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) Health sector collaboration the key to improving medicine safety
Better use of existing funding, leveraging digital health and empowering consumers are the keys to improving medicine safety.
These were the main themes to come...
The pharmacists reshaping care and compliance
Meet the intern all-rounder and the locum pharmacist unmasking prescription fraud – both earning top gongs at the 2025 PSA Excellence Awards.
Practice advice Q&A: Fax machines
How can our medical system still rely so heavily on the fax machine for crucial communications? What are the modern alternatives?
Prior to the inception...
Non-steroidal care for the treatment and management of mild eczema and...
Dermal Therapy offers a comprehensive range of clinically tested products to treat and manage the symptoms associated with mild eczema and dermatitis.
Moving pharmacy forward
Australia’s healthcare system is strained but there is immense scope for the role of pharmacists to address the sector’s future burdens.
At a time of...
Medicine misadventure is common, reveals PSA
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has released a new report, Medicine Safety: Take Care, which highlights the extent of the unsafe use of...
