29 November 2006

Techniques to manage the complexities of prescribing and dispensing combination drugs are outlined the December edition of NPS RADAR.

The recommendations include:

• To avoid initiating a therapy with a combination preparation,
  
• To establish the effective and tolerated dose of each component as single drugs before changing to a combined preparation, and
• Before prescribing, to ask “would these be the drugs of choice as individual agents?”. A combination preparation can cost patients less but this may not be the primary consideration.

“Prescribing and dispensing have become more complex as the number of combination drugs has increased,” Dr Peter Roush, Chair of the NPS New Drugs Working Group, said.

“The trend toward prescribing combination products, and the array of dosages that can be available, looks set to continue. I’m sure other GPs and pharmacists will value the practical guidance,” he said.

The article illustrates how NPS RADAR continues to give insight and direction to prescribers and dispensers, through its overall quality use of medicines approach.

Special edition early in 2007

A special edition on the changes to the PBS criteria for lipid-lowering drugs will be released electronically in early 2007.

“It’s important that doctors and pharmacists know the detail of how the changes to the lipidmodifying drug listings on the PBS relate to patients as quickly as possible. This edition will be released as soon as the reviews are completed, so if you have not signed up for email alerts, visit www.npsradar.org.au and register,” Dr Roush said.

The PBS changes allow those in high-risk groups to be treated at any cholesterol level. The special NPS RADAR edition will detail how the criteria have changed, highlight specific considerations for high-risk groups and use in primary and secondary prevention.

ENDS

NPS RADAR provides independent information about new medicines and changes to PBS listings important to GPs, pharmacists and other health professionals involved in primary care management of patients.

NPS is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.