Managed withdrawal from opioids taken for chronic non-cancer pain is associated with significant risk, but can be undertaken in primary care if conditions are appropriate
Pharmac has approved funding for a new medicine with substantial health benefits for around 75,000 New Zealanders at high-risk of cardiovascular disease
There has been a high uptake by Māori and Pacific of new diabetes drugs under Pharmac’s first ethnicity-based funding criteria – a publicity campaign to encourage more uptake is to start soon
Pharmacists dispensing gout-preventing allopurinol without a prescription is one step closer to reality following the latest Medicines Classification Committee meeting
Menopause can be a challenging time of life for women, many of whom seek relief from distressing symptoms that affect their function and quality of life. In this article, Susannah O’Sullivan describes how to tailor treatment to each individual woman, while remembering to engage them in discussion of other midlife health considerations
What is simple irritable bowel syndrome in some patients may change, over years, to become a chronic pain problem unrelated to bowel habit, often with major effects on work, family and social activities, writes gastroenterologist Alan Fraser
Pharmacy Xtra manager Puneet Saini has launched a petition urging the Government to amend legislation to allow for the donation or gifting of dispensed medicines – and he wants your signature
A nearly-1900 signature petition is presented, calling for an urgent amendment to medicines legislation that limits nurse practitioners and pharmacist prescribers
Lateral elbow tendinopathy, commonly referred to as “tennis elbow”, is a common presentation in primary care that can be difficult to manage. Sports physician Steve Targett summarises the core principles for success
Specialist GP Nikki Vadgama provides some tips to make your next paediatric eczema consult easier. She includes a review of new guidelines, resources, websites and medications for paediatric eczema management