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Interactive quizzes are based on material found in Best Practice Journal and Best Tests. Initially, quizzes are posted out with journals and GPs are invited to submit their answers for CME credits.
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Opioids can be effective for relieving moderate to severe acute pain but carry a significant risk of harm with longer periods... View Article
Despite being recommended for short-term use only, and usually second-line to non-pharmacological management strategies, benzodiazepines... View Article
Stopping benzodiazepine or zopiclone treatment in people who have been taking these medicines long-term can be challenging. Strategies... View Article
All combination codeine products will be reclassified as prescription-only medicines on 5 November, 2020. This change has been... View Article
The range of analgesics available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies will be reduced when all codeine-containing products are... View Article
Biological medicines are an important advancement in the pharmaceutical treatment of patients with inflammatory and immunological... View Article
Community pharmacists are a key point of contact for women seeking advice about medicines use in pregnancy. While non-pharmacological... View Article
Differentiating short-term psychological distress from depression can be difficult, particularly at the first consultation. Diagnostic... View Article
The nocebo effect describes adverse symptoms induced independently of the active component of a treatment. This occurs due to... View Article
This report provides an overview of the clinical characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes* including sex, age, ethnicity... View Article
Insulin treatment is an essential component of type 1 diabetes management. Achieving and maintaining good glycaemic control helps... View Article
Type 2 diabetes management in older people can be complex due to the wide variations in co-morbidities, physical and cognitive... View Article
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily oral tablet that, when taken as prescribed, can... View Article
Constipation is common in older people due to factors such as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, frailty, dehydration, a lack of exercise... View Article
When initiating or changing the dose of a medicine, simple changes to the prescription can allow pharmacists to dispense a trial... View Article
Bisphosphonates accumulate within bone tissue where they help rebalance the remodelling cycle to increase bone mineral density.... View Article
Over one-third of people aged 65 years and older in New Zealand were dispensed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the last year.... View Article
Older people are generally prescribed more medicines than younger people, which contributes to a higher risk of adverse effects.... View Article
There is a significant issue in the community with people taking hypnotics, opioids and other pain medicines long-term with no... View Article
From 1 October, 2018, the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) will replace the current pregnancy and breast-feeding advice, which is based... View Article
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory... View Article
In 2014, bpacnz published an article on the safer prescribing of clozapine. Since this time, a number of fatalities, along with... View Article
People with epilepsy require good adherence to anti-epileptic medicines for optimal seizure control. However, maintaining good... View Article
Patients taking oral anticoagulants require appropriate management in order to receive the maximum benefit from treatment with... View Article
Inappropriate prescribing of opioids for non-cancer pain is an international problem. In this article we examine an initiative... View Article
The funded brand of amiodarone has now changed, see: Antiarrhythmic medicine brand changes: flecainide and amiodaroneTwo brands... View Article
This report provides prescribers with details about patients in their practice who are taking ten or more medicines over a 12... View Article
This article has been superseded by: Assessment and management of alcohol misuse by primary care bpacNZ, November 2018 If... View Article
Patient information leaflets (PILs) are now available from the New Zealand Formulary (NZF). View Article
This report provides an update on the use of oxycodone over the 12 month period from October, 2014 – September, 2015. View Article
View Article
Travel consultations involve assessing the risks that may occur during a journey and helping the traveller minimise them. This... View Article
Chemotherapy is predominantly managed in secondary care, but many prescriptions for oral medicines are dispensed and taken in... View Article
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom (UK) have updated their guidance to allow... View Article
Medicine wastage is a significant problem in New Zealand, with large quantities of subsidised medicines dispensed, but never used.... View Article
Benzodiazepines may be considered as a short-term treatment for insomnia and anxiety; zopiclone, a benzodiazepine-like medicine,... View Article
This article contains some information on the use of inhaled medicines for COPD treatment that is no longer current. More recent... View Article
Polypharmacy is a marker of potential problematic prescribing. In clinical practice, defining polypharmacy purely by a specific... View Article
Polypharmacy can be appropriate and beneficial for patients. However, polypharmacy also increases the risk of problematic prescribing... View Article
The increased use of opioid analgesics in recent years, particularly oxycodone, has resulted in misuse and addiction issues associated... View Article
Low-dose methotrexate is commonly used in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatologic diseases,... View Article
Updated 2021Colchicine is a plant-based alkaloid, extracted from Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus, meadow saffron) and Gloriosa... View Article
Does aspirin protect against cancer? More high-quality research is needed View Article
Many health professionals will encounter children who are reluctant or unable to swallow tablets and capsules. This can present... View Article
Muscle pain (myalgia) and weakness is experienced by up to 10% of patients taking statins. However, myalgia is commonly experienced... View Article
Since 2011, bpacnz has produced a series of reports and articles on appropriate use of opioids and has urged prescribers to review... View Article
Following on from the interview with Dr Jeremy McMinn in the last edition of Best Practice Journal, we examine in more detail... View Article
Pharmacological treatment is an integral part of the practice of medicine, and is one of the most significant factors in improving... View Article
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most widely used medicines in New Zealand; in 2013 omeprazole was the third most... View Article
