Take As
Directed
Take As
Directed
Take As
Directed
Peter got some new
medication on
prescription. When he
got home and read the
label, it read,
TAKE AS DIRECTED.
But what did TAKE AS
DIRECTED mean?
9 780730 656463
ISBN 0-7306-5646-2
©AMES, NPS 2005 AMES: GPO Box 4381QQ, Melbourne, 3001 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ames.net.au
ABN 49 056 993 913
NPS: PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, 2012 Tel: 02 8217 8700
Email: [email protected] Web: www.nps.org.au ABN 61 082 034 393
ISBN: 0-7306-5646-2
Development Team
AMES: Lilliana Hajncl, Paul Learmonth, Jenni Guilfoyle, Langdon Rodda National Prescribing Service: Jennifer Davis, Amanda Bray, Dr Cate Kelly
Acknowledgements
Funded by the Australian Government
Disclaimer
The information contained in this resource is for educational purposes only. This publication does not provide medical advice. Professional advice should be sought in relation to making any decisions based on this material. The resource should not be used for commercial gain or by anyone who has a conflict of interest with NPS as an independent Australian organisation for the Quality Use of Medicines.
National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. NPS works in partnership with General Practitioners, pharmacists, specialists, other health professionals, Government, pharmaceutical industry, consumer organisations and the community to improve the health of all Australians through Quality Use of Medicines.
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Take As Directed
1
Take As Directed
Peter felt sick. He went to see the doctor. The doctor was very busy. There were a lot of people in the waiting room.
The doctor asked Peter some questions about his health. He answered her. She listened to his chest and looked in his mouth. Then she talked to Peter. He tried to listen and he asked the doctor some questions but he didn’t
3 After that, Peter went to the pharmacist
(chemist) to get the medicine. The pharmacist gave him a box of tablets and a bottle of syrup.
The pharmacist asked him, “Did your doctor tell you how to take the medicine?”
Peter said, “Yes, she did but it was a lot to remember.”
The pharmacist gave Peter an information page about the medicines.
Peter went home with the medicines. He understood how to take the syrup. He thought he understood how to take the tablets, but he couldn’t remember exactly. So, he read the label on the bottle.
It read, TAKE AS DIRECTED. But what did TAKE AS DIRECTED mean?
2
The doctor wrote a prescription and told Peter how to take the medicine. Then she asked him, “Do you understand?”
Peter didn’t understand everything but he knew the doctor was busy so he said, “Yes.” The doctor said, “Good. Come back and see me next week.”
5
Peter: Well, I understand how to take the syrup. The label on the box reads: Take ten millilitres twice a day before food. Do not drink alcohol with this medicine.
So, I’ll take ten millilitres before breakfast and before our evening meal.
It also says: Warning: May make you drowsy. So I won’t drive the car while I’m taking this.
4
Adela: Hi Darling! How are you feeling? Did you get some medicine?
Peter: Hi Honey! Yeah, I’m feeling a bit better... and I got some medicine.
Adela: That’s good. Do you know how to take it?
7
Peter: The pharmacist gave me this information page: it’s called Consumer
Medicine Information. Maybe this can help?
Adela: Oh, I got information like that for my antibiotics last year. Umm, it tells us about the medicine but it doesn’t tell you exactly what dose you need. We’ll ask the doctor. Do you have to see the doctor again?
Peter: Yeah, next week.
Adela: Oh, but you need to start taking the medicines now. We’ll have to ring the doctor and ask right now.
Peter: Oh yes, that would be good! 6
Adela: OK. What about the tablets?
Peter: Well, I couldn’t understand the doctor. So then I read the label. It reads TAKE AS DIRECTED. What does it mean?
Adela: Show me... mmm, I don’t know what TAKE AS DIRECTED means.
9
Some questions to ask my doctor
Why am I using this medicine?
When will I start to see chang
es in my health?
How long do I have to take this medicine?
How much should I use?
What should I do if I for
get to take a dose?
What times of the day should I use it?
Do I have to finish all of the medicine, or just
use it until I feel better
, or keep using it for a
long time?
What side effects do I need to watch for?
What should I do if I g
et a side effect?
Can I drink alcohol when I’
m taking this
medicine?
Important informat
ion I need to remember:
... ...
... ...
8
Adela: OK. And next week, I’ll go to the doctor with you if you like. I can help you understand and remember what the doctor says. Let’s think of some questions to ask before we go.
Peter: OK. Like “How long do I have to take this medicine?”
Why don’t we make a list?
We can ask the doctor to write down the answers too, to help us remember.
