CPD Activities
Topical management strategies of mild acne treatment: an update
This article will explore the most recent treatment guidelines of acne, including the down-scheduling of adapalene. Pharmacists have an integral role in recommending effective, appropriate and evidence-based products that reduce …
Maternal iodine and selenium adequacy: still an issue for women of childbearing age
This second article in the Bayer Continuing Medical Education Series explores the role of maternal iodine and selenium adequacy, how deficiencies in these micronutrients may impact the future health of …
Management of constipation: a discussion about over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives and their class-specific mechanisms of action
This podcast consists of two episodes. In episode one, Dr Sonal Patel and Kayla Ferguson chat about constipation—what it is, how it is identified, the complications and red flags that …
Relieving acute cough
The symptom of cough is one of the most common medical complaints presenting to a health professional. A pharmacist is well placed to assess the possible cause of a patient’s …
Re-evaluating over-the-counter options for acute pain management
Misuse of analgesics has become a major concern in recent years, leading to the upscheduling of codeine in 2018, modified-release paracetamol in 2020, and now further potential changes to paracetamol …
The role of complementary medicines in supporting bladder health
Complementary medicines can be beneficial in managing symptoms associated with a medically diagnosed overactive bladder. The herbal ingredients in these products have demonstrated benefits for relieving urinary frequency and can …
Complementary medicine for pain management
Pharmacists are ideally placed to support patient care by advising customers about the evidence, appropriate use and safety of complementary medicines for pain and inflammation. By Liesl Blott BPharm, BHSc …
Influenza in older adults and higher-immunogenicity influenza vaccines
As trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists are well-placed to provide education and improve health literacy around influenza vaccination, ensuring each patient receives specific and personalised advice and is comfortable with their …
Navigating the Special Access Scheme and Section 19A: a practical guide for pharmacists
The Special Access Scheme (SAS) and Section 19A (S19A) provisions enable pharmacists to supply unapproved or temporarily approved medicines to help address unmet patient need. This article explains the associated …
The proton pump, the gastric mucosal barrier, and stomach and duodenal ulcers
Back to Basics with Peter Carroll The aim of this series of articles is to revisit and discuss some fundamental pharmacological, physiological and therapeutic concepts with the overall objective of …
Assessing systems and workflow
USING THE PDL RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR PHARMACISTS This series introduces pharmacists to the PDL Risk Management Guide for Pharmacists, and how it can be used in everyday pharmacy practice …
Improving asthma management in adults
The 2025 update to the National Asthma Council (NAC) Australia’s guideline for asthma in primary care, the Australian Asthma Handbook, emphasises significant changes in asthma management. By Debbie Rigby, advanced …
Food–medicine interactions: an update
Although many medicines can be taken safely with food, some have the potential for clinically significant food–medicine interactions that may reduce or increase the medicine’s effect, potentially causing harm to …
Foreseeing risk when introducing new services
USING THE PDL RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR PHARMACISTS This series introduces pharmacists to the PDL Risk Management Guide for Pharmacists, and how it can be used in everyday pharmacy …
Management of opioid overdose in a community setting
Evidence from Australian research highlights that pharmacist-led naloxone interventions significantly improve overdose response and survival rates, reinforcing the pharmacist’s role as a critical contributor to reducing opioid-related mortality. By Dr …
Vulvovaginal candidiasis: managing thrush in pharmacy
Also known as thrush, vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common infection caused by an overgrowth of yeasts that naturally occur in the vagina. This article aims to outline risk factors, symptoms, …
Calcitonin-gene related peptide antagonists use in pregnancy and lactation: a brief safety review
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) therapies are the first medications developed specifically for migraine prevention. What is the latest evidence for their use and safety in pregnancy and lactation? By John …
Acute coronary syndromes: new guideline for diagnosis and management
A new guideline represents a significant advance in the diagnosis and management of people with suspected or confirmed acute coronary syndromes. By Karalyn Huxhagen BPharm, FPS, CredPharm (MMR), consultant pharmacist Learning …
UTI management—more than antibiotics
The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance means the non-antibiotic strategies should be considered for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). What are these non-antibiotic management options and how …