Dr Jeremy McMinn is a consultant psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Capital & Coast DHB. He is also the Co-Chair of the... View Article
This article has been archived. If you would like access to the original article please contact: editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
Growing use of azithromycin in New Zealand means that we are in danger of increasing bacterial resistance to macrolide antibiotics,... View Article
Reporting suspected adverse drug reactions enables the collection of information on the safety and quality of medicines and vaccines... View Article
2013 began with publication of the 50th issue of Best Practice Journal. In this edition we focused on the topic at the heart of... View Article
In November 2013, the New Zealand Formulary for Children (NZFC) was released. This is a New Zealand adaptation of the British... View Article
Comparing results between different blood glucose meters | Beating the Blues: online cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to... View Article
Oral isotretinoin is a highly effective treatment for severe acne, however it is associated with a number of adverse effects,... View Article
Guide for switching antidepressants View Article
Are you getting the most from the NZF? Resources for getting started View Article
Syringe drivers are often required to provide medicines for symptom management in patients who are terminally ill. They provide... View Article
This report focuses on continuous polypharmacy, which is the chronic use of multiple medicines over a long period of time. View Article
It is increasingly recognised that health care for older people is improved when one prescriber takes responsibility for all of... View Article
Locating product and funding information View Article
New Zealand healthcare professionals now have their own medicines formulary View Article
About the NZF Governance The clinical editorial team View Article
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the developed world. It is the leading cause of sleep disturbance,... View Article
Evidence of adverse cardiac effects associated with citalopram has prompted a reduction in the recommended maximum daily dose... View Article
The dabigatran data sheet was updated in early November 2011 to highlight the importance of an assessment of renal function in... View Article
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is now available in New Zealand, fully funded, without Special Authority, as an alternative oral anticoagulant... View Article
Regular measurement of INR levels is an essential component in the management of patients receiving warfarin treatment. Many factors... View Article
Evidence suggests that warfarin is under utilised in older people. The dilemma is that in older people with atrial fibrillation,... View Article
The decision to initiate a statin should be based upon an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the likely... View Article
Medication errors may never be completely eliminated, but strategies can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of error occurring.... View Article
The majority of older people who require drug therapy take multiple medicines. Polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse effects... View Article
In New Zealand, it is estimated that 30% of people aged over 75 years are taking five or more medicines and around 10% are taking... View Article
The goal of successful pharmacological treatment in epilepsy is the complete control of seizures, however for some people this... View Article
Advice on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), the measurement of the concentration of specific drugs at intervals in order to adjust... View Article
All antidepressant drugs are approximately equal in effectiveness, although individual patient response may vary markedly.10 View Article
A short article on the perceptions of generics and brand changes. View Article
Health care professionals have an important role in helping patients understand that generic medicines are as safe and effective... View Article
The asthma & respiratory foundation of New Zealand has developed a revised version of its self-management plan for asthma. View Article
There is evidence that early use of insulin in people with type 2 diabetes is beneficial. At present insulin is under used in... View Article
Monitoring a person on diuretics is necessary to assess response to treatment and to prevent adverse events, particularly electrolyte... View Article
Methadone is a strong opioid that may be suitable for people whose pain is uncontrolled with, or who are unable to tolerate, morphine.... View Article
Clinicians are frequently asked to monitor the effects of drug treatment with the objective of ensuring safe and effective therapy.... View Article
Medication-overuse headache is a complex disorder best described as an interaction between a therapeutic agent used excessively... View Article
From July 2007, Glaxo Smith Kline has distributed a new formulation of Eltroxin 50 microgram and 100 microgram. Since then, there... View Article
Generic prescribing is cost effective, associated with less potential for error and is considered “best practice” in most situations.... View Article
Adding a pop-up alert for patients on clozapine. View Article
New evidence concludes that self monitoring of blood glucose for people with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes is not beneficial.... View Article
Several key principles should be considered when prescribing for elderly people. Quality of life is the most relevant outcome.... View Article
Prescribing for elderly people is difficult because the risks of polypharmacy, adverse drug effects and drug interactions are... View Article
This article has been archived; for a copy of the original, please email editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
Visits the main points around changing to a generic drug from varoius viewpoints. View Article
This audit is designed to identify people in your practice on omeprazole View Article
An explanation of the issues around the switching of patients to generic medication including international research in the area. View Article
Identifies patients on Lithium using MedTech View Article
The role of primary care clinicians in improving outcomes for people with ADHD. View Article
This audit is designed to identify people in your practice on LABAs in order to discuss their Asthma Management Plans and ICS... View Article
Studies suggest that the majority of children with asthma do not have good control. This appears to be associated with low asthma... View Article
Polypharmacy due to multiple physician involvement in patient care increases the risk of serious adverse drug event. View Article
Identifies people under the age of 18 years on paroxetine to enable checks for suicidal and aggressive behaviour View Article
Generic drugs are reproductions of the original innovator medicine which are made widely available when a drug’s patent expires.... View Article