pain management
Pollies back pharmacists in harm minimisation
Politicians from the three major parties have spoken out in support of the role pharmacists can play in reducing harms from licit and illicit drugs Speaking at the launch of …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Physical functioning and mindfulness skills training in chronic pain The importance of improved physical function as a primary outcome in the …
Codeine: what a difference a year makes… or does it?
As the low-dose codeine upschedule loomed, predictions were made of an increase in crime, an increase in scripts for stronger opioids, and patients left in pain… but did it happen? …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news The association between neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia Findings from a large Danish case-control study suggests that neonatal …
Prescription opioid rates ‘astonishing’
Several stakeholders have expressed concern about a newly documented rise in opioid use The Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation, released on Tuesday, found that between 2013–14 and 2016–17 the …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Changes in pain intensity after discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain Pain intensity after discontinuation of long-term opioid …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Overdiagnosis of Penicillin Allergy Leads to Costly, Inappropriate Treatment A growing body of evidence suggests that as few as 10% of …
Stop calling them ‘painkillers’
A new paper from the SHPA has exposed national inconsistencies in provision of pharmacy services to reduce the risk of opioid misuse “These tablets, they’re not lollies,” outgoing president of …
Ambulance call-outs for pregabalin have spiked – here’s why
by Shalini Arunogiri, Monash University; Dan Lubman, Monash University, and Rose Crossin, Monash University Pregabalin (sold under the brand name Lyrica) is prescribed as an anti-epileptic and a painkiller for …
The week in review
As Victorians head to the polls, we wrap up the last week in community pharmacy The Pharmacy Guild‘s Anthony Tassone has supported one measure announced by Victoria’s Liberal National Opposition—an …
Libs support pain services, not safe injecting
The Victorian Opposition has pledged to both invest in pain services, and shut down Richmond’s injecting room Anthony Tassone, president of the Pharmacy Guild’s Victorian branch, has welcomed the former …
A snapshot of opioid use
New PBS data shows that opioid prevalence in Australia has increased since 2013, but incidence has decreased And in response, pain stakeholders have called for better access to multi-disciplinary treatments, …