October 2022 edition of Australian Prescriber out now

Treating osteoporosis: risks and management

For people over 45 years old, the increased risk of death associated with a fracture is similar to that of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This highlights the need to identify and treat osteoporosis. Dr Jimmy Zhu and Professor Lyn March from the Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney write about the risks and management of osteoporosis, particularly once someone has sustained a fracture over the age of 50. While optimal calcium and vitamin D are important, antiresorptive drugs and exercise-baased interventions are key to slowing disease progression and preventing the next fracture.

Erectile dysfunction: causes, assessment and management options

Not being able to get or maintain an erection is a common complaint for men. Sexual health experts Dr Michael Lowy and Dr Vijaysarathi Ramanathan cover the range of potential causes and options for management. Sexual counselling can help with psychological factors. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors can help getting an erection but only if there is adequate sexual stimulation.

What bariatric surgery means for a patient’s medicines

Around a third of Australians are obese. Bariatric surgery can help with weight loss, but changes the effects of medicines in the body. Weight loss experts Dr Teresa Girolamo and Rosemary Allin write how surgery affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of medicines. A review of the patient’s medicines and ongoing follow-up are important before and after surgery.

Drug management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most common genetic cause of kidney failure. Professor Gopi Rangan from the Westmean Institute for Medical Research and co-authors from Westmead Hospital in Sydney discuss its management. A healthy lifestyle and medicines can help slow the progression of the disease.

Drugs for cystic fibrosis

Around one in 2500 babies are born with cystic fibrosis. While previously most died in infancy and childhood, the median life expectancy is now 53 years. Paediatric respiratory experts Dr Matthew Bruorton and Dr Thomas Goddard from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide discuss treatments that improve survival.

Also in this issue:

New drugs approved by the TGA: amifampridine for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, anifrolumab for systemic lupus erythematosus, bilastine for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria, diroximel fumarate for multiple sclerosis, somatrogon for growth hormone deficiency, and tixagevimab and cilgavimab for COVID-19 prophylaxis.