Christchurch Medicines Information Service

The term ‘sulfur allergy’ is misleading. It can 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. It can also cause potentially useful medicines to be unnecessarily avoided. The ter...

Allergic rhinitis is characterised by symptoms such as sneezing, a runny, itchy or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes. It is very common, affecting up to 30% of the adult population. People with seasonal rhinitis ("hay fever") exhibit symptoms at specific times of the year (usually spring and su...

There are over 240,000 people in NZ currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (mostly type 2), and possibly another 100,000 undiagnosed. In October 2018, vildagliptin became the first dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor funded in NZ. It is one of a number of DPP-4 inhibitors used internatio...

Pregabalin is now fully funded without restrictions both in hospitals (Hospital Medicines List) and in the community (PHARMAC Schedule). As the use of newly available medicines, particularly new medicines within a class, presents some challenges to clinicians the aim of the below is to familiaris...

Sacubitril + valsartan is now available in New Zealand and fully subsidised under Special Authority criteria. Eligible patients must have NYHA/WHO functional class II, III or IV heart failure; a left ventricular ejection fraction of <35%; and be receiving standard heart failure therapy. It can...

November 2018 There is far less information about the effectiveness, safety and potential for interactions for complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) compared to conventional medicines. There is no regulation of their quality or contents in New Zealand. Consider also othe...

Compliance packs With an ageing population there is increasing incidence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This leads to complex dosing regimens. Compliance aids, such as the Medico Paks® or unit dose medication sachets, are widely used to manage complex medication regimes, and help remind...

Curcuma longa (Turmeric)   July 2018 There is far less information about the effectiveness, safety and potential for interactions for complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) compared to conventional medicines. There is no regulation of their quality or conte...

  Artemisia annua  July 2018 There is far less information about the effectiveness, safety and potential for interactions for complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) compared to conventional medicines. There is no regulation of their quality or cont...