Are you or a loved one taking multiple medications?

There is a fascinating exhibit at the British Museum, titled Cradle to Grave by Pharmacopoeia. The piece incorporates a lifetime supply of prescribed drugs knitted into two lengths of fabric, depicting the estimated average number of drugs prescribed to every person in Britain in their lifetime. It contains over 14,000 drugs and stretches the length of the room.

© 2003 Pharmacopoeia
Pill sampler

At the outset of life, our consumption of medication is relatively low, with occasional over-the-counter medications and antibiotics. Some children will require prescriptions for allergies or asthma. Then, as young adults we may have further vaccinations, take pain relief for an injury, treatment for acne or use the contraceptive pill.  But by the time we reach our seventies, many adults are on multiple tablets - for autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease, for lifestyle-related illnesses such as emphysema and diabetes, hormone replacement therapy, pain relief for arthritis and preventative drugs such as cholesterol-lowering medications. Most of us will take as many tablets in the last ten years of our life, as we took in the preceding 60 or so years.

Being on multiple medications has inherent risks such as drug interactions and side effects, plus the potential for confusion over different names for the same drug, or whether you remembered last night's evening dose. Australia's National Prescribing Service (NPS) is a great resource for all information related to medications and prescribing. In particular this article has some great advice on how to manage your medicines, especially when you're regularly prescribed several different pills.

The consumer medicines information (CMI) is available for every over the counter and prescribed medication, and gives you the important facts to know, before and while taking your medication.  It's a good idea to check this information, as you may discover a possible interaction or side effect that your GP or pharmacist has not discussed with you.  If the CMI leaflet is not included in  the tablet box, check here for a full online list.  A Medicines List can be a useful way to keep all the information about your medicines together and for the tech-savvy the NPS recently launched the MedicineList+ app. Alternatively try out their paper or e-versions.

And don't forget complementary medicines. Many people think that because they're 'natural' they won't interact with other medicines. But they can do, and they still need to be used with care.  Check here for more information about herbal remedies or supplements.