This evidence summary presents the best available evidence regarding pregabalin add-on for drug-resistant focal epilepsy.1 Introduction Approximately 3–3.5% of Australians will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives. This adds up to over 250,000 Australians being diagnosed with epilepsy. Epilepsy...

Recalls of more ranitidine products are expected to continue this week after preliminary tests found low levels of nitrosamines in the medicines. A spokesperson from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) told Australian Pharmacist today that initial testing of ranitidine medicines...

The popularisation of meprobamate from the 1950s onwards ushered in the dawn of the psychopharmacological era where patients began to look to doctors to ease their daily struggles. Meprobamate, marketed in the USA as Miltown, was the first anxiolytic to...

Pharmacists play a referring role in supporting patients with dry eye. Dry eye is a common problem, increasing in older age. Most cases are mild, and treatable with topical lubricants and minimising precipitants. However, without clinical investigation it may be...

Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death in Australian women and pharmacists can help them check their heart health and manage their risk factors.  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been confirmed as the number one killer of Australian women, according...

The genetic and environmental factors behind schizophrenia are poorly understood, but research is increasingly finding links between maternal vitamin D status and the risk of schizophrenia. An estimated one in 100 Australians live with schizophrenia, which is characterized by distortions...

This week marks the beginning of spring and National Asthma Week, a time when the National Asthma Council (NAC) urges Australians with asthma to prepare for the pollen season.1 In November 2016, Melbourne and Geelong experienced the world’s largest epidemic...

Pharmacists can minimise opioid harm by helping patients step down. While opioids play an important role in the management of acute pain, their widespread use to treat chronic pain and misuse in dependent individuals has resulted in multiple cases of...

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has made a final decision on the rescheduling of modified release (MR) paracetamol due to safety concerns.  The safety of MR paracetamol preparations has been under the spotlight since reports of its potential toxicity emerged....

Symbicort prn is now indicated to treat mild asthma flare-ups after an extended indication was approved by the TGA. Symbicort Turbuhaler and Rapihaler are now listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as an anti-inflammatory reliever to treat...