Clinical
Cough medicines in the spotlight
Scheduling decisions have been made for leading cough and cold products Two widely used cough suppression treatments were considered for rescheduling at the March 2024 meeting of the Therapeutic Goods …
Heart attack meds not consistent
Despite clear evidence of medication benefits during year after heart attack, low dispensing of key recommended medication classes has been found Medicine strategies following a heart attack vary from patient …
Top 10 checklist for adverse drug events developed
Experts agree on 10 most important signs and symptoms of psychotropic adverse events to condense into an easy-to-use checklist, with pharmacists “perfectly placed” to help Aged care workers can now …
Pharmacist-led UTI treatment protocols not all up to scratch
Patient safety and pharmacist competency in expanding scope of practice can be addressed by high-quality protocols—but not all are created equal, say researchers behind the NSW trial Clinical management protocols …
Pharmacists ‘critical’ to IUD, MS-2 Step access
Women’s health network seeing pharmacists “signing up every week” as role expands to include OCP resupply, medical abortion dispensing Pharmacists comprise nearly a quarter of an Australian support network for …
‘I am sure anyone can see the problem here:’ pain meds shortage costs add up
Palliative patients in the private, rural and remote sectors are being hit extra hard by the continued shortages of key pain relieving medications, stakeholder warns “Patients who are reaching the …
July MIMS update
A look at some of the recent changes to the medicines landscape, with new products, presentations, indications and contraindications New Products Etrasimod (as arginine) (Velsipity) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) …
Community pharmacists ‘underutilised’ in AMS
Community pharmacy has a bigger role to play in antimicrobial stewardship than commonly thought, say pharmacy experts, but funding and awareness is needed Community pharmacists can participate as much as …
Online posts reflect pharmacist role
Pharmacists dispensing medical abortion, contraceptives most concerned about costs, shortages and regulatory issues, online posts reveal Community pharmacists are more likely to reach out for information or support on health …
Combo therapy could boost quit rates
Could adding nicotine lozenges to varenicline treatment boost smoking cessation rates? A new study has shown promising results Nicotine lozenges may be safely used alongside varenicline to help smokers quit, …
Warning issued over widely used medicinal herb
A herb used in around 100 listed medicines is linked to allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, with reports increasing since 2019, the TGA says Medicines containing the herb Andrographis paniculata (andrographis) may …
Compound issues
Warning issued over compounded wind and colic products The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a warning that it has received reports of serious side effects in infants given compounded …