Editorial

From the desk of the editor

Welcome to the May 2012 homepage edition of i2P-Information to Pharmacists. Rollo Manning has been having some time out having staples removed from the site of his open heart surgery.He is now at home recuperating in Darwin, having arrived home last Friday, beating a cold and hasty retreat from Canberra.We all wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully, he will be fit enough to contribute by next month.
This month, Pharmedia discusses the toll that is taken when someone complains about you to an authority without good cause. Well, the good news is that you can now take action to protect yourself if such a complaint is made, and that may even include action for defamation. Read about a recent case involving two doctors, with Mark Coleman drawing on personal experience to illustrate.

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NPS Media ReleasesJuly 2010

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	NPS Spokesperson articles by this author...
Regular information provided by NPS – Better choices, better health - NPS enables people to be medicinewise.

The National Prescribing Service (NPS) is a valued independent resource for accurate, evidence-based prescribing information and education.
Given the marketing pressures applied by global drug companies, NPS plays a vital and unique role across the healthcare sector.

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27 July 2010

How to avoid medicine interactions covered in latest MedicinesTalk

If you are taking a medicine – whether it is a prescription, over-the-counter or complementary medicine – there’s a chance you may experience a medicine interaction. This is because any of these types of medicine can interact with each other, and with some foods and drinks.

The latest edition of MedicinesTalk looks at what medicine interactions are, what can happen and how to avoid problems.

“Sometimes the active ingredients in different medicines interfere with each other. The result can be one medicine working more strongly or less effectively than expected, or it may make you sick. Interactions are usually minor but occasionally they can have a significant effect on the body,” NPS CEO Dr Lynn Weekes said.

The effects of medicine interactions can range from mild unexpected side effects to serious problems.

“Experiencing an interaction does not necessarily mean you have to stop the medicine. In some cases interactions may be dealt with by simply adjusting a dose, however this needs to be done in close consultation with your doctor or pharmacist,” Dr Weekes said.

Interactions are most likely to occur when you start taking a new medicine, stop taking a medicine or increase the dose of a medicine so you should watch out for unexpected symptoms in the first few days. In particular, older people, people with chronic illnesses and young children are more likely to experience interactions.

“Most medicine interactions are well known, so you can minimise your chances of having an interaction by telling your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking. That way any potential interactions can be taken into account when recommending a medicine for you,” Dr Weekes said.

Telling your health professionals about all your medicines is easier if you have an NPS Medicine List, which can be downloaded for free from www.nps.org.au. Keep it in your wallet or handbag, so you have it on hand whenever you need it.

If you think you may be having a medicine interaction, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, or if it’s serious, contact your nearest hospital.

Also in this edition of Medicines Talk:

-        What information is on a prescription? How to understand what’s written

-        Treating the symptoms of a common cold

-        When to take a vitamin or mineral supplement

To view the articles go to www.nps.org.au/consumers/publications/medicines_talk

21 July 2010

New GP and research-class directors join NPS Board

Two new directors have been appointed to the NPS Board. Dr Winston Liauw has replaced Shane Carney as the other prescriber/researcher class director, while Dr Andrew Knight commences on 3 August as the GP class director, replacing Dr Shiong Tan.

Dr Winston Liauw joined the NPS Board on 18 June. He is a practising medical oncologist and clinical pharmacologist with a Masters degree in pharmaceutical development. He has been heavily involved in research ethics and regulation and is deputy chair of the Shared Scientific Assessment Scheme Core Committee and the Cancer Institute NSW Human Research Ethics Committee (clinical trials).

“Research is a key component of NPS’s work and an important contribution to the broader health sector. Dr Liauw’s extensive experience in clinical and pharmacological research will be greatly valued as we expand our role in this area,” NPS Chair Dr Janette Randall said.

His interests span clinical trials, cancer research, the pharmacology of alternative medicines, and surgical and locoregional therapies for cancer as well as medical education, e-health, supportive care and pharmacogenetics.

Dr Andrew Knight is a full-time GP working in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. He has worked in the Australian General Practice Training Program as a medical educator and as director of training for the RACGP and WentWest, and continues to train GP registrars within his practice. 

“Dr Knight brings to the NPS Board a wealth of clinical experience from 20 years as a GP, as well as first-hand experience of the current environment prescribers are working in,” Dr Randall said.

“As a clinical senior lecturer in general practice in the western clinical school of the University of Sydney and chair of the expert reference panel on Access for the Australian Primary Care collaborative, Dr Knight leads by example and is dedicated to primary care in Australia.”

“As well as welcoming these two new directors, I would like to extend a huge thank you to both Dr Shiong Tan and Shane Carney for their dedication and expert guidance while serving on the NPS Board,” Dr Randall said.

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