Table 1 – Types of vertigo (non-exhaustive list)[/caption]
Vomiting
In older people, dizziness significantly increases the risk of falls.7 Implementing appropriate interventions to address modifiable risk factors such as dizziness is of paramount importance. In cases of drug-induced dizziness, deprescribing can be considered if the medicine can be safely reduced, discontinued or substituted to prevent inappropriate prescribing cascades of potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM), especially in the context of older people.29
A national education program for pharmacists funded by the Australian Government under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology program.[/caption]
The hypothalamus houses neurons that produce neuropeptides called orexin A and B, which were discovered in 1998, and represent one of the most exciting discoveries in sleep medicine.5,13–15 Orexin-producing neurons help us stay awake and alert, especially when we really need to focus, which is critical for survival.5,14 These neurons reach out to many brain areas that use other wakefulness messengers such as acetylcholine, dopamine, histamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. These areas ‘talk back’ to the hypothalamus, to further boost wakefulness signals.5 Similarly, the thalamus is an important region that also serves to relay wakefulness signals from the RAS.5
Another dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA), vornorexant*, is under development and currently undergoing clinical trials.28 
Other medicines such as dimdazenil* (partial positive allosteric modulator at GABAA specific to alpha-1 and alpha-5 GABAA receptor subtypes)41 and zuranolone* (positive allosteric modulator for GABAA) have also been tested, with positive outcomes in trials. Zuranolone* is marketed overseas specifically for postnatal depression, but clinical trials for its use in insomnia are ongoing.40
Kristy Carter (she/her)
Louise Edwards (she/her) This pharmacist has gone 10 years without a pay rise
Pharmacist Judy Williams is a vital member of her community, providing important health services to a population of 26,000 people in a remote Australian town. She hasn’t had a pay rise in over a decade.
Mid-year vaccine shake-up incoming
From 1 July 2025, pharmacists will see a range of adjustments to how they deliver and bill for vaccination.
‘I don’t have a script. Can I have an emergency supply...
Emergency supply of medicines allows a pharmacist, in an emergency without a prescription, to initiate a small quantity supply (usually 3 days’ worth) of a Prescription OnlyMedicine (S4) for a patient when it’s not possible to contact the prescriber.
Pharmacy-based STI testing
Eight out of every ten consumers say they'd be willing to obtain pharmacy-based chlamydia testing, according to a survey conducted in Australia and Switzerland.
The...
‘My child will just die then’: ongoing medicine shortage frustration
Australia's medicine shortage crisis continues to worsen, with many patients unable to track down common antibiotics over the holiday period.
Victorian pharmacists face a second wave of patient anxiety as COVID-19...
While the rest of Australia maintains low rates of COVID-19 infection, 36 suburbs in Victoria will enter lockdown from midnight tonight as case numbers continue to rise.
