pain management
Opioid rules tightened
New restrictions on opioids provide an excellent opportunity for pharmacists to raise awareness about dependence, naloxone and pain management, say stakeholders Commencing Monday, 1 June 2020, the PBS listings for …
Building a circle of support to break the cycle of pain
The way osteoarthritis (OA) is managed is evolving. The up-schedule of modified release (MR) paracetamol to Pharmacist Only (S3) on 1 June 2020 provides pharmacists with the opportunity to reassess …
Here’s what happened when codeine was made prescription only
No, the sky didn’t fall in, write Rose Cairns, University of Sydney and Nicholas Buckley, University of Sydney Fears switching the painkiller codeine to a prescription only medicine would lead …
‘Massive and abrupt’ drop in codeine poisonings
Codeine sales and codeine-related poisoning calls have plummeted since the 1 February 2018 upschedule of low-dose codeine to Prescription Only New research led by the University of Sydney and published …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Chronic use of tramadol after acute pain episode In this large study of USA of administrative claims data, people receiving tramadol …
A new plan for pain
Painaustralia has launched its National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management, highlighting that chronic pain can significantly impact individuals and their networks Millions of Australians live with ongoing persistent pain, …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby takes a look at the latest in research news Antidepressants in the elderly Response to antidepressants in the elderly varies widely from 45% to 80%, compared with 35% …
Lidocaine gel no longer recommended
A leading hospital pharmacist has announced South Australia’s new advice on infant teething gel, asking parents not to use lidocaine gels Deputy Director of Pharmacy at the Women’s and Children’s …
Voltaren marketing breached consumer law
The Federal Court has found GSK and Novartis breached Australian law over Voltaren marketing… a finding welcomed by GSK The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced on Friday that GlaxoSmithKline …
Inadvertent harms
The SHPA and Pharmacy Guild are among stakeholder groups which have endorsed Palliative Care Australia’s new position statement on access to opioids Palliative Care Australia released the position statement, Sustainable …
Green light for GSK/Pfizer acquisition
The ACCC has announced that it will not oppose GSK’s proposed acquisition of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business in Australia The proposed acquisition combines only the over-the-counter side of the two …
Surgery leading to opioid risk
More than 13,000 Australians each year may be at risk of developing a persistent opioid habit following elective surgery, according to a BMJ study New research has quantified the number …