Patient Safety

An 89-year-old woman who was prescribed Paxlovid despite having a contraindication for the COVID-19 antiviral collapsed four days later and was taken to hospital

Medsafe has issued a warning that myocarditis and pericarditis may be possible side effects of the new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid 

Medsafe will soon require all medicines containing opioids to display a warning that they are addictive and can cause overdoses

Researchers have sounded the alarm over fish-oil supplements after discovering a higher mortality rate in animal studies due to high rates of oxidisation, Jonathan Chilton-Towle reports

The Drug Foundation is calling on the Government to urgently make it easier for New Zealanders to freely access a lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication, so that the country is prepared in the face of a future fentanyl crisis

The Pharmaceutical Society has clarified its call for pharmacists to be authorised to order lab tests

The Government’s announcement today increasing availability of the COVID-19 antiviral medication, Paxlovid, is both positive and concerning for the country’s largest membership body of GPs

A Medsafe investigation has confirmed no contaminated Lucas’ Papaw Ointment made it into New Zealand, despite a company importing it from Australia outside normal distribution channels

Medsafe is investigating whether any batches of the popular skin product Lucas’ Pawpaw Ointment that were recalled in Australia due to microbial contamination have been sold in New Zealand

University of Auckland researchers are warning pregnant women to be careful when taking fish oil supplements, due to new research finding highly oxidised fish oils are harmful to pregnant rats