In the first of a six-part series, we expand on the PSA Choosing Wisely recommendations. This month: beware the prescribing cascade. The decision to initiate a medication is a complex one1 and whilst prescribers strive to act in the best...

A recent survey by NPS MedicineWise has found that more than 7 million Australians take some form of complementary medicines every day. Fifty-nine per cent of these people were also found to be taking prescription medicines. In response, NPS...

Can oxybutynin be useful for some patients who are unsuited for hormonal pharmacotherapy? Some people might describe hot flashes as an unannounced and brief feeling of intense heat, with the sensation that their body is on fire and they...

The National Asthma Council Australia announced a significant update to the Australian Asthma Handbook earlier this month. Known as Handbook version 2.0, it will continue to form the national guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma in primary care. Key...

Naloxone has long been used by emergency responders in cases of known or suspected opioid overdose. It has been accessible over-the-counter (OTC) in an injectable form since 2016, however, high costs, confidence in administration of injections, lack of awareness...

A new retrospective cohort study has found that self-poisoning, by ingesting psychotropic medicines, in Australian children and adolescents is increasing. The prescribed medicines often used in these self-harm episodes are not recommended for use in children. The study analysed...

A new cohort study has found that influenza-associated hospitalisation in children is significantly more likely in those with chronic lung diseases (CLDs), despite the availability of free vaccines. Expanding pharmacy vaccinations to include patients under the age of 16...

Eczema affects up to 20% of children. Almost half of these patients develop eczema by the age of six months and most of them by the age of five years.1 This evidence summary presents the best available evidence regarding the...

As awareness of transgender people grows, so does the need for healthcare professionals to be educated in the area of transgender health. A recent article in Australian Prescriber draws on ‘decades of experience’ to give practitioners fresh insight into...

In the fight against antibiotic resistance, shorter courses of antibiotics are now recommended for patients with common infections, but how short is long enough? The optimal antimicrobial duration for common bacterial infections is outlined in a review paper recently published...