Medication fact sheets
We have partnered with Choice and Medication to provide medication fact sheets to help consumers, carers and family members understand their medicines better and to make more informed decisions.
These decisions should best be made as part of a discussion with a healthcare professional.
The Choice and Medication website contains up-to-date medication fact sheets which outline the benefits and risks of each medication. The fact sheets have also been translated into a number of languages which you can select from.
There are many different types of medications in use and it can be confusing to keep track of them all, including any side effects that they may cause.
Basically there are four main types of medication:
- those that treat depression or low mood
- those that stabilise your mood
- those that treat anxiety
- those that treat psychosis or altered thought patterns
The response to medication can vary from person to person. What is helpful to one person might not help another. Finding the right medication and dosage for your needs can take some time. It is important that you are fully informed of your options and what to expect from each medication.
Use this resource page and work with your treating team so that you can understand:
- what results to expect from your medication
- how long it will take to experience a difference
- how to take your medication effectively
- how to keep track of what medications works for you (a medication diary can be useful)
- what to do if the medication doesn’t work as expected
- what to do if you experience any unpleasant or unbearable side effects
We encourage all consumers, carers and families to be engaged with their treating teams. Consumers can write Recovery and Wellness plans, and Advance Statements to let the treating team know what has worked or not worked for them. Carers and families can also receive information from the treating team via family meetings.