In response to reports of high rates of prescribing of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for infants and youths, the National Prescribing Service (NPS) has drawn together existing information resources and made them available in one convenient place on the NPS website to assist health professionals.

“NPS is working with the Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia to further clarify the nature of current prescribing practice in this area,” NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said.

“In the meantime, health professionals seeking evidence-based information about management of depression in children can go to www.nps.org.au. The web page includes previously published NPS documents including NPS RADAR and Australian Prescriber articles, beyondblue resources and RACGP guidelines on best practice in this area.”

Another source of information is the Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS), which is a free medicines information telephone line specifically for health professionals including doctors, pharmacists and nurses.

TAIS is funded by NPS and is staffed by specialist drug information pharmacists, who can provide up-to-date information in response to health professionals’ specific questions about medicines.

“During 2007-08, 15.6 per cent of the 5865 calls to TAIS related to nervous system (psychiatric) medicines, second only to questions about antibiotics. So clearly there is a need for more easily accessible information about these medicines. This webpage goes some way in addressing the problem, and will be up-dated as new resources are developed,” Dr Weekes said.

A link to the new web page is located under ‘Health Professionals – quick links’ at www.nps.org.au.

ENDS

For further advice health professionals can call the NPS Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS) – a medicines information service staffed by specialist drug information pharmacists – on 1300 138 677 Monday to Friday 9am-7pm Eastern Standard Time for the cost of a local call (mobiles may cost more).

The National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.