Ways of taking medicines

All medicines may have side effects, particularly if they are not taken as directed. Let your doctor, nurse or pharmacist know if you’re taking any other medicines at the same time as your pain relief. This includes all prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, herbs and other supplements. Some medicines may react with each other, causing them to stop working properly or creating harmful side effects. Some effects to keep in mind include:

• Many pills for colds and flu, and other over-the-counter medicines, can be taken with pain medicines without any harmful effects. However, if they contain paracetamol or anti-inflammatories this counts towards your total daily intake, and you may need to take a lower dose of standalone pain medicine.
• Medicines for colds, menstrual (period) pain, headaches, and joint or muscle aches often contain a mixture of drugs, including aspirin. People receiving chemotherapy should avoid aspirin because it increases the risk of internal bleeding. Aspirin may also cause minor cuts to bleed a lot and take longer to stop bleeding (clot).
• Over-the-counter medicines for allergies may cause drowsiness, as can some pain medicines. Taking them together can make it dangerous to drive and to operate machinery.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) collects information about medicines and medical devices that haven’t worked well. You can search the Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN).

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist for written information about your pain medicines: what they are for; when and how to take them; possible side effects and how to manage them; and possible interactions with other medicines, vitamins or herbal and natural remedies.
• Follow the directions and only take the recommended dose. This will reduce the risk of misuse or accidental overdose.
• Keep medicines in their original packaging so you and other people always know what they’re for. Or ask your pharmacist to put your tablets and capsules into a labelled blister pack.
• Store medicines in a safe place that is out of reach of children.
• Take precautions when managing or storing your medicines to avoid potentially dangerous mix-ups.
• Remind yourself when to take your medicines by writing a note, or setting an alarm or reminder on your phone.
• Talk to your GP about having a pharmacist carry out a home medicines review. This can help ensure you take all your medicines safely.
• Check the expiry dates of medicines. If they are near or past their expiry, see your doctor for a new prescription.
• Take expired medicines or any that are no longer needed to the pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Check with your health care team whether it’s safe to take complementary therapies, such as nutritional supplements, with your pain medicine.
• Find out more about your medicines by calling the NPS MedicineWise Medicines Line on 1300 633 424.
• Let your health care team know of any side effects. Call the Adverse Medicine Events Line on 1300 134 237 if you suspect you’ve had a reaction to any kind of medicine. If you need urgent assistance, call 000 or go to a hospital emergency department.

It’s possible to take prescription medicines overseas for your own personal use, but it’s best to follow the Australian government’s recommendations. As these may change from time to time, check the current recommendations and restrictions before you travel at TravelSECURE.

A reasonable amount of medicine and medical equipment is allowed under powder, liquid, aerosol and gel restrictions in carry-on baggage. Have any medicines you need during the flight ready for screening at the airport. Pack the rest of your medicines in your checked baggage.

To help you prepare for travelling with medicines:

• ask your doctor if you need to change your medicine schedule to allow for time differences and if there are limits on the amount of medicines you can take overseas
• check with the embassies of the countries you’re visiting and with the travel advice at smarttraveller.gov.au to make sure your medicine is legal there
• make sure you have enough medicines to cover the whole time you’re away, and pack a few extra doses in case you are delayed
• carry a letter from your doctor outlining each medicine, how much you’ll be taking, and any equipment such as hypodermic needles or gel packs, and stating that the medicine is for your personal use
• keep medicines in their original packaging so they can be easily identified, and make sure the name on the medicines matches the name on the passport
• call the Travelling with PBS Medicines Enquiry Line on 1800 500 147 for more information.

Click on the icon below to download a PDF booklet on Pain and Cancer.