Drug summaries with links to Product Information and Consumer Medicine Information. Includes monographs on complementary medicines.

Independent non-government provider

Online monographs updated monthly or more frequently if a major safety change

Clinical guidelines on the safest and most effective use of vaccines. Includes guidance on vaccination for special risk groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, international travel, children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Australian Government provider

Print updated every few years
Website updated periodically as required
E- alert for updates

Concise drug summaries with practice points, counselling information, comparative drug information tables, prescribing guides and tools (e.g. ideal weight calculation).

Independent non-government provider

Print updated annually
CD-ROM updated twice per year
Online updated twice per year
Handheld mobile device updated twice per year

Comprehensive handbook for pharmacists. Contains a formulary of products for extemporaneous manufacture, short monographs on commonly dispensed medicines, summaries of complementary medicines, disease management guidance, information on dosing in specific patient groups, and pharmacy practice topics.

Print updated every 2–3 years
CD-ROM updated every 2–3 years

Published by national professional organisation.

Concise reviews on drugs and therapeutic topics.Timed to coincide with the marketing of new drugs.

Independent not-for-profit provider

Print six issues a year
Website six issues a year
E-alert for updates

Australian Public Assessment Report (AusPAR)

Provides information about the evaluation of a prescription medicine and the considerations that led the TGA to approve or not approve an application.

Government provider

Online about a month after TGA registration or at least 90 days after a rejected application.

A portal of clinical guidelines developed for use in Australian healthcare settings. Guidelines must meet selection criteria set by National Institute of Clinical Studies.

Multiple providers

Website updated regularly with new guidelines

Specialist Pharmacist Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Information Services

Division of Pharmacy
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park S A 5042
Southern Adelaide Health Service
T:08 8204 5301
F:08 8204 6245
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

For enquiries on medicine use in psychiatry.

Brockway Rd
Mt Claremont WA 6010
T: 08 9347 6400
F: 08 9384 4586
E: druginformation.graylands@health.wa.gov.au
Mon to Fri: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (excluding public holidays)

This service is funded by the Hunter New England Area Health Service and as such priority will be given to Health Professionals from within this area.

Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology Department
Calvery Mater Hospital
Edith St
Waratah NSW 2298
T: 02 4921 1278
F: 02 4921 1372
E: H.DIS@mater.health.nsw.gov.au
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Concise summaries of important safety issues (possible, probable or actual) with medicines. Based on case reports received by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, research data and published case reports.

Government provider.

Print six issues a year (in Australian Prescriber)
Website six issues a year
E-alert six issues a year

Centralised source of Australian Product Information (PI) and Consumer Medicine Information (CMI). The website has no pharmaceutical advertising; does not include all PIs or CMIs.

Provided by a data management company

Website updated within hours of release of the PI or CMI from the pharmaceutical company

Prescribing information for prescription and non-prescription medicines classified by therapeutic class. Content varies by product - electronic products include additional tools and databases ( e.g. Drug Alert- interactions checker).

Independent provider

Print MIMS annual published yearly, abbreviated version updated and published every two months
Online updated monthly
Hand held electronic devices updated monthly
CD-ROM updated monthly
Integration into clinical software updated monthly

Mothersafe

Information and counselling service for women and their health care providers on exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

For women and their health care providers in NSW only

Royal Hospital for Women
Barker St
Randwick NSW 2031
T: 02 9382 6539 (Sydney metropolitan)
T: 1800 647 848 (Non-metropolitan)
F: (02)9382 6070
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Website has general information on conception planning, pregnancy and lactation plus factsheets on common enquiries.

NHMRC-endorsed clinical practice guidelines covering a range of topics ( e.g. cancer, diabetes, pain).

Multiple providers

Website new guidance issued regularly, updated as required

Succinct newsletter on therapeutic topics.

Independent not-for-profit provider

Print six issues a year
Website six issues a year

Succinct evidence-based guidance for prescribing. Covers selected therapeutic topics.

