At WholeLife, we know that finding the right medications or products can be challenging. We’re all constantly exposed to messaging, advertisements, and information, and it can be difficult to understand how best to look after your health.
On top of that, we’re all so different! There are myriad factors that influence our health—from genetics, to dietary patterns, to exercise habits—and these make us, and our medical requirements, distinct and unique.
Our pharmacists are here to help you better understand your own physiology and medications. They’re on hand to answer your questions, and to make sure you’re getting care that’s appropriate for you!
We’ve compiled answers to five of the questions they’re commonly asked, but the list doesn’t stop there. In our stores, you’re encouraged to ask us anything—there is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to your body.
1. How should I take this medication?
Every medication is different, so there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how to take them, which can leave room for confusion.
Should you take your medication with or without food? How many times per day? And for a period of how long?
The best place to start with all of these questions is to follow the directions on the medication packaging, or on the pharmacy label for prescription medications. These should indicate your required dosage—how many tablets, capsules, or mLs to take, and how many times per day.
Often the package or label will also tell you if you need to take medication with food or on an empty stomach, but it’s important to confirm this with your pharmacist if this information is not specified. Some medications are best taken alongside food to reduce the risk of stomach upset, while others are best taken on an empty stomach to optimise absorption and increase effectiveness.
It’s important never to leave a pharmacy unsure of how to take your medication/s. Make sure you ask your pharmacist any questions, and voice any concerns you may have—they’re happy to assist with your enquiries and guide you with appropriate instructions.
2. Can I stop taking my medication once symptoms improve or disappear?
It is important to confirm how long the course of your medication is. For many medications, such as antibiotics, it’s likely you will be provided with the exact amount of medication required to complete the course. For the treatment of chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, and mental health conditions, consistency is key! Medications used to manage ongoing illnesses often need to be taken everyday and coming off them may result in a range of short and long-term negative side effects.
Medications that treat acute symptoms, such as acute pain or cold and flu symptoms, are often labelled as “when required” or “when needed”. These are often useful for immediate relief and can be stopped when symptoms have passed. When taking these medications, if your symptoms have not eased within a few (three) days, you should consult a healthcare professional.
3. What should I do if I notice I’m reacting to a medication, or experiencing adverse side effects?
If you’re experiencing unwanted effects from a medication, it’s important to assess the severity of your symptoms and take an appropriate course of action. For medical emergencies, including if you’re experiencing symptoms such as swelling of the face, eyes or lips, or if you’re having difficulty breathing, contact 000 immediately as you could be having an anaphylactic reaction. If you already know you are having an anaphylactic reaction, and have an anaphylaxis first-aid kit containing adrenaline (Epipen or Anapen), use this immediately BEFORE calling 000.
If you are experiencing side effects from your medications that you are unable to tolerate, it is okay to cease taking your medication, but it is important to report this to a pharmacist or healthcare professional as soon as possible. If a side effect is mild, our pharmacists will guide you with appropriate advice to relieve the effects, or advise you to speak to your doctor.
4. What do I do if I miss a dose?
We’ve all been in this boat! When daily life gets busy it can be easy to forget a dose of your regular medication. The most reactive thing to do is to take the medication straight after you remember, or to take an extra dose the next day, but these are not always the best strategies!
Some medications, such as the oral contraceptive pill, are time-sensitive—they need to be taken within a specific timeframe in order to maintain their effectiveness.
Don’t feel embarrassed to speak to your pharmacist if you’ve missed a dose! They can help by giving you advice about what to do next, or provide reassurance to keep you on track. If you feel you are regularly forgetting to take your medication, speak to your pharmacist about a medication review. There are plenty of options available to help you reduce stress about managing your medication—your local pharmacy can assist by preparing a weekly medication pack to help you keep track!
5. How should I dispose of out-of-date medications?
Out-of-date medications are all too common in our home medicine cupboards or first aid kits. It’s important to understand how to safely dispose of them to keep everyone safe, and to minimise harm to the environment.
In Australia, most prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or complementary supplements, gels, liquids, creams, and pet medicines, can be returned to your local pharmacy. From here, they’ll be placed in a disposal bin provided by the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) Project.
Next time you come across a medication you no longer need, or that is out-of-date, take it back to your local pharmacy!
There is a plethora of other questions that you might like, or need, to ask your pharmacist—this list is only the beginning! At WholeLife our doors are always open and our pharmacists are here to support our communities, so don’t be shy and ask away.
