Christchurch Medicines Information Service

Complementary and alternative products (CAPs) include: herbals (dried plant materials, plant extracts), dietary supplements, probiotics and homeopathic products. For most CAPs sold in New Zealand, adherence to the Code of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is voluntary and regulatory approval is n...

Gluten and lactose may be present in medicines as excipients. Excipients are intended to be pharmacologically inactive ingredients, and include binders, absorbents, protectants and colouring agents. Some patients need to, or choose to, avoid gluten or lactose. This bulletin summarises what to con...

NZ is funding two medicines in new classes for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.1 These will be second line options after metformin, and favoured for patients at high risk of cardiovascular or renal complications. They are subject to special authority criteria.1-3 Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose ...

Definition Prodrugs are inactive precursors designed to be converted to an active form after administration. This is to overcome poor physio-chemical or pharmacokinetic properties of the active drug. Prodrugs – methods of activation Prodrugs are activated by a variety of mechanisms including...

Metronidazole in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding There is inconsistent advice regarding the use of metronidazole in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Historically, its safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has been controversial due to data from animal studies showing that metronidazole is potential...

Since 2018, there have been significant changes to legislation around cannabis-based products in New Zealand with the most recent change in April 2020. This bulletin aims to provide an update on what products are available and the important differences between them. The cannabis plant (Cannabi...

Sativex® is the only approved cannabis-based product in New Zealand. This bulletin aims to provide information around the safety, efficacy and regulatory status of Sativex®. What is Sativex®? Sativex® oral mucosal spray is a pharmaceutical-grade cannabis isolate containing 2.7 mg/spray of t...

There have been supply issues for medicines used to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Sinemet® (levodopa + carbidopa) brand has been discontinued in the USA. There have also been problems with supply of Madopar Rapid® (levodopa + benserazide) dispersible tablets. These supply problems mean that pati...

Due to concerns about cancer risks from contamination with NDMA, ranitidine tablets and injection have been unavailable in New Zealand since September 2019, following a global recall by the manufacturers. This bulletin aims to provide information for health professionals about NDMA impurities in ...

Key points The current NZ Sanofi levomepromazine (Nozinan®) 25 mg and 100 mg tablets will be replaced with Swiss Sanofi Nozinan® formulations temporarily from 1st March 2020. They are not bioequivalent. Dose equivalency is 1 x NZ tablet ≈ 0.75 x Swiss tablet. All prescriptions sho...