The strange world of drug interactions
Dr Chris Freeman and Dr Geraldine Moses from the University of Queensland remind pharmacists that many drug interactions are not yet known – some of which can be quite unexpected …
Bexsero vaccine shortage in Australia
GSK’s relatively new vaccine for meningococcal B is in low supply across the country due to its unexpected popularity worldwide Bexsero is the only vaccine for meningococcal B currently registered …
Australia’s largest ketamine trial for depression underway
Evaluation of the drug is much needed as some clinics offer repeated dosage without evidence of safety, says professor The largest randomised double-blind trial to evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine …
NAPSA raises thousands for charity
Bake sales, BBQs, bowling nights, movie and trivia nights, raffles and even a marathon went into the group’s massive donation As part of its ‘Charity Cup campaign’, the pharmacy student …
Paracetamol: largely ineffective and not exactly safe
Effective and safe? This leader in pain research asks pharmacists to think again about this widely used drug While paracetamol has been the ‘go-to’ medicine for acute and chronic pain …
PSA secures hefty three-year grant
The member organisation has secured a million-dollar financial boost under the Health Department’s ‘Health Peak and Advisory Bodies’ program The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) will receive $1.24 million in …
Drug supplier for Sylvia Choi sentenced
The young man that supplied Choi with “yellow Snapchats” and MDMA that led to her death has been released on bail Physiotherapist Daniel Dung Huynh, 26, was charged for supplying Choi with an …
Blackmores launches new online tool
The free peer-reviewed guide can be used “on the pharmacy floor” to check interactions between complementary and prescriptions medicines Blackmore’s Complementary Medicine Interactions Guide will provide pharmacists with current, evidence-based …
Woman accidentally locked inside airport pharmacy almost misses flight
She was trapped inside the Boots store for nearly an hour and almost missed her flight to Greece The incident occurred last Saturday at around 9.30pm when the store closed …
Bayer pushes for downscheduling of vardenafil
Making ED drugs available through pharmacists could prevent men resorting to dangerous online versions, says the company Bayer has applied to the TGA to consider downscheduling the PDE5 inhibitor vardenafil (Levitra) …
Use of warfarin is in decline
But NOACs have contributed to an overall growth in the anticoagulant market Based on the volume of prescriptions, use of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in Australia has grown since their …
Australia’s medicine labels to change for first time 15 years
New labels will include easier-to-find active ingredients, a critical information panel and designated space for a dispensing label The TGA has announced it will be implementing two new labelling orders …