Occasional medicine users not getting the full benefits of their medicines

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Aug 29 2016

Survey findings released for Be Medicinewise Week (22-28 August) have revealed that 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.

The survey 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 that prescribed or recommended the medicine to them, and less likely to follow instructions relating to their medicines.

NPS MedicineWise medical adviser Dr Jeannie Yoo says that becoming medicinewise—and in particular, asking the right people for information about your medicines, and then following the right advice—is important even if you don't take medicines all the time.

The Be Medicinewise Week survey—conducted for NPS MedicineWise by Galaxy Research—indicated that while nearly 1 in 6 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 (e.g. taking it according to the exact instructions, not missing doses, or using leftover medicines from a previous prescription). 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 2 to 4 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 35-49 year olds, 10% of 60-64 year olds and 3% of those aged 65+.

And more than 1 in 3 (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 the health professional that prescribed or recommended the medicine to them.

Dr Yoo says that while there are sometimes good reasons to stop taking a medicine, before stopping it’s best to first 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. For example, some regular medicines need to be stopped slowly or to be replaced by another medicine to prevent serious effects on your health,” says Dr Yoo.

“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,” she says.

Making sure you always follow instructions from your health professional, reading the labels and packaging of your medicines carefully, and equipping yourself with the right tools such as our free MedicineList+ smartphone app (with its medicine reminders and links to medicines information) can help you manage your medicines safely and wisely.

Be Medicinewise Week is on from 22-28 August 2016 with the theme “Take Charge!”. To find out more go to 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 MEDICINE (1300 633 424). Hours of operation are Monday–Friday 9am–5pm AEST (excluding public holidays).

*The survey of 1,007 Australian respondents aged 18 and over was conducted online by Galaxy Research in July and August 2016. Full survey results are available upon request.

ABOUT BE MEDICINEWISE WEEK

Be Medicinewise Week is an initiative of NPS MedicineWise and is on from 22-28 August 2016.

This year is the sixth annual Be Medicinewise Week, a national awareness week promoting the safer and wiser use of medicines by all Australians.

‘Take Charge!’ is this year’s theme and encourages Australians to have conversations with health professionals about their health to get the most out of their prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, and to seek out evidence-based information to help them make better decisions about their health.

The 2016 campaign is encouraging people to: