Pregabalin (Lyrica) for neuropathic pain
Pregabalin is a treatment option to relieve pain and improve quality of sleep in postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy.
Imiquimod cream (Aldara) for superficial basal cell carcinoma
Imiquimod is an option for the treatment of small, low-risk sBCC when surgery, curettage or cryotherapy are inappropriate.
Sitagliptin with simvastatin (Juvicor) fixed-dose combination therapy for type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia
Juvicor is a fixed-dose combination medicine containing sitagliptin and simvastatin for treating type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia.
Brief item: Femme-Tab ED 20/100 low-dose-oestrogen combined oral contraceptive
From 1 April 2013 the low-oestrogen-dose combined oral contraceptive levonorgestrel with ethinyloestradiol (Femme-Tab ED 20/100) can be prescribed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Brief item: PBS listing for strontium ranelate (Protos) extended to include men with osteoporosis
From 1 April 2013 the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing of the anti-resorptive agent strontium ranelate is extended to include treatment of osteoporosis in men.
Brief item: PBS listing for zoledronic acid (Aclasta) changed to include an extended bone mineral density T-score cut-off
On 1 April 2013 the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing of zoledronic acid was extended to include patients with a bone mineral density T-score of –2.5 or less.
Brief item: Durotram (tramadol extended release) PBS listing deleted
Durotram has been deleted from the list of drugs subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.