What's New
Oral pilocarpine for xerostomia (dry mouth)June 17, 2026
Usual dose: 5 mg up to four times daily. Best taken about 30 minutes before meals to improve salivary flow for eating. To reduce the chance of adverse effects, treatment may be started more gradually, such as 5 mg once daily for the first week, then increased as tolerated. Common adverse effects include sweating, flushing, […]
Te Whata Kura – June 2026 updateJune 12, 2026
Please review the latest Te Whata Kura (Aotearoa’s National Antibiotic Guideline) newsletter outlining recent updates and explaining decisions related to adult cystitis. Please also see the Te Whata Kura memo on use of antivirals for COVID-19 in adults.
Changes to the Christchurch Medicines Information ServiceMarch 23, 2026
We have made the following changes to our service: Our opening hours are now Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm (closed public holidays). Queries can still be submitted outside these hours via email, ERMS, our Query portal on this website, or answerphone. We are no longer able to answer queries from private hospitals and clinics. We […]
Switching between GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for weight lossMarch 13, 2026
There is limited guidance available for switching between GLP-1 RAs when used for weight loss. Much of the information comes from studies in people with diabetes and from authors’ opinions based on clinical experience. How to Switch Start with an equivalent dose of the new GLP-1 RA, or one dose lower. A conservative approach is […]