http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releasesNew media releasesThe February 2012 edition of Australian Prescriber is out nowhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Latest_edition_of_Australian_Prescriber_out_now_Feb_12012-02-01 19:00:00The risks associated with self-medication have been amplified by the ability to buy prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines as well as 'recreational' drugs online, according to an article by Dr Ben Davies in the February issue of Australian Prescriberhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Dangerous_drugs_online_counterfeits_and_undeclared_ingredients2012-02-01 19:00:00As children across Australia pack their bags for their first day of school, NPS is encouraging parents to be medicinewise when planning their child’s back-to-school medicines routinehttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Be_medicinewise_on_the_playground2012-01-30 19:00:00If you ‘over-celebrate’ this Australia Day, you may turn to pain relievers the next day to deal with that hangover. But NPS warns that now is not the time to forget that pain relievers are medicines too, with both benefits and riskshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Pain_relievers_may_fix_your_hangover_but_cause_other_problems2012-01-25 19:00:00On 1 February 2012 NPS will launch a health professional education program as part of its new five-year campaign addressing the critical issue of antibiotic resistancehttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/New_NPS_campaign_to_help_combat_antibiotic_resistance2012-01-23 19:00:00A study by NPS in collaboration with the University of Melbourne — to be published next week (Monday 16 January 2012) in the Medical Journal of Australia — has provided new insights into how people use medicines on a daily basis and highlights that the use of multiple medicines in older Australians is common and more complex than previously thoughthttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Multiple_medicine_use_very_common_New_snapshot_of_over-50s_medicine_habits2012-01-16 19:00:00Up to 4% of Australians are affected by a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder at some point in their lives, and many deal with distressing side effects such as weight gain from the antipsychotic medicines they take to treat their symptoms. While avoiding such side-effects altogether may not be possible, there are ways to make them more manageable.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Antipsychotic_medicines_achieving_the_right_treatment_balance2012-01-11 19:00:00NPS is inviting academics, health workers and policy makers from the Asia-Pacific region to apply for a scholarship to attend the National Medicines Symposium to be held in Sydney, Australia in May 2012http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Asia-Pacific_scholarship_offered_for_NMS_20122012-01-10 19:00:00Overeating and drinking alcohol can be hard to avoid during the festive season, and NPS is encouraging everyone to consider how what you do over the party season might affect your health and the medicines you’re taking.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Overindulgence_over_the_holidays_tips_for_being_medicinewise_and_staying_healthy2011-12-22 19:00:00Earlier in 2011 the government deferred the listing of seven medicines and one vaccine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Two opinion pieces examining this issue are now available on the website of Australian Prescriber.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Australian_Prescriber_two_viewpoints_on_deferring_PBAC_recommendations2011-12-21 19:00:00NPS is encouraging prescribers to review patients currently taking simvastatin 80 mg daily, following changes to the prescribing information for the medicine issued by the TGA.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/review_patients_taking_simvastatin_80_mg_daily2011-12-20 19:00:00NPS is reminding health professionals to be alert to the risks associated with prescribing oral methotrexate. Methotrexate has been used for many years in the treatment of some cancers. Increasingly low dose methotrexate is being used in the treatment of autoimmune or inflammatory disordershttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Health_professionals_alert_to_the_risks_associated_with_oral_methotrexate2011-12-20 19:00:00An NPS survey has identified a number of improvements for drug interaction alerts in prescribing and dispensing software to better meet the information needs of GPs and pharmacists.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Doctors_and_pharmacists_want_improvements_in_drug_interaction_alerts2011-12-12 19:00:00No more forgetting to take your medicine! NPS has introduced a range of new features to its award-winning Medicines List iPhone app that allow people to schedule in reminders to prompt them to take their medicinehttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Award_winning_NPS_iPhone_app_now_includes_a_medicines_reminder_function2011-12-05 19:00:00The December issue of NPS RADAR — which independently reviews new medicines recommended for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) — includes in-depth reviews of new medicines to treat schizophrenia, bipolar I, severe chronic pain, COPD and acute coronary syndrome.