Government to warn almost 5000 GPs over high rates of opioid prescribing RACGP flags concerns over campaign to reduce opioid overuse.
Pharmacists’ codeine fears overstated, GP says While pharmacists have raised concerns about a shortage of low-dose codeine, Dr Evan Ackermann, a GP with a special interest in drugs of dependence, says the evidence supports up-scheduling.
New asthma resources to help address incorrect inhaler use Nine out of 10 people with asthma or COPD are not using their inhalers correctly. What can GPs do to help?
Age of opioid pharmacotherapy patients increasing, report says The median age of opioid pharmacotherapy patients is increasing, according to a recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report.
RACGP recommends options for regulation of schedule 8 prescription opioids The RACGP has made a submission to the Department of Health detailing its proposed options for the regulation of schedule 8 prescription opioid medicines.
Discussing the effects of codeine up-scheduling in general practice Dr Evan Ackermann, GP and key author of the RACGP’s ‘Prescribing drugs of dependence in general practice: Part C’, talks with newsGP about his initial experiences following the up-scheduling of codeine.
New skills, fewer scripts and less screen time: Resolutions for 2018 With 2018 well and truly underway, Dr Edwin Kruys details three of his key resolutions for the new year.
Examining the role of prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain With codeine up-scheduling coming from 1 February, many in the medical profession are debating the question of whether opioids should ever be used in the management of chronic non-cancer pain.
Non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs on the rise Close to one million Australians are misusing pharmaceutical drugs, a new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report has found.
Codeine up-scheduling may offer chances for patient education and holistic care Next year’s planned up-scheduling of over-the-counter codeine products may offer GPs a direct opportunity to provide patients with more holistic care to help address possible issues of addiction and misuse.