When you think about misusing medication, many presume it’s either a deliberate choice, or someone taking large amounts of medication to fuel an addiction. In actual fact, medicine misuse is the act of not using medication as directed by its instructions or by your doctor or healthcare professional.
Medicine misuse has become a worrying norm, with many unaware of the dangers it could cause. Types of misuse that have become normal include taking medications at the wrong time or ingesting the wrong amount, sharing medication with friends or family if they’re showing similar symptoms, taking a combination of medications that could cause side effects, mixing medications with illegal drugs or alcohol, or even taking medication for longer than you’ve been instructed to.
“At times medication can be underestimated and as a result some people may not take the issue of misuse seriously enough. What may seem like a harmless vitamin, supplement or medication can have serious side effects,” Feras Karem, Managing Director of Pharmacy 4 Less explains to Starts at 60.
Research has found as many as one million Australians are misusing pharmaceuticals each year, and that doesn’t take into account people lending creams or ointments they’ve been prescribed to a friend. While it’s not an issue that is related to age, it is a problem impacting Baby Boomers, mainly because many are taking multiple medications and it can become confusing to keep track of them all.
“As we take more medications, it gets harder to remember which medications to take and when. Pharmacies offer pre-packed weekly packs, individually identified to help people who take multiple medications and can include vitamins and supplements in these packs,” Karem notes. “We have also seen cases where one medication reduces the effectiveness of another causing the patient to have too much or not enough of the second medication in their system, as well as cases where the side effect of one medication has caused the need for another medication.”
There are many reasons why someone could misuse their medication. For many, it’s a simple error, while others can become dependent on pain relief medications and sleeping tablets. It can become a particular problem when they’ve built up a tolerance to the medication over time. There is also technology in use across some pharmacies to stop people accidentally misusing medication.
“Over the last few years, we had access to a real-time recording software to monitor the use of Codeine purchased over the counter,” Karem explains. “Using this software occasionally identified patients who were taking too many tablets or had made a purchase within a few days of presenting to the pharmacy and our trained and qualified pharmacists, with the use of the software, were able to identify these patients, restrict the supply of the medication, followed by counselling and advice.”
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If you are ever unsure about the dosage of medication or how long you’re meant to be taking it, it’s always important to speak to your GP, health professional or pharmacist.
“Australians are encouraged to ask lots of questions and clarify if they are unsure on how to use their medication,” Karem says. “By speaking to your pharmacist, they can answer your medication questions and avoid misuse of medication.”
If you can’t get to a health professional, the Australian Government’s Department of Health and NPS MedicineWise have set up a hotline, 1300 633 424, as a resource if help isn’t immediately available. It’s always advised to bring up specific questions and concerns in person with your doctor or pharmacist.