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) Australian asthma deaths fall, mostly in women: ABS
The National Asthma Council has highlighted the vital role community pharmacists can play in identifying at-risk patients, following a drop in overall asthma deaths...
From the President: NOW is the time!
Nominate to help PSA support, promote and fight for pharmacists.
Are your CPD activities up to date?
With the fast-approaching 30 September marking the end of the current CPD year, pharmacists should take stock of the progress of their CPD plans....
PSA National President opening address at PSA24
Read the transcript of the speech delivered by PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS at PSA24 today (2 August).
HMR in remote Indigenous communities
Providing Home Medicines Reviews (HMR) in remote Indigenous communities has been challenging yet rewarding. I feel privileged to have been able to experience the...
People living with chronic pain fear stigma, research finds
New research from Chronic Pain Australia has found low awareness of the upcoming Pain MedsCheck trial among people living with chronic pain, as well...
