1 December 2009

The December edition of Australian Prescriber is out now and looks at topical issues including:

Mifepristone: an overview of Australian practice

Mifepristone (RU486) has received considerable media attention over the last three years for its use in medical abortion, however it has other uses. Professor David Healy of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University discusses the pharmacology of this drug, and dosing regimens, as well as its use in uterine fibroids, Cushing’s syndrome, meningioma and breast cancer.

Flying and thromboembolism

Authors Frank Firkin and Harshal Nandurkar of St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, advise there is no evidence that aspirin protects against venous thromboembolism. They recommend travellers at high risk of venous thromboembolism be considered for anticoagulant prophylaxis when undertaking lengthy air travel.

Biosimilars are not (bio)generics

As the use of biological drugs increases, Professor Ross McKinnon and research fellow Christine Lu of the Sansom Institute in Adelaide explain the difference between biosimilars and 'generic' equivalents of innovator products, and highlight some of the challenges presented by this new era of complex pharmaceutical products.

Managing otitis media

Drs Peter Morris and Amanda Leach of the Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, discuss the different interventions to treat middle ear infections, including ‘wait and see’ prescribing if the child is not in a high-risk group. While they maintain that otitis media often resolves without specific treatment, they recommend antibiotics for children with or at risk of persistent bacterial infection.

Mouthwashes

Dental researchers Camile Farah, Lidija McIntosh and Michael McCullough warn of the potential side effects of using mouthwashes containing alcohol. Although these products are widely advertised, they are at best an adjunct to flossing and tooth-brushing.

For full copies of these and other articles, visit www.australianprescriber.com.

NPS News #65

The December edition of NPS News looks at managing urinary incontinence in primary care.

ENDS

Australian Prescriber is an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on therapeutic topics for health professionals, particularly doctors in general practice. It is published by National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.