Welcome to the latest issue of Community Update, provided by NPS: Better choices, Better health. Community Update helps keep you informed about issues around medicines use as they relate to individuals and the community.

In this issue

• Be Medicinewise campaign
  
• Managing low back pain
• Good Medicines, Better Health: new resources for Aboriginal Health Services
• Fresh new Medicines List now available
• Independent reviews of new medicines for diabetes, osteoporosis and pain relief
  
• Think about your medicines as you prepare for the holidays
  
  

Be Medicinewise campaign

On 30 January we will launch a new mass media campaign that aims to help Australians become ‘medicinewise’.

The Be Medicinewise campaign is our first major event since rebranding in July 2010 and will include content across the major television and radio networks and publishers, as well as digital and social media channels.

The Be Medicinewise campaign is a new way of encouraging people to think more about their medicines. It draws attention to the fact that many Australians are vigilant in reading food labels but don’t give the same consideration to what’s in their medicines.

This first stage of the Be Medicinewise campaign establishes what it means to be medicinewise. This includes:

• Knowing what is a medicine, and that medicines can include not just pills on prescription but things bought over the counter including creams, gels, eye drops, herbs, vitamins and natural remedies.
• Knowing the active ingredient in your medicine, so you don’t accidentally double dose if you use different brands.
• Asking the right questions to take control of your own health and get the most out of your interactions with your health professionals.

The campaign launch will tie in with the inaugural Be Medicinewise Week, which runs from 30 January to 6 February. Activities and information about Be Medicinewise Week will be announced shortly.

Specific messages about common medicines use issues including pain management, lipids and generic medicines will be rolled out from March 2011 as part of the second and third phases of the campaign.

As part of the campaign we have relaunched our website with a more consumer-friendly interface and content. The new homepage is now live and the new navigation and content will be available from the end of January 2011.

Managing low back pain

Acute low back pain is common, affecting 4 out of 5 Australians. It is often described as ‘non-specific’, meaning the cause is unknown or uncertain. It is thought to be associated with the muscles, ligaments or joints in the back. It is rarely due to any serious injury, disease or damage to the spine and does not cause lasting damage. As a result, an x-ray or scan is usually unnecessary and won’t change your treatment options.

You can often manage acute low back pain yourself by following these simple steps:

• Stay active by starting slowly and gradually building up to their normal level of daily activity. Don’t spend more than 20–30 minutes sitting or lying in one position during the day.
• Consider non-medicine approaches including hot or cold packs for short-term relief.
• If a medicine is needed to manage the pain and enable people to stay active, use simple analgesics. Regular paracetamol is the preferred choice as it has fewer side effects than other medicines, especially if used in the longer term.
• Follow the dosing instructions carefully. Taking more than the recommended dose does not increase pain relief and can lead to serious problems such as stomach and liver damage. Speak to a doctor if effective regular pain relief is not being achieved.

Read more about how to manage low back pain.

Good Medicines, Better Health: new resources for Aboriginal Health Services

NPS, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA) have produced a suite of resources on quality use of medicines for health workers to use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

These resources include:

• a Medicines List
• a medicines booklet to facilitate discussion between a consumer and a health professional
• a brochure on the safe use of medicines
• a flip chart for small group education sessions, and
• a poster.

To order these resources print this form and fax it to 02 9283 2028.

Fresh new Medicines List now available

We have updated the English and Arabic version of our Medicines List with the new NPS branding and it is now available to download or order.

The new format includes lots of colour and more space to write your important personal and medicines information. Remember, your medicines list should be updated every time you start a new medicine — and this includes vitamins, herbs, creams, and eye drops.

Independent reviews of new medicines for diabetes, osteoporosis and pain relief

Three new issues of NPS Medicine Update are out now and provide consumers with independent reviews of the following new medicines:

Exenatide (brand name Byetta) – an injectable medicine that is given every day for people with type 2 diabetes. Exenatide is a new type of medicine which is different to insulin. It can be used by people whose blood glucose levels are not well controlled with other diabetes medicines, but it’s currently recommended for use with other diabetes medicines — not on its own. Like all new medicines, the long-term benefits and potential side effects are not fully known.

Denosumab (brand name Prolia) – an injection given once every 6 months to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Denosumab works differently to other osteoporosis medicines. It has been shown to slow bone loss and prevent fractures, but it’s not yet known if it is better at preventing fractures, or has fewer side effects than other osteoporosis medicines. As with all osteoporosis medicines, people prescribed denosumab should continue to take calcium and vitamin D supplements if these have been recommended by a doctor.

Paracetamol and caffeine (brand name Panadol Extra) – a new pain relief combination available from pharmacies. It contains two active ingredients — paracetamol and caffeine — and improves pain relief for some people when compared with paracetamol on its own. Caffeine can cause anxiety and sleeplessness in some people. Although these side effects are very unlikely when Panadol Extra is used correctly, they might be experienced by people who consume high levels of caffeinated food or drinks while taking Panadol Extra. Remember that many pain relief and cold and flu remedies contain paracetamol so read the labels to avoid accidentally doubling up on paracetamol.

NPS Clinical Adviser, Danielle Stowasser, recommends anyone who is considering these new medicines reads Medicine Update before discussing it with their doctor or pharmacist.

‘Before starting any new medicine, talk to your doctor and pharmacist about how they work, potential side effects and whether it is the best medicine for you. Educate yourself about your medicine options so you can have a well-informed discussion with your health professional and be an active partner in your own health care’, Dr Stowasser said.

To read the full reviews, which includes how these medicines differ from existing similar medicines, visit the Medicine Update homepage.

Think about your medicines as you prepare for the holidays

Australians travelling over the Christmas break are urged to think about their medicines when preparing to go away — especially if they are going overseas.

NPS Clinical Adviser, Danielle Stowasser, said forgetting to pack your medicines or not storing them properly can have serious consequences.

‘There are three things to consider about your medicines when preparing to go away — do you have enough for the duration of your holiday or repeat prescriptions that can be filled, do your medicines need to be stored in special conditions while you’re travelling, and do you have the right documentation if you’re going overseas’, Dr Stowasser said.

‘Most medicines need to be stored under 25°C as exposure to heat and sunlight can cause chemical reactions in some medicines and reduce their effectiveness. If you’re going to be driving long distances or you’ll be somewhere without electricity (e.g. camping) ensure any medicines are kept cool in refrigerated bags.’

‘If you are taking a friend or relative out of an aged care facility or hospital for leave over the holiday period check with the nursing staff that you have been given any medicines they may need and written instructions for dosages and timings. Ask for any special instructions such as avoiding particular foods that you may need to know as their carer.’

’If you’re going overseas make sure you’ve had the necessary immunisations and have enough of any medicines you take regularly for the time you’re away with a few days extra supply in case you get delayed’, Dr Stowasser said.

When taking medicines out of Australia always keep your medicines in their original packaging and carry your prescriptions and a letter from your doctor explaining what the medicines are for. Some countries may not allow you past immigration without this documentation if you’re carrying medicines, especially if you have needles for injectable medicines.

‘Crossing time zones can mess up daily medicine regimens so speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you leave about how you can manage the time differences’, Dr Stowasser said.

For advice on how to store your medicines while travelling ask your pharmacist or read the article Travelling? Keep your medicines cool in issue 24 of Medicines Talk.

Happy holidays

The team at NPS wishes you and your families a happy and safe holiday season. We look forward to helping you become more medicinewise in 2011!

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