Managing patients taking anticoagulants and antiplatelets prior to minor procedures and surgery

2018 Annual Prescribing Report

This report provides you with an opportunity to reflect on your...

Substance use disorder theme: Unintentional misuse of prescription medicines - Peer Group Discussion for Prescribers

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Substance use disorder theme: Unintentional misuse of prescription medicines - Peer Group Discussion for Pharmacists

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Stopping medicines in older people: the flip side of the prescribing equation

Older people are generally prescribed more medicines than younger...

Frailty in older people: a discussion

The concept of frailty identifies vulnerable people who have...

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care: the role of aspirin

In February 2018, the Ministry of Health released the Cardiovascular...

Assessment and management of alcohol misuse by primary care

Recent evidence shows that levels of alcohol consumption that...

Addressing methamphetamine use in primary care

Methamphetamine, commonly referred to in New Zealand as “meth”...

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care: managing lipids

The Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment and Management for...

Unintentional misuse of prescription medicines

There is a significant issue in the community with people taking...

Understanding the role of opioids in chronic non-malignant pain

There is no evidence that opioids such as tramadol are effective...

Balancing the benefits and risks of prescribing antiepileptic medicines in women

Antiepileptic medicines reduce the risk of seizures in people...

Prescribing hypnotic medicines: a focus on zopiclone

Key practice points
• Zopiclone is the most frequently prescribed...

Vildagliptin: a new treatment for type 2 diabetes

Vildagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor available...

NZF is changing the way that pregnancy and breast-feeding advice for medicines is presented

From 1 October, 2018, the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) will replace...

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: an overview for primary care

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer makes up around 1% of stomach...

Prescribing ACE inhibitors: time to reconsider old habits

Prescribers in New Zealand are highly reliant on cilazapril...

Smoke and mirrors: is vaping useful for smokers who cannot quit?

There are many approved and fully subsidised medicines that...

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care: managing blood pressure

The recently released Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment...

Hepatitis B: treatments now available for primary care

Tenofovir disoproxil and entecavir are once daily oral antiviral...

Guidelines for testing, perioperative and bleeding management for dabigatran and rivaroxaban

These guidelines have been produced by PHARMAC in conjunction...

Rivaroxaban: a fully-subsidised oral anticoagulant

From 1 August, 2018, rivaroxaban will be fully subsidised without...

Prescribing topical medicines for skin infection - An update

This report provides an update on the use and monitoring of...

Topical antibiotics: keep reducing use

Encouraging progress has been made by prescribers in New Zealand...

Managing winter illnesses without antibiotics - Clinical Audit

This audit identifies patients who present with winter illnesses...

Trends in primary care theme: Gout

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management

Cold season: managing without antibiotics

For the majority of people with upper respiratory tract infections...

Antibiotics: the future is short

In general, the recommended durations of antibiotic treatment...

Aripiprazole prescribing changes: Special Authority approval no longer required, new sole-subsidised brand

From 1 June, 2018, aripiprazole can be prescribed without Special...

What’s new in cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management for primary care clinicians

The recently released 2018 Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment...

A rising tide of type 2 diabetes in younger people: what can primary care do?

An increasing incidence of early onset type 2 diabetes in New...

Introducing a palliative care chapter in the New Zealand Formulary

The May release of the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) includes...

Improving safety for patients taking an ACE inhibitor/ARB + diuretic

This audit identifies patients who are taking ACE inhibitors/ARBs...

Avoiding the triple whammy in primary care: ACE inhibitor/ARB + diuretic + NSAID

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II...

Kupe from the Medtech tool bar

Kupe is freely available on the web and we would also like to...

Lowering serum urate levels in patients with gout

Gout, caused by increased levels of urate in the blood (hyperuricaemia),...

Managing gout in primary care
Part 1 - Talking about gout: time for a re-think

Gout is a treatable form of arthritis that is associated with...

Managing gout in primary care
Part 2 -  Controlling gout with long-term urate-lowering treatment

Urate-lowering medicines should be considered and discussed...

News item: Discussion on Zostavax

Since publication of our article on Zostavax vaccine in March,...

Pain theme Peer Group Discussion

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Prostate cancer testing decision support tool for patients and their families

Discussing the pros and cons of prostate cancer testing within...

Seasonal influenza vaccination: update for 2018

Two subsidised seasonal influenza vaccines, Influvac Tetra (for...

Analgesic Update - 2018

Key messages
• Evaluate the type, cause and severity of...

Reviewing patients using opioid medicines long-term for non-cancer pain

This audit helps primary care health professionals optimise...

Zostavax vaccine: now fully subsidised

Zostavax is a herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine that will become...

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a new cancer treatment

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda),...

Prescribing gabapentin and pregabalin: upcoming subsidy changes

From 1 May, 2018, pregabalin will be available to prescribe,...

Selected topics in acute pain management for primary care

There are a multitude of causes of acute pain, however, the...

The principles of managing acute pain in primary care

The primary aim of acute pain management is to provide treatment...

Paracetamol dosing for children in primary care

Paracetamol dosing errors can lead to acute liver failure in...

Prescribing tramadol appropriately

Tramadol is an atypical opioid used for moderate pain when paracetamol...

When to consider strong opioids for patients with acute pain

There are few indications for prescribing a strong opioid for...

Medicinal cannabinoids: current regulations for prescribing

Recent amendments have been made to regulations concerning the...

Celecoxib: the “need to know” for safe prescribing

Celecoxib is a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor...

Managing pain in osteoarthritis: focus on the person

The progression of osteoarthritis varies from person to person....