Clinical
Shortage warning
TGA issues warning over ongoing shortages of an arthritis treatment The Therapeutic Goods Administration today (23 February) issued a warning that Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd had notified them of …
Antivirals present ‘Pandora’s box’ of potential drug interactions
Hospital pharmacists warn of the need to support safe prescribing and dispensing of incoming novel oral COVID-19 treatments Leading hospital pharmacists are calling for a “consistent and streamlined” approach to …
Missing medicines
Almost 20% of medications are unaccounted for in Australian hospital electronic administration records A new study has revealed alarming quantities of medications supplied to hospital wards and EDs are not …
Benzo, antidepressant use analysed
Delirium has been linked to preoperative use of specific antidepressants and benzodiazepines in a new case-control study, with a strong case for pharmacists to deprescribe People who use antidepressants and …
Schedules to stay the same
TGA rejects proposals to downschedule more ibuprofen products and Chinese medicine ingredients Proposals for the downscheduling of ibuprofen and some Chinese medicine ingredients have been rejected by the Therapeutic Goods …
More questions over label changes
Pharmacy groups have welcomed proposals to alter the advisory labels of a number of medicines, although questions have been raised over new indications for lidocaine The proposals are part of …
Changing the label
Pharmacists question proposed label and advisory changes for OTC mometasone preparations Both the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the PSA had concerns over the proposed new advisory statements for labels …
Hope for new mental health treatment options
MDMA and psilocybin may show promise for mental health treatment when administered in closely clinically supervised settings, independent panel finds MDMA and psilocybin may show potential as therapeutic agents for …
Vaccine maker’s Covid scare
CSL’s Melbourne Broadmeadows facility had a positive COVID-19 case One of the CSL production facilities producing the Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine, Vaxzevria, has had a positive COVID-19 case of its own, …
Extending the date
TGA issues guidance on post-expiry date usage of shortage-impacted treatment The Therapeutic Goods Administration says tocilizumab vials continue to be stable for a further six months past their labelled expiry …
First monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID approved
The TGA has announced its approval of the first monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in Australia Australians with COVID-19 who are at risk of hospitalisation will now have access to …
Scarcity substitution notice issued
Pharmacists now able to substitute alternatives for menopause treatment after a scarcity notification was issued The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has advised of a shortage of all strengths of …