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 ...

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...

Rivaroxaban (Factor Xa inhibitor), dabigatran etexilate (direct thrombin inhibitor), or warfarin (vitamin K epoxide reductase inhibitor) can be used as oral anticoagulants for most indications. Warfarin remains first line for patients with mechanical heart valves or severe chronic kidney disease....

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...

For each of the medications listed in the Preferred Medication List (the Pink Book 2014) there is a comment on the metabolism and the fu for the medication. This fu is the abbreviation for the fraction of the medication excreted unchanged in the urine, but this is now changing to Fe Backgro...

Probenecid was introduced in the 1950’s to reduce the renal elimination and extend the plasma half-life of penicillins. This effect is exploited therapeutically in the treatment of cellulitis and other infections. This bulletin will focus on the use of probenecid to extend the plasma half-life ...