Medicines and Therapies

New Zealand’s largest medicines exporter, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, has hit out at the Therapeutic Products Bill saying it will create unnecessary red tape for exporters

Persistent pain affects physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing, and is one of the most prevalent long-term conditions in New Zealand. In this article, Vanessa Brown discusses persistent pain, including its causes, symptoms and treatments. She also explores the concept of central sensitisation and its role in persistent pain

Non-practising pharmacist Sarah Mooney takes a look at the different kinds of cutaneous warts and how to treat them

Pharmac-sponsored educator He Ako Hiringa is contacting general practices, advising them to prioritise moving patients off cilazapril to avoid having to manage a significant number of transitions in December when the medicine is delisted

Non-practising pharmacist Sarah Mooney looks at the differences between influenza and the common cold, then discusses defensive and offensive strategies to combat these viral diseases

A substitute for the hormone replacement medication Estradot is available but some pharmacies are having problems getting it

Natalie Guald's fundraising goal is tantalisingly close. The Auckland pharmacist has raised nearly $14,377, just shy of her $15,000 goal for Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand.

Historically, rheumatoid arthritis was a major cause of chronic pain, disability, loss of independence and even reduced life expectancy. With the widespread use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, it is now a very treatable chronic disease with a life expectancy and quality of life approaching that of the general population

Health authorities have written a stern letter to pharmacies, saying an audit suggests a small percentage of paliperidone claims are erroneous, but the issues could be widespread

Many pharmacists fear making controlled drugs more available would lead criminals to increasingly target pharmacies at the same time as it potentially worsened opioid addiction problems