Christchurch Medicines Information Service

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...

When treating neuropathic pain in a woman who is pregnant, the use of gabapentinoids (e.g. gabapentin) or an antiepileptic drug (AED) (e.g. levetiracetam, lamotrigine) is a last line option. This is due to the limited availability of data for safe use during pregnancy. Other options should be tri...

Patients should be asked if they are wearing a transdermal patch prior to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan Background A recent case of possible fentanyl toxicity in a patient wearing a transdermal patch during an MRI highlighted the safety issues associated with medication patches in MR...

Depression affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. The decision to use or continue antidepressants in pregnancy centres around the risks to the mother and baby of untreated maternal depression, the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic...

Depression affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and can be associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. The decision to use or continue antidepressants in pregnancy centres around the risks to the mother and baby of untreated maternal depression, the effectiveness of non-pharmacol...