A/Prof Sarah Hilmer: Speaking with health professionals
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
A/Prof Sarah Hilmer
Main occupation: Clinical pharmacologist
Years in clinical practice at interview: 16
Qualifications: BScMed (Hons), MBBS (Hons), FRACP, PhD
Associate Professor Sarah Hilmer, clinical pharmacologist and geriatrician, explains that, while pharmacists have a lot to offer, people really need to see their doctor if they have any questions or concerns about their medicines.
The person should really see their doctor first. The doctor knows what the medicine is there for. The pharmacist could potentially tell them whether the side effect that they think they're getting may be a side effect from that medicine, but it's really a discussion for them and their doctor as to whether they should continue that medicine, or change the dose of that medicine, or substitute with something else, or just withdraw or stop it altogether. You really need the big clinical picture and some knowledge of all of the person's drugs to be able to do that.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in
collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.