Prescription Medications - Understanding Drug Prescriptions

Image credit: watsonshealth.com.ph

What is a prescription medicine?

A prescription medicine is a medicine that can only be made available to a patient on the written instruction of an authorised health professional. Examples of prescription medicines include blood pressure tablets, cancer medicine and strong painkillers.

What is an example of a prescription medicine?

Examples of prescription medicines include blood pressure tablets, cancer medicine and strong painkillers. All prescription medicines are registered medicines and can be identified by an AUST-R number on the label. Why is a medicine prescription only? A medicine is classified as prescription only because of various factors, including:

What is a prescription & how does it work?

A prescription is a legal document that health practitioners write for a pharmacist to dispense a specific medicine. You can’t legally obtain prescription-only medicines without that document. You need a prescription for medicines that have higher risks, such as: the potential for addiction or misuse.

What is a medication used for?

A medication is a prescription drug used to treat a disease. A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease.

What is a consumer medicine information leaflet?

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflets provide information about the medicine you are taking. Find out where to get a CMI and how to use them. You should tell your doctor or health professional about any problems with your medicine. It’s also helpful to report the problem to the TGA.

How do I find out if a medication is a prescription?

Check inside the medication box. Contact the pharmaceutical company that made the medication. Call Medicines Line (Australia) on 1300 MEDICINE (633 424) for information on prescription medication and over-the-counter or complementary medicines.

How can Australians access prescription medicines without paying full price?

Using the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Australians can access a wide range of prescription medicines without paying full price. Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflets provide information about the medicine you are taking. Find out where to get a CMI and how to use them.

What Is Prescription Medications

1. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicines/about-prescriptions
2. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-12-01/australias-most-commonly-prescribed-medicines-statins/12936626
3. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/resource/guidance/prescription-medicines-overview
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_drug
5. https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/about-the-pbs
6. https://walrus.com/articles/what-is-a-prescription

Prescription Medications Information

1. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines
2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/medicine-information-leaflets-for-consumers
3. https://www.drugs.com/
4. https://www.nps.org.au/consumers/consumer-medicine-information-cmi