Christchurch Medicines Information Service

Hyponatraemia (plasma sodium <135mmol/L) is common in hospitalised patients, the incidence is 12% in medical wards and up to 30% in intensive care. Hyponatraemia is associated with an increased length of stay in hospital and increased mortality. Mild hyponatraemia is often asymptomatic with sy...

The term ‘sulfur allergy’ is confusing and may lead to patients believing that they are allergic to all sulfur-containing medications or preservatives, and even to sulfur, an important building block of life. We are often asked, “Can a patient with a sulfur allergy have medication containin...

In the past few years, much attention has been focused on drugs that prolong the QT interval and may trigger potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias such as Torsade de Pointes (“twisting of the points”).  Several drugs (e.g. cisapride and terfenadine) have been withdrawn from the world market ...