overprescribing
High-dose PPI changes ‘effective’: PBAC
Decrease in esomeprazole and increase in pantoprazole scripts likely due to restriction changes, says PBAC, though full picture obscured by lack of OTC and private data Restriction changes established in …
High doses drop after moves to curb overprescribing
Patients have been shifting to lower dose PPIs following PBS listing changes, review reveals, but more investigation is needed The Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC) of the PBAC has found positive …
Benzo intervention sees inappropriate use drop
The Choosing Wisely approach has made an impact in the safe prescribing of benzos and sedative-hypnotics among older adults, says keynote speaker The Choosing Wisely questions are a vehicle for …
‘Gross, dangerous and reckless overprescribing.’
A GP is set to be disciplined over reckless prescribing of opioids, and inappropriately disclosing a patient’s extramarital affair A NSW tribunal has found a Central Coast GP guilty of …
Pharmacist complaint leads to dentist censure
A community pharmacist shared concerns to regulators about the high number of oxycodone scripts from a dentist, leading them to uncover prescribing practices that “horrified” an expert witness A dentist …
Overprescribing led to drug dependence
A wish to ease his patients’ distress was a key factor in a doctor’s overprescribing, a Tribunal has heard In November 2017, the Medical Board of Australia referred Dr Christopher …
Rapid rise in prescribing ‘quite concerning’
More medication reviews and education on psychotropic medicines are needed for those entering aged care, with pharmacists ‘best placed’ to provide this, say leading researchers Dispensing of psychotropic medicines to …
Disproportionate prescribing patterns
The top 1% of prescribers accounted for 49% of all opioid doses and 27% of all opioid prescriptions, US study finds A retrospective, observational study has examined the distribution and patterns …
Putting a lid on antibiotic prescribing
The Department of Health is considering restrictions on doctor prescribing of antibiotic repeats The Federal health department has undertaken a review of listings for the top five antibiotics prescribed with …
GP stands trial accused of attempting to murder pharmacist
The pharmacist had reported the doctor to health authorities for overprescribing codeine and benzodiazepines to local patients An Adelaide GP is standing trial accused of ambushing a pharmacist and attempting …
Rogue doctor reprimanded
A GP has been suspended for continually overprescribing addictive drugs, despite concerned colleagues repeatedly telling him to stop A Victorian general practitioner has been reprimanded and temporarily suspended following serious …
The opioid trap
How many people fall into addiction after getting a script from their doctor, and what role does the ED play? University of Sydney pharmacist researcher Dr Jonathan Penm recently conducted …