Peter S: Organising and storing medicines – Storing medicines using dose aids
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Peter S
Male
Age at interview: 60
Number of medicines: 18
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Despite initial reservations, Peter S found Webster-paks greatly increase the ease with which he can take his medicines and were absolutely vital when he was severely depressed.
Initially I thought God, I'm going to be like a little old lady in her 90s, pushing her tablets out, but then within probably about a week, probably not even that, I realised it was a million percent better. [laughs] All I have to do is push them out, take them with a glass of water that was it, bingo, all finished … So the Webster-pak probably again saved my life probably from an accidental overdose.
When I was in depression I literally had no idea what I was doing some days … The Webster-pak, anybody who has any form of confusion whether it be temporary, short term, long term, they should be using Webster-paks. They may take advantage of the chemists who provide the service. I'm not sure if they all do it for basically nothing, but I'm sure the charge would be very minimal for a lot of people but yeah, it definitely makes things easier. All I do, I get up in the mornings, just push them out into a little cup, bingo, it's done. I don't have to stand there and say well I need two of those, one and a half of those … no, it's tomorrow I need one and a half, today I need one, you know? It'd probably take me an hour to take my tablets if I had to do that.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.