Patient Medication FAQ

Become a well-informed patient and an active participant in your healthcare

Medicine Safety and You

Medicines can help you get well, avoid illness or reduce symptoms associated with a disease. By learning more about the appropriate and safe use of a medicine, its benefits, and potential side effects, you become an active participant in discussions held with your healthcare team.

There are many ways to become a well-informed patient:

Ask your physician what to expect from your medicine: what side effects may occur, whether any follow-up testing or monitoring will be needed and when to expect an improvement
Read the label and follow instructions. Pay attention to warnings about serious and minor side effects. Notice instructions concerning mixing medicines and avoiding certain activities while using them.
Know your medicine - Know the names and dosages of all the medicines you take and the conditions they treat
Remember your healthcare history - Inform your physician of prior allergies, sensitivities or side effects experienced
Follow the timing and dosage instructions on your prescription - Consult with your physician if you have doubts or concerns
Keep track of a medicine’s effects on your body and mind. Write down any changes and consult your physician

How can I contact Teva with questions about my medicine?

Our Customer Services Department can help with enquiries about the supply and availability of the medicine. They can be contacted at 3188 4288.
If your question relates to a suspected side effect, please contact Teva’s Pharmacovigilance team at Safety.HongKong@Tevapharm.com

Why can't I get your Teva medicines in my pharmacy?

Our products are available through pharmaceutical wholesalers and pharmacists can order from them directly, to obtain the particular medicine required.
We are unable to confirm which pharmacies in a particular location stock Teva’s medicines.
For further information regarding the availability of a particular Teva medicine please contact our Customer Services Department at 3188 4288.
We do not supply medicines directly to patients and we do not sell our medicines and devices online.

What do I do if I suffer any side effect(s) or adverse event(s) as a result of taking my medication?

If you think you have suffered a side effect, or an unexpected reaction to taking a medicine, including over the counter medicines or medical devices, we recommend you consult your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
To enable us to continuously monitor the safety of our products, you can report the side effect to us by contacting Teva’s Pharmacovigilance team at Safety.HongKong@Tevapharm.com

Can I ask for Teva medicines from my pharmacist when I have been prescribed a generic medicine?

You can request a Teva medicine from your doctor or pharmacist. However, it will be at the discretion of your pharmacist or any existing prescribing guidelines, to choose the right medicine for your particular health needs. You should always follow the advice of a healthcare professional.

I am worried that my prescription medicine may interact with some other prescription medications or herbal supplements that I am taking, how do I find out if it is safe to continue taking them?

There may be information on your patient information leaflet of your prescription medicine that will tell you what you can and cannot take with your medicine. If you are still unsure, we would recommend that you speak to the healthcare professional that prescribed the medication or your pharmacist.

I have difficulty swallowing my tablets/capsules. Can I crush my tablets or open my capsules and sprinkle them on food/drink?

We would not recommend crushing tablets or opening capsules unless the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine specifically states that you can. Crushing a tablet or emptying a capsule can change the way in which your medicine works and can also affect the safety and effectiveness of the medication. If you are having difficulties swallowing your tablets/capsules you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.

My friend suffers with the same condition as I do, can I give her some of my spare medication?

Never give another person medicine that has been prescribed for you. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours. We would also recommend that you return any unwanted medicine to your local pharmacist who will safely dispose of the medication for you.

How do I dispose of any medication that I no longer need?

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. These measures will help protect the environment. The safest way to dispose of unwanted medication is to return it to your local pharmacy or other local authorized locations such as police stations.

How do I dispose of any medication that I no longer need?

What is the difference between prescription medicine and over the counter medicine?

A Prescription Only Medicine can only be obtained from a pharmacy on presentation of a signed valid prescription from your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.
Over The Counter Medicines (OTC) are sold without a doctor’s prescription, and are often also under the supervision of a pharmacist. However, there may be restrictions on the amount you can buy, depending on the medicine.

I heard that there may be a supply issue with my medication. What do I do if I cannot obtain my regular prescription?

Check with your pharmacist before your next prescription is due, or contact Teva Customer Service at 3188 4288. If there is an issue with obtaining your regular Teva medication, then speak to your GP or pharmacist about an alternative supply or treatment.

I do not understand the instructions on how to take my medication, what should I do?

If you do not understand what has been said to you or the written instructions on the label are unclear, ask your pharmacist to explain it to you again. You can even ask them to write it down for you. Do not worry about asking again, it is important to your health needs to take your medication correctly.

What do I do if I believe my medication is not working properly?

If you are taking a new medicine, we recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional (nurse, doctor or pharmacist) as soon as possible regarding the expected outcomes of being prescribed this medicine.
If you are on a regular medicine and you notice a change in the effect (you have experienced a return of your symptoms), we recommend that you speak to your doctor about your concerns as soon as possible.

You should also report the lack of effect to us by contacting Teva’s Pharmacovigilance team at Safety.HongKong@Tevapharm.com