pain management
Victorian pharmacists to play ‘pivotal’ medicinal cannabis role
Victorian pharmacists will play a pivotal role under proposals announced by the Victorian Government to make medicinal cannabis available to some patients under exceptional circumstances from 2017, says the PSA. …
Victoria to legalise medicinal cannabis, Guild welcomes decision
Victoria’s Andrews Government has decided to legalise access to locally-manufactured medicinal cannabis products for use in exceptional circumstances from 2017, a decision welcomed by the Guild. The Victorian President of …
Upscheduling codeine would punish genuine users: CHF
Taking codeine off pharmacy shelves will only hide the problem of its abuse, says the Consumers Health Forum of Australia. Moving codeine-containing medicines to prescription only is “a very blunt …
Time to question unnecessary testing: Choosing Wisely
Last night’s ABC Four Corners program investigating unnecessary testing and treatments was a timely reminder of the need for both clinicians and consumers to question low-value care in the Australian …
Clinical tips: men and cancer explained
Sometimes men need to be scared into taking action when they present with pain and other symptoms, writes Karalyn Huxhagen Cancer in males can be in many forms, some of …
Clinical tips: counselling the codeine-seeking patient
Treating patients with chronic pain can be a complex, long-term relationship, especially if codeine is involved, writes Karalyn Huxhagen. Like all community pharmacists, I kick myself when I fall for …
Karalyn Huxhagen takes out QUM pain management award
Group Facilitator of the Mackay Pain Support Group, Karalyn Huxhagen, has been announced as the winner of the 2015 PSA Award for Quality Use of Medicines in Pain Management. Huxhagen …
Novartis to acquire Spinifex, continue pain drug development
Novartis is to acquire Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on the development of new drugs for treating chronic pain. Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its Australian subsidiary Spinifex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, …
Better approach needed in chronic non-cancer pain: NPS
A multimodal approach to managing chronic non-cancer pain is needed, says NPS MedicineWise, as the number of scripts for opioids continues to rise. Around one in five Australians experience chronic …
What do codeine shoppers really need?
There has been a lot of discussion by pharmacists in recent times about surveillance of codeine shoppers, writes 2010 PSA Pharmacist of the Year Karalyn Huxhagen. Codeine seeking behaviour is …
Pain Management and pharmacy
As the most accessible healthcare providers pharmacists can play a vital role in helping people with safe and effective pain management.