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NPS –Information on medical tests
What are medical tests and why are they useful? Medical tests are a range of checks and procedures used to: screen for possible illness diagnose the likely cause of symptoms monitor health conditions or the effects of treatment. Medical tests include pathology tests, such as blood and urine tests, and a range of imaging tests […]
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NPS Media Releases 1. Pain Relief Overuse 2. Taking Medicines as Prescribed
OVERUSE OF PAIN RELIEVERS POSES A SAFETY RISK FOR AUSTRALIANS 17 OCTOBER 2014 – On the final day of Be Medicinewise Week 2014, NPS MedicineWise is reminding people that excess consumption of common pain relievers is a serious medicine safety issue. A recent poll* on behalf of NPS MedicineWise suggests that many Australians have exceeded the maximum daily dose […]
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NPS Media Release – DOES YOUR MEDICINE CABINET NEED A CLEAN OUT? MANY AUSTRALIANS KEEP EXPIRED MEDICINES IN THEIR HOME
13 October, 2014 – As Be Medicinewise Week launches for its fourth year, NPS MedicineWise is asking all Australians ‘are your medicines helping or hindering?’ as figures* released today indicate that many Australians surveyed are keeping expired medicines in their home. Chief Executive of NPS MedicineWise, Dr Lynn Weekes AM, says that Be Medicinewise Week […]
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NPS Media Releases – 1. Asthma Control 2. Fatigue
NEW PHARMACY PRACTICE REVIEW NOW AVAILABLE: ADDRESSING ELEMENTS FOR GOOD ASTHMA CONTROL A new NPS MedicineWise educational activity has been launched specifically for pharmacists to help people achieve better asthma control. Around 50% of people with asthma live with poor control of their condition and consider this to be normal. NPS MedicineWise clinical adviser Dr […]
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NPS Medicinewise Reappoints Debbie Rigby To The Board
Consultant pharmacist Ms Debbie Rigby has been reappointed to the NPS MedicineWise board for a third and final three-year term. NPS MedicineWise Chair Dr Janette Randall congratulated Ms Rigby and thanked her for her ongoing commitment to the work of the organisation. “Debbie has been a strong performer for NPS MedicineWise and continually demonstrates her […]
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NPS Medicinewise Announces First Bilingual Pharmacist Hour
NPS MedicineWise today announced its first bilingual Pharmacist Hour which will be held in Arabic later this month.Pharmacist Hour is an ongoing successful program which encourages consumers to ask questions about medicines on NPS MedicineWise’s Facebook page. Questions are answered by a pharmacist who is a member of the NPS Medicines Line team. The Arabic-language […]
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MANAGE THE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR COLD OR FLU WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS:
With news this week that winter flu season is in full swing, NPS MedicineWise is reminding Australians that for most people, resting and treating the symptoms is the best course of action when you have a cold or flu — and that’s because flu is caused by viruses, not bacteria, so antibiotics won’t help. NPS […]
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Don’t Stop Taking Anticoagulants Without Talking to Your Doctor: NPS MEDICINEWISE
With anticoagulant medicine dabigatran (brand name Pradaxa) in the news this week following reports that safety information about the medicine had been withheld by the manufacturer, NPS MedicineWise is reminding people not to stop taking it without talking to their doctor. Dabigatran (Pradaxa), apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) are newer anticoagulant medicines that have been […]
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RADAR Reviews of Ivermectin, Ferric Carboxymaltose and Tapentadol
The latest issue of NPS RADAR features reviews of ivermectin (Stromectol) for typical and crusted scabies, ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject) for iron-deficiency anaemia, and tapentadol sustained release (Palexia SR) for chronic severe disabling pain. All three treatments are now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Ivermectin is an oral avermectin acaricide — a class of […]