Medicines Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
NACCHO has been working with NPS Medicinewise to co-design some information sheets on the “Safe Use of Medicines in Older People”. In particular, the program has focused on medicines with anticholinergic effects.
Approximately 21–34% of older-aged people take medicines with anticholinergic effects that can be associated with negative patient health outcomes, including the risk of fractures, and a large increase in fall-related hospitalisations (~60%), risk of dementia (~50%) and mortality (~30%).
The info sheets are designed to explain the importance of being aware that some medicines cause these side effects and that a medicines review may help to reduce the risk to older people of these medicines.
Other resources below, on high blood pressure (hypertension), were jointly produced by NPS Medicinewise, the Heart Foundation, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Inc. (AHCSA). These were first produced several years ago and have been reviewed and updated.
There are also sheets on “Medicines for depression” and “5 questions to ask about your medicines”, again a result of collaboration between NACCHO and NPS MedicineWise.
While they may be useful for some situations, the references are intended to be an available tool for use by practitioners only when considered appropriate for the respective consumer’s needs and circumstances. They do not replace other comprehensive resources and sound clinical consultation.
- A medicines review in your home
- Problems from your medicines
- 5 Questions to ask about your medicines
- Medicines for depression
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hypertension Flipchart (Good Medicines Better Health)
- Medicines for high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors)
- Medicines for high blood pressure (Angiotensin receptor blockers)
- Medicines for high blood pressure (Beta blockers)
- Medicines for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers)
- Medicines for high blood pressure (Thiazide diuretics)
- Medicines for long lasting (chronic) pain
- Medicines for short-term (acute) pain Paracetamol
- Medicines for short-term (acute) pain Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs)
- Medicines for short-term (acute) pain Strong pain medicines (opioids)
For more information about these resources, please contact medicines@naccho.org.au
