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) Why we need pharmacists integrated in Aboriginal Health Services
In 2001, after 20 years as a pharmacist in Sydney, I moved to Bathurst, a regional centre in NSW’s Central West. At the pharmacy,...
Re-thinking opioids
Pharmacists can minimise opioid harm by helping patients step down.
While opioids play an important role in the management of acute pain, their widespread use...
6CPA program audits coming
Programs funded under the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (6CPA) will be subject to audits from next week to detect any inaccurate or ineligible claims.
The...
King of poisons or ‘magic bullet’?
A potent poison purportedly behind the death of a king, arsenic has also served numerous, less-sinister, medicinal purposes.
In fact, the terms ‘magic bullet’ and...
Pharmacists in 2023: roles and remuneration
Better remuneration and career support are key to the future of pharmacists’ roles.
The pharmacy profession provides a much broader range of health services...
Gallery: PSA18 social events
Hundreds of Australia's Early Career Pharmacists overtook Cafe Del Mar at Sydney's Cockle Bay Wharf on Friday evening for the lively annual PSA18 ECP...
