TWO-THIRDS of Australians taking medicines on a regular basis are putting themselves at risk by not keeping a list of all the drugs and supplements they're taking.
Only one in three Australians who regularly take more than two medicines keep a list of all their medications, according to new figures released for Be MedicineWise Week - an annual health awareness week led by government-funded not-for-profit NPS MedicineWise.
The YouGov Galaxy survey found a further 26 per cent of people who take regular medicines only keep a list of their prescription medicines, while the remaining 43 per cent only record some, or none, of their medicines.
NPS MedicineWise chief executive, pharmacist Steve Morris, said not keeping track of your prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines can lead to an increased risk of side effects and in some cases harm.
"Keeping track of all your medicines can help reduce the risk of medicine interactions and double-ups, and can help you get the most out of your medicines, safely," said Mr Morris.
He said a medicines list should include medicines that have been prescribed by a health professional, as well as anything else you take for your health, including vitamins and herbal supplements.
"The information in a medicines list can help to reduce the risk of medicine interactions when starting a new medicine and can help your healthcare provider when they review your medicines," he said.
"Using an NPS MedicineWise Medicines List or our free MedicineWise app are easy ways to keep this record of everything you are taking."
Know the active ingredient
Upcoming changes to the way medicines are prescribed are an important reason for people to understand what the active ingredient in their medicine is.
Active ingredient prescribing, announced in the 2018-19 Federal Budget, means most medicines will be prescribed by the active ingredient rather than the brand name.
To avoid confusion it's important people understand the difference and learn to recognise their medicines by the active ingredient.
The active ingredient is the chemical in the medicine that makes it work. The same active ingredient can come in different forms, such as in a tablet or as a liquid, and can also be sold as different brands - so it's important to know how to recognise the active ingredient to avoid putting yourself at risk of accidental overdosing.
The survey found people are better at recording the brand of their medicine than the active ingredient. Of those people who record information about their medicines, only one in five said they'd record the active ingredient of the medicine - compared to half of those people saying they'd capture the brand name of the medicine.
"Knowing what the active ingredient is in a medicine is an important part of being medicinewise - and being safe when you take your medicines," Mr Morris said.
"Taking more than one medicine with the same active ingredient may mean that you are accidentally taking too much of that active ingredient. This can have a number of unintended consequences such as the medicines not working as well, increased risk of side effects, and increased chance of harm."
Know the language of medicines
Australians are being urged to Get to know the language of medicines this Be Medicinewise Week. Here are some tips and resources from NPS MedicineWise to help:
Keep a medicines list
This is a great way to keep track of the medicines you are currently taking and why you are taking them. Remember to note the active ingredient of the medicine, what it is for, the dose and when to take it. Share and update your medicines list with your health professional when you change your medicines. NPS MedicineWise has a medicines list to download.
Use the MedicineWise app
This free app can easily store a record of all your medicines, schedule reminders and provide information on your medicines. It can also help people who care for loved ones who use multiple medicines. Download the MedicineWise app from your preferred app store.
Call the Medicines Line
This is a free phone service from NPS MedicineWise providing consumers with information from health professionals on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines (herbal, 'natural', vitamins and minerals). Phone 1300-633-424, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm AEST (excluding public holidays).
Ask your health professional
If there is something you don't know or don't understand, or if you haven't checked when something changes with your medicines, then you need to ask. Asking your health professional any questions you may have is the best way to get the most out of your medicines.
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Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
