this figure rises to 28%, and in those who take only one medicine per week it is 20%, while 19% of those who take two to four medicines per week don't always take their medicine as instructed.
Almost a quarter (24%) of people aged 18-24 and 25-34 don't always take their medicines as instructed, compared to 17% of people aged 35-49, 10% of those aged 60-64 and 3% of those aged 65-plus.
And more than one in three (36%) people surveyed stopped their course of medicine early, but this was also more common in those who are younger, those who take medicines less than daily and those who take fewer medicines. The younger age group of 18-34 year olds are more likely (45%) than 35-49 year olds (36%) and those 50 years and older (29%) to have stopped a medicine early without first speaking to their health professional.
Dr Yoo said while there were sometimes good reasons to stop taking a medicine, before stopping it was best to speak with a health professional such as a doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
"Even though you might be feeling better, if you don't feel a medicine is helping you it's always a good idea to speak to health professionals first to check that it is safe to stop the medicine," she said.
"For example, some regular medicines need to be stopped slowly or to be replaced by another medicine to prevent serious effects on your health.
"Taking your medicine as instructed - including taking the right dose at the right time - is also really important to help you improve your health outcomes."
Be Medicinewise Week from August 22-28 has the theme Take Charge! Find out more, www.nps.org.au/bmw2016
For more information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines (herbal, 'natural', vitamins and minerals) from a health professional, call NPS Medicines Line on 1300-633-424, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST (excluding public holidays).