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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
Pain is often feared by people in the last days of life and if not adequately controlled, it can negatively impact their remaining... View Article
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatological condition that causes a specific pattern of joint pain and morning... View Article
Three main aspects form the foundation of a management strategy for patients with osteoarthritis: education, exercise and weight... View Article
The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme provides pathways for registered medical practitioners to prescribe quality medicinal cannabis products... View Article
Low back pain is a leading contributor to disability in New Zealand; it is only rarely a life-threatening condition, but it represents... View Article
Recent regulatory changes will make medicinal cannabis much more accessible to patients. As medicinal cannabis is not a focus... View Article
Limited pharmacological treatment options to manage chronic non-neuropathic pain can lead to the inappropriate prescribing of... View Article
Endometriosis is characterised by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, causing mainly cyclical... 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
There is no evidence that opioids such as tramadol are effective for managing pain long-term, yet they continue to be prescribed... View Article
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory... View Article
The following questions can be used as discussion points for peer groups or self-reflection of practice. The questions relate... View Article
From 1 May, 2018, pregabalin will be available to prescribe, fully subsidised. From 1 June, 2018, prescribing restrictions will... View Article
Tramadol is an atypical opioid used for moderate pain when paracetamol and/or a NSAID is not adequate. There is no evidence that... View Article
Paracetamol dosing errors can lead to acute liver failure in children. Calculation of a paracetamol dose in children should be... View Article
The primary aim of acute pain management is to provide treatment that reduces the patient’s pain, with minimal adverse effects,... View Article
There are a multitude of causes of acute pain, however, the approach to management will often be similar; assessment guides prescribing... View Article
There are few indications for prescribing a strong opioid for acute pain in a primary care setting. If a strong opioid is required,... View Article
Recent amendments have been made to regulations concerning the prescription of some medicinal cannabis products. For primary care,... View Article
The progression of osteoarthritis varies from person to person. Functional decline and worsening of symptoms is not inevitable,... View Article
Celecoxib is a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor that has been fully subsidised without restriction, since 1 June,... View Article
Methylnaltrexone injections are now subsidised for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation for patients in palliative care.... View Article
A systematic approach is recommended when assessing patients with headache to rule out serious underlying conditions and to ensure... View Article
Inappropriate prescribing of opioids for non-cancer pain is an international problem. In this article we examine an initiative... View Article
Ankylosing spondylitis is a relatively uncommon inflammatory cause of long-term back pain which can result in radiographic changes... View Article
Neuropathic pain results from a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system. There are a range of causes of neuropathic... 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
Chronic pelvic pain can cause significant disruption to the lives of the women it affects. It can arise not only from pathology... View Article
The following treatment injury case study was prepared by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in conjunction with the... View Article
In 2014 we published over 60 medical education articles in Best Practice Journal, spanning more than 450 pages. Context is crucial... View Article
The increased use of opioid analgesics in recent years, particularly oxycodone, has resulted in misuse and addiction issues associated... View Article
The role of opioids in the management of chronic non-malignant pain is a controversial subject due to concerns over the long-term... 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
Paracetamol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be used first-line for pain relief in acute migraine. A triptan... View Article
Evidence that alternate dosing of paracetamol and ibuprofen in children with fever may reduce temperature: other benefits un... View Article
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common long-term complications of diabetes. It develops in up to half of all... 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 report discusses the use of analgesics for the treatment of pain in children between January – December 2013. View Article
Approximately one in ten people will be affected by renal colic at some stage in their life. Patients with red flags should be... View Article
“Pain is what the patient says it is”. This definition of pain can be applied to any patient, regardless of their age. Good pain... View Article
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are successfully used to treat a wide range of painful conditions. However, NSAIDs... View Article
A number of clinical syndromes are associated with the precipitation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in and around... View Article
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition that causes a particular pattern of joint pain and stiffness, most commonly... View Article
Pain is estimated to be the most prevalent symptom preceding all deaths occurring in a palliative care setting. Strong opioids... View Article
In June 2011, bpacnz produced a report on oxycodone dispensing which urged prescribers to review their use of oxycodone. Oxycodone... View Article
The volume of oxycodone prescribed in New Zealand is continuing to rise, despite efforts to encourage clinicians to use this medicine... View Article
Misuse of prescription opioids is increasing worldwide and many doctors are becoming reluctant to prescribe these medicines for... View Article
Oxycodone is a strong opioid used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in people for whom morphine is not tolerated or... View Article
Examines oxycodone prescribing compared to that of morphine. View Article
This article has been archived. If you would like access to the original article please contact: editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
Donepezil to be funded on pharmaceutical schedule | Dextropropoxyphene - finding alternatives View Article
Humalog, Tramadol and Gabapentin View Article
How to recognise and manage common oral health issues in younger children including: what to expect inside the mouth, teething... View Article
Oxycodone is a strong opiod and is a second line option (after Morphine) for use at step three on the WHO analgesic ladder. It... View Article
Acute low back pain is common and most patients will fully recover within three months. Serious causes are rare and can be excluded... View Article
Key aspects of management include reassurance, education and encouraging the patient to remain active - adequate analgesia is... View Article
Instructions and illustrations for performing a quick examination on a patient presenting with acute low back pain and neurological... 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
There are several different opioid options that can be considered at step two of the WHO analgesic ladder for chronic pain. Choice... View Article
The key treatment of osteoarthritis is to provide information and resources that help patients to cope, including advice on exercise... View Article
Advice from the 'Safe and Quality Use of Medicines Group'. View Article
Pain memory occurs when the nervous system has become up-regulated from a previous trauma or severe pain. This is a particularly... View Article
Managing pain includes helping the patient understand why they have pain and creating realistic expectations for relief. Individualised... View Article
The treatment of neuropathic pain involves a different step-wise approach. View Article
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is available as a transdermal patch. This allows controlled delivery of the drug for up to... View Article
Drug information of topical interest View Article
Chronic pain is common in elderly people, however it is often unrecognised, treated sub-optimally or not treated at all. Regular... View Article
Medsafe have just announced that approval for lumiracoxib (Prexige) 400 mg tablets has been revoked in New Zealand. This follows... View Article
Contributed by Safe and Quality Use of Medicines. View Article
The evidence-base for the information contained in this article is no longer current: please refer to the New Zealand Formulary... View Article
Cardiovascular risk associated with NSAIDs and coxibsNSAIDs in the treatment of soft tissue injuries View Article