Christchurch Medicines Information Service

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...

The risk of developing a life threatening arrhythmia at any given QTc interval (the QT interval corrected for heart rate) varies widely between patients. In patients with a high baseline risk of QTc prolongation, QTc prolonging drugs should be either avoided or the QTc interval should be monitore...

The legal status of CBD changed in December 2018 so that it is no longer a controlled drug. CBD is frequently confused with other cannabis-based products. This bulletin aims to clarify the legal status and evidence for CBD. What is cannabidiol (CBD)? CBD is one of the two main cannabinoids in c...