Proper Use of Medicines
Medicines can treat illnesses and alleviate symptoms, but they may also give rise to adverse side effects. Improper use of medicines brings potential health hazards. Members of the public should therefore acquire knowledge on the indications of medicines, and use them as instructed by doctors or pharmacists.
Patients should take medicines prescribed by their doctor according to the dosing schedule, and make no arbitrary increase or decrease on the frequency and dosage of medication. Overdose may lead to poisoning or even death, while underdose cannot relieve the medical conditions. You should attend follow-up appointments as scheduled, and tell your doctor clearly your reaction to the medication. The doctor will then, with reference to your medical conditions, make upward or downward adjustments to the dosage or switch to a more suitable medicine.
Do not recommend to others the medicines prescribed by your doctor specifically for you because similar symptoms do not necessarily represent the same illness and physical conditions vary among individuals. Indiscriminate self-medication would not only delay the treatment but also bring about health risks due to adverse side effects.
Advice on Medication
Common side effects of medicines may include nausea, constipation and dizziness. Not everyone would experience the same side effects, and most of them would subside after using the medicine for some time. If in doubt, consult a doctor or a pharmacist.
Various medicines may interact with each other and some may subject to the influence of diet, and this is what we call “contraindications”. For example, tranquillisers should not be taken with alcoholic drinks. You should therefore tell your doctor during medical consultation what medicines you are taking and take note of the label instructions to avoid danger.
Generally speaking, the following should be borne in mind when taking medicines:
- Have a clear understanding of how the medicines should be used (e.g. to be taken orally, placed under the tongue, chewed before swallowing, inhaled, inserted rectally or for external application, etc.).
- Read the medicine labels carefully, and pay attention to details including dosage, dosing schedule, indications, contraindications and side effects. For example, certain medicines may induce drowsiness and hence possible danger to a person if he/she has to operate machinery and drive a car after medication.
- Unless instructed by your doctor, do not take multiple medicines, including Chinese medicines and oral contraceptives, at the same time to avoid drug interactions.
- In case of adverse reactions, such as rash, headache and abdominal pain, stop the medication and consult your doctor immediately.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use or take medicines unless instructed by a doctor, as some medicines may pass into the placenta or breast milk and pose adverse impacts to the foetus or the infant.
- Check expiry dates of medicines and stop using expired or spoiled medicines.
- Medicines in general should be kept in a cool and dry place, but some of them, such as insulin products and oral liquid antibiotics, should be kept in the refrigerator as specified in the label. Do not store medicines in a freezer compartment, as this may affect the efficacy. Medicines should be stored properly to avoid the danger of mistaken consumption by children.
- Most orally taken medications such as tablets should be swallowed whole with water. Tablet should not be broken into pieces or crushed before taking unless as directed by doctor or after consulting healthcare professionals such as pharmacist.
Medicine Labels
Medicines prescribed by a doctor for a patient should have the name of medicine and other relevant information shown clearly on the medicine bag or bottle. For medicines supplied by clinics and hospitals under the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, information on their medicine label includes name of the medicine, method of use, dosage, name of patient, date of prescription, name of the clinic or the hospital and special instructions, if any. The purpose of providing such information is to inform members of the public of the knowledge on the medicines they are using to ensure proper application, as well as serving as reference and means of contact for healthcare professional in times of emergency.
Members of the public should refrain from self-medication if they do not have a full picture of the situation, as this may result in health hazards.
Classification and Control of Medicines
According to the laws of Hong Kong, medicines are generally classified into three main categories according to the severity of the diseases they indicated for and the seriousness of the side effects they may cause. Medicines in different categories have to be sold in different licensed retailers under different specified conditions outlined as follows:
| Category 1: |
Medicines in this category must be dispensed and sold on doctor’s prescription in Authorized Sellers of Poisons (commonly known as “dispensaries” or “pharmacies”) under the direct supervision of registered pharmacists.
Examples include antihypertensive medicines, oral antidiabetics and tranquillisers. Such “prescription medicines” are used to treat serious diseases. Incorrect dosage or improper use may bring about serious health damage.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, medicines in this category should be labelled with the words “Prescription Drug 處方藥物”.
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| Category 2: |
Medicines in this category do not require doctor’s prescription but have to be sold in dispensaries by a registered pharmacist or in his presence and under his supervision. The method of use and dosage must be followed to avoid health risks.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, medicines in this category should be labelled with the words “Drug under Supervised Sales 監督售賣藥物”. |
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| Category 3: |
Medicines in this category can be sold in dispensaries or Listed Sellers of Poisons (commonly known as “drug stores”). Examples of this category of medicines include drugs for common cold, antipyretics and painkillers. They are often used to treat or alleviate minor illnesses and tend to have fewer side effects.
Despite this, members of the public have to bear in mind that improper use of such medicines may also bring about undesirable side effects. If in doubt, consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professionals, and refrain from indiscriminate self-medication. |
According to the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who contravenes the above requirements in selling medicines may be prosecuted. The offender may be subject to a fine and imprisonment upon conviction, and relevant licensed traders may also have to face disciplinary actions. You are welcome to call 2572 2068, a 24-hour hotline set up by the Department of Health to report any information on illegal sale of medicines.
General Knowledge on Medicines and Medicine-Related Laws
- If you want to obtain more information on medicines, please refer to other articles under "Health Topic" and “Knowledge on Medicines” at this website.
- It is important that if you are prescribed with medicines by a doctor, you should follow doctor's instructions regarding use of medicines and should not modify their dosage. However, if members of public have unused or expired medicines, they can consult the doctors or healthcare institutions that provided their medicines on means of their disposal, such as returning them to the hospital or clinic for safe disposal.
- The medication you have been prescribed is suitable for your condition and may not be suitable for another person, even if you think they have the same problems. In some cases it may be harmful to them. Also, medicines prescribed to you by your doctors should not be supplied (or sold) to others. If someone is harmed by the medication you give them, you may be held responsible for that harm.
- Medicine-related laws in Hong Kong include “Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance”, “Dangerous Drugs Ordinance”, “Antibiotics Ordinance” and their subsidiary legislations. If you want to know more about such laws in Hong Kong, please visit the Hong Kong e-Legislation website (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/) maintained by the Department of Justice.
- For general knowledge on illicit drugs, please contact the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau via their enquiry hotline at 2867 2727 or email (sbenq@sb.gov.hk).
Drug Office
Department of Health
Aug 2024
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