Up-to-date information and resources for pharmacists to optimise the safety and health outcomes of biologics and other specialised medicines for inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and plaque psoriasis.
For pharmacists
Key points
- Reinforce the benefits and role of first-line treatments to patients.
- Low-dose methotrexate for inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and plaque psoriasis is not considered chemotherapy.
- Encourage patient adherence to both their methotrexate and their folic acid.
- Support patient adherence to rectal 5-ASA treatment and counsel appropriately in inflammatory bowel disease.
- Address adherence to thiopurines with patients and discuss the risks, benefits and role in inflammatory bowel disease.
- Encourage adherence to and appropriate use of topical treatments for plaque psoriasis.
- Ensure patients are aware of the risks of steroids and opioid analgesics.
- Biosimilars are safe and equally effective alternatives to the reference biologic.
- Provide information on how to administer biologics as well as disposal, monitoring and access.
Information and resources
- Supporting safe practices for low-dose methotrexate
- SHPA bDMARDs Quick Reference Guide
- PSA biologics and dispensing counselling checklist
- Biologics and biosimilars best practice
- Guiding principles for the governance of high-cost medicines in Australian hospitals
Biologics, biosimilars and PBS sustainability
Resources and information to explain how biologics and their biosimilars are approved and funded for use in Australia, and how to talk to your patients about biosimilars.
Other CPD opportunities
- Practice Audit Tool – Methotrexate and bDMARDs: Optimising use in rheumatoid arthritis
- Online articles
- Online learning modules
Resources to use with your patients
Find consumer-friendly resources for:
In focus
Inflammatory arthritis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Plaque psoriasis
Helping consumers and health professionals make safe and wise therapeutic decisions about biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and other specialised medicines. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Value in Prescribing bDMARDs Program Grant.
