5 things Australians get wrong when taking medication

With more than 16 million Australians consuming PBS prescription medication, there is potential for improper medication management, particularly among the older population. InstantScripts’ Medical Director Dr Andrew Thompson warns of some of the risk factors, and how we can mitigate them.

1. Polypharmacy

When a person is on several different types of drugs (usually defined as five or more), this is called polypharmacy. In and of itself, having multiple prescriptions is not a problem (and in many cases, essential), but polypharmacy can increase the risk of making a mistake. 

“The risk increases with the more medications a patient is on as the instructions can become confusing,” explains Dr Thompson. 

“Risks can range from minor issues such as forgetting to take your medication and not getting the drug your body needs to more serious complications such as overdose.”

2. Failure to finish the course

Failure to complete a correct course of medication could result in an infection returning. 

“Setting an alarm or reminder to remember to take your pill is an easy way to ensure you take your medication,” advises Dr Thompson.

3. Losing track of daily medications

With medications that need to be taken regularly at the same time, such as the contraception or certain medication that need to be taken before food, remembering whether or not you’ve taken them on a particular day can be challenging. 

“If on multiple medications, pill boxes can help structure your medication so it is obvious if you have taken it or not,” says Dr Thompson. 

“You can even talk to your pharmacist about Webster packs which will organise your pills for you.”

4. Contraindications

A contraindication is a specific situation in which a treatment or drug shouldn’t be used, as it could be harmful to a person. This is specifically relevant for people on multiple types of drugs to treat multiple issues, particularly when those issues are chronic.

People who have been on long-term drugs may forget to disclose these prescriptions to a new doctor or specialist, leading to them being prescribed a new treatment or drug that may be dangerous. 

“It is important to regularly check in with your doctor if you are on multiple medications,” says Dr Thompson, “they may decide that some are no longer necessary and reduce the risk of errors.”

5. Regular reassessment 

Certain drugs may need to be adjusted over the long term, or after significant lifestyle changes. For example, someone taking medication to increase their thyroid function may discover that their thyroid hormone levels change during pregnancy, or at other stages in their life, at which point they may require more or less of the medication. 

Your doctor should be regularly reviewing whether you are still on the right dosage through pathology, but for people who use different doctors or move around a lot, it’s important to be aware that dosages may need adjusting.

If you have any concerns or questions about your health or your medication, you should speak to a doctor.

Bek Day is a writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience in the health and lifestyle space.