Independent not-for profit provider.

Print four issues a year
Website four issues a year

A review of evidence on new drugs, research and PBS listings with key practice points and place in therapy.

Independent not-for-profit provider

Print 3 issues a year, timed to coincide with new or changed PBS listings.
Website 3 times a year plus additional web updates when required
Integration into clinical software 3 times per year
E-alert for new or changed PBS listings

For NSW health professionals only

24 Leichhardt St
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
T: 02 8382 2136
F: 02 8382 3048
E: nswmic@stvincents.com.au
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Overview of the rationale and supporting evidence behind positive or negative recommendations for PBS listings made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)

Government provider

Website updates 3 times a year

Listings of medicines available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Government provider

Website updated monthly
E-alert for new or changed listings

For product-specific information (e.g. adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, formulation, product availability).

Refer to listings in whitepages.com.au

T: 131 126 from anywhere in Australia
24 hours a day

Practical information and recommendations on medicines use during pregnancy and breastfeeding including Australian Pregnancy risk category. Published by the Pharmacy Department Royal Women’s Hospital,Melbourne.

Independent provider

Print updated periodically

In the process of being updated to form a web-based resource containing complete and relevant information regarding the use of medicines in pregnancy. Information posted on the website presently (ie, as at June 2010) may not be reliable.

Government provider

Website frequency of update unknown

Paediatric Drug Information Centre

Roberts Rd
Subiaco WA 6008
Box D184
Perth WA 6840
T: 08 9340 8703
F: 08 9340 8710
Mon to Fri: 8.30 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Mental Health Research Institute
155 Oak St
Parkville VIC 3052
Locked Bag 11
Parkville VIC 3052
T: 03 9389 2920
F: 03 9387 5061
E: c.culhane@mhri.edu.au
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Service is only for health professionals in Queensland.

Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital
Butterfield St
Herston QLD 4029
T: 07 3636 7098 or 07 3636 7599
F: 07 3636 1393
E: Queensland_Drug_Information_Centre@health.qld.gov.au
Mon to Fri: 8.30 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

RACGP-endorsed guidelines covering specific therapeutic areas (e.g. stroke, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dementia) as well as general practice guidance (e.g. the Red Book, the Green Book).

Multiple providers

Print new guidance issued regularly, updated as required
Website updated every few years

North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
T: 08 8222 5546
F: 08 8222 5891
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Not pregnancy, breastfeeding or paediatrics

Comprehensive prescribing information for paediatric patients including doses, drug administration, compatability and availability.

Independent provider

Print (full and abridged) updated every 3-4 years
Electronic e-book updated every 3-4 years

Rocklands Drive
Casuarina NT 0810
PO Box 41326 Casuarina NT 0811
T: 08 8922 8424
F: 08 8922 8499
Mon to Fri: 8 am to 4.21 pm (excluding public holidays)

Womens health, Pregnancy and Lactation enquiries

Cnr Grattan St and Flemington Rd
Parkville VIC 3052
T: 03 8345 3190
F: 03 8345 3195
E: drug.information@thewomens.org.au
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

Hospital Avenue
Nedlands WA 6009
T: 08 9346 2923
F: 08 9346 4480
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

TGA Safety alerts on medicines and medical devices

Government provider

Website issued as required

Comprehensive guidelines covering common disorders in primary care. Best practice statements based on expert interpretations of best available evidence.

Independent not-for profit provider

Print updated every few years.
Online minor updates three times yearly
Hand-held electronic devices minor updates three times yearly

For health care providers in WA only

King Edward Memorial Hospital
Obstetric drug information service
Bagot Road
Subiaco WA 6008
T: 08 9340 2723
F: 08 9340 2713
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)

For enquiries on medicine use in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children only.

72 King William Road
North Adelaide SA 5006
T: 08 8161 7222
F: 08 8161 6049
E: cywhs.druginfocentre@health.sa.gov.au
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (excluding public holidays)