Medicines
Medication patient guides
One guide per drug class. If your medicine's name ends with a common
suffix (-pril, -sartan, -olol,
-statin, -prazole…), find the matching guide
below. Each covers what the medicine does, what to expect, sick-day
rules, monitoring, and how lifestyle changes work alongside it.
31 guides in the library.
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ACE inhibitors -pril
ACE inhibitors — patient guide
Plain-English guide to ACE inhibitors (-pril) from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, side effects, sick-day rules, lifestyle interactions, monitoring.
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Allopurinol (urate-lowering therapy)
Allopurinol — patient guide
Plain-English guide to allopurinol for gout from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, HLA-B*5801 testing, flare cover, food triggers, monitoring.
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Antiepileptic medicines (AEDs)
Antiepileptic medicines (Epilim, Lamictal, Keppra and others) — patient guide
AU GP guide to antiepileptic medicines (Epilim, Lamictal, Keppra, Tegretol, Dilantin, Topamax, Trileptal, Vimpat) — safety, pregnancy, interactions.
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Antiplatelets
Antiplatelets — patient guide
Plain-English guide to antiplatelet medicines (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel, dipyridamole) from an AU integrative GP.
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ARBs -sartan
ARBs — patient guide
Plain-English guide to angiotensin II receptor blockers (-sartan) from an AU integrative GP. Brands, side effects, sick-day rules, lifestyle, monitoring.
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Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (Valium, Serepax, Xanax, Rivotril) — patient guide
AU GP guide to benzodiazepines — why Dr HB Lo does not routinely prescribe them, monitoring if you are already on one, safe deprescribing, combination warnings.
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Beta blockers -olol
Beta blockers — patient guide
Plain-English guide to beta blockers (-olol, carvedilol, labetalol) from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, side effects, training, monitoring.
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Bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates — patient guide
Plain-English guide to bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, ibandronate) from an AU integrative GP.
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Calcium channel blockers (DHP) -dipine
Calcium channel blockers (DHP, -dipine) — patient guide
Plain-English guide to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (-dipine) from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, ankle swelling, grapefruit, monitoring.
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Denosumab
Denosumab — patient guide
Plain-English guide to denosumab (Prolia and Xgeva) from an AU integrative GP — including the crucial rule about never stopping without a planned transition.
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Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)
DOACs — patient guide (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban)
Plain-English guide to direct oral anticoagulants (Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Lixiana). Bleeding, reversal, sick-day rules, surgery hold, interactions.
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DPP-4 inhibitors (-gliptin) -gliptin
DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative GP guide to DPP-4 inhibitors (-gliptin). Brand lookup, side effects, sick-day rules, monitoring, kidney + heart notes, lifestyle.
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Ezetimibe
Ezetimibe — patient guide
Plain-English guide to ezetimibe (Ezetrol, Atozet) from an AU integrative GP. How it works, side effects, lifestyle, and where it sits with statins.
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Gabapentinoids
Gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin / Lyrica) — patient guide
AU GP guide to gabapentin and pregabalin (Lyrica) — what they treat, what they don't, fall risk, combination warnings, safe stopping.
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GLP-1 receptor agonists
GLP-1 receptor agonists — patient guide
Plain-English guide to GLP-1 medicines (Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, Byetta, Bydureon, Mounjaro, Rybelsus) from an AU integrative GP.
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ICS/LABA combination + triple-therapy inhalers
Combination inhalers (ICS/LABA and triple) — patient guide
Plain-English guide to combination preventer inhalers (Symbicort, Seretide, Breo, Trelegy, Trimbow) from an AU integrative GP. MART, side effects, technique.
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Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) — patient guide
Plain-English guide to single-agent ICS preventer inhalers from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, rinse-and-spit, side effects, asthma, COPD, pregnancy.
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Long-course antibiotics (acne, UTI prophylaxis, bronchiectasis)
Long-course antibiotics — patient guide
Plain-English AU GP guide to long-course antibiotics for acne, recurrent UTI prophylaxis, and bronchiectasis. Stewardship, gut effects, monitoring.
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Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT/HRT)
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT / HRT) — patient guide
Plain-English guide to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, formerly HRT) from an AU integrative GP. Patches, gels, tablets, vaginal-only, testosterone.
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Metformin
Metformin — patient guide
Plain-English guide to metformin from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, side effects, sick-day rules, B12, off-label uses (PCOS, prediabetes, GDM), lifestyle.
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Mirtazapine (NaSSA)
Mirtazapine (Avanza, Mirtazon) — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative GP guide to mirtazapine (Avanza, Mirtazon). The dosing paradox, weight and sleep effects, off-label uses, safe stopping.
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Montelukast (LTRA)
Montelukast and leukotriene blockers — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative GP guide to montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast — black-box mood warning, paediatric dosing, asthma, hay fever.
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Opioids (weak, strong, transdermal, sublingual OAT)
Opioids (Endone, OxyContin, Tramal, Norspan, Suboxone) — patient guide
AU GP guide to opioid painkillers. Why HB doesn't routinely start opioids for chronic pain. Combination warning, naloxone, SafeScript, safe deprescribing.
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Prescription sleep aids (Z-drugs, suvorexant, melatonin)
Sleep medicines (Z-drugs, suvorexant, melatonin) — patient guide
AU GP guide to prescription sleep medicines — Stilnox, Imovane, Belsomra, Circadin. Why CBT-I comes first. Side effects, falls risk, stopping safely.
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Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) -prazole
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative GP guide to PPIs (-prazole): brand lookup, long-term safety in honest perspective, deprescribing, monitoring.
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SGLT2 inhibitors -flozin
SGLT2 inhibitors (gliflozins) — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative GP guide to SGLT2 inhibitors (-flozin). Brand lookup, sick-day rules, eDKA warning, heart and kidney benefits, lifestyle.
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SSRIs and SNRIs
SSRIs and SNRIs — patient guide
Plain-English guide to SSRI and SNRI antidepressants from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, side effects, sexual effects, stopping safely.
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Statins -statin
Statins — patient guide
Plain-English guide to statins (-statin) from an AU integrative GP. Brand lookup, side effects, muscle aches, drug interactions, monitoring.
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Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas — patient guide
Plain-English guide to sulfonylureas (gliclazide, glimepiride, glibenclamide, glipizide) for type 2 diabetes from an AU integrative GP.
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Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics
Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics — patient guide
AU GP guide to thiazides (indapamide, HCT, chlorthalidone). Brand lookup, combo tablets, sodium/potassium safety, sick-day rules.
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Thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine / T3 / NDT)
Thyroxine and thyroid hormone replacement — patient guide
Plain-English AU integrative-GP guide to levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine (T3), and desiccated thyroid (NDT). Brand lookup, absorption, pregnancy, nutrients.