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_RADAR_reviews_new_medicines_for_schizophrenia,_bipolar_I_disorder,_severe_chronic_pain_and_COPD2011-12-02 19:00:00NPS has published independent reviews of new medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia in the latest edition of Medicine Update. These reviews outline what the medicines are used for, who they are suitable for, how they work, potential side effects to consider and how they compare with existing treatmentshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_reviews_new_medicines_for_people_with_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_COPD,_schizophrenia_and_bipolar_I_disorder2011-12-02 19:00:00Medicines to treat cholesterol may be being prescribed inappropriately, according to Associate Professor Jane Smith of Bond University. Heart disease is a common problem, causing 16% of the total disease burden in Australia – second only to cancer. However treatment with statins should be focused on those at high riskhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Are_cholesterol_medicines_overused2011-12-01 19:00:00A ‘prescribing cascade’ occurs when a new medicine is prescribed to ‘treat’ side effects to another medicine in the mistaken belief that a new medical condition has developed, according to an article in the December edition of Australian Prescriber.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Medicines_upon_medicines_The_Prescribing_Cascade2011-12-01 19:00:00The December edition of Australian Prescriber, out nowhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Latest_edition_of_Australian_Prescriber_out_now_20112011-12-01 19:00:00The latest edition of MedicinesTalk, published by NPS, looks at how to find help with your medicines, how to identify the same medicines being sold under different brands, and which health professionals besides your doctor can prescribe medicineshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Latest_edition_of_Medicines_Talk_available_now2011-11-28 19:00:00Abstract submissions are now being invited for the seventh biennial National Medicines Symposium (NMS), to be held 24 – 25 May 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centrehttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Building_a_medicinewise_community_from_the_ground_up_abstracts_invited2011-11-24 19:00:00NPS has applauded the TGA’s decision to cancel four prescription pain relief medicines containing dextropropoxyphene from 1 March 2012.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_supports_TGA_decision_to_cancel_four_pain_relief_medicines2011-11-24 19:00:00Three honorary members of NPS have been appointed by the NPS Board following an extensive call for nominations and shortlisting process.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Three_inaugural_honorary_members_appointed_by_NPS_Kay_Price_reappointed_to_NPS_Board2011-11-18 19:00:00NPS is warning people about the use of antipsychotic medicines in people suffering behavioural or psychological problems associated with dementia. Studies show that using these medicines for longer than necessary, especially in the elderly, can lead to serious side effects that can be life-threateninghttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Antipsychotic_medicines_and_dementia_a_fine_balancing_act2011-11-17 19:00:00A presentation on the award-winning NPS Medicines List iPhone app has been recognised with two awards at the Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia (SHPA) federal conference, held in Hobart last weekend.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_Medicines_List_iPhone_APP_Wins_SHPA_Award2011-11-17 19:00:00On World Diabetes Day (14 November 2011), NPS is launching an online information hub to help people with type 2 diabetes be medicinewise about their conditionhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_launches_new_online_information_hub_on_World_Diabetes_Day2011-11-14 19:00:00As part of the inaugural National Medication Safety Week (7–13 November 2011), NPS encourages community pharmacists to get involved in an incident reporting project that will help provide insights into medication safety incidents and how they can be prevented.http://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_encourages_pharmacists_to_take_part_in_National_Medication_Safety_Week2011-11-07 19:00:00The NPS brand choices advertising campaign returned to screens around Australia this weekend, with a burst of activity — which includes a new television advertisement — running on Channel 7 and 7TWO from Sunday 30th October until mid Decemberhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_Brand_Choices_campaign_returns_to_television_screens2011-10-31 19:00:00NPS welcomes the decision by Blackmores and the Pharmacy Guild to cancel the Gold Cross endorsement of the Blackmores Companions range of complementary medicineshttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/NPS_welcomes_decision_by_Blackmores_and_pharmacy_guild_to_drop_endorsement_arrangement2011-10-06 19:00:00The October 2011 edition of Australian Prescriber is out nowhttp://www.nps.org.au/news_and_media/media_releases/repository/Latest_edition_of_Australian_Prescriber_out_now_October2011-10-04 19:00:00