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AusPharm news

Peterson calls for action on codeine based compound analgesics : 18/07/2008 : 2007 Australian Pharmacist of the Year, Professor Greg Peterson, pictured at right, has called for the establishment of a Project STOP like recording and monitoring system for codeine based compound analgesics.

Professor Peterson's call comes a week after a poster presentation at the Public Health Association's annual conference in Brisbane reported an alarming number of cases of injury caused by ibuprofen toxicity secondary to codeine dependence, including 39 cases of perforated stomach ulcers and 15 cases of renal failure. More.... premium

Joke of the Week

Examination answers : 18/07/2008 : The following questions were set in last year's GCSE examination in Swindon , Wiltshire. These are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)

Q. Name the four seasons.
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar

More....

About these jokes

New Editorial

Plus Good, Double Plus Good... :: Wendy Morton : 18/7/2008 : Stop Press!! Watch out folks, there's a new weapon joining the tireless fight against fractures in the osteoporotic bones of Australia, and it's PBS listed as of August 1st. It's.... drumroll... Fosamax Plus!!!

What's that? We already HAVE Fosamax Plus in the arsenal? No, no, no, you misunderstand - this is new, improved Fosamax Plus - sort of a Fosamax Plus-Plus, or Fosamax Extra-Plus, brimming with all the Fosamaxy goodness you've come to expect in a weekly dose, but with twice as much pseudo-sunshiney Plusness! Why, you ask? More... premium

AusPharm(e)news announcements

This week's PHARMeFOOTY celebrity tips : 18/07/2008 :
This week's guest NRL tipster is, once again, Gold Cross General Manager Trevor Clarkin (pictured at left).

The Gold Cross company provides endorsed products and services to Guild members and was instrumental with the Ask your Pharmacist television branding campaign.

In the AFL we have Sue Leitch, Consultant Pharmacist with the Tasmanian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Sue says: "When I found out that I was one of the winners round 14, I could not help but laugh! 2008 would have to be the worst year yet I have had at tipping BUT I had been on sick leave for all that period of the split round, after an operation on my wrist, and could do very little, but lots of planning in my head! .... one finger left handed typing and mouse work, and a lot of frustration. So lots of time to think about the tipping!

I follow Carlton, and in the family we have 2 West Coast sons and a poor sad Richmond husband. My sons have a special request for A-League tipping as their true love, (and I must say my developing love) is soccer. Last weeks results were not too bad either, but not holding my breath on this round! More....

AusPharm Research Roundup

AusPharm Research Roundup is a weekly column collated by Debbie Rigby that is designed to bring AusPharmers a summary of selected research papers published during the preceding week or two.

14/07/2008 :

Medical Journal of Australia: Data-mining of medication records to improve asthma management
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: Gastro-intestinal haemorrhage risks of selective serotonin receptor antagonist therapy: a new look
Annals of Internal Medicine: Effects of Adding Salmeterol to Inhaled Corticosteroids on Serious Asthma-Related Events
Pharmacotherapy: Potential Interaction Between Warfarin and High Dietary Protein Intake. More... premium

AusPharm(e)news announcements

Poll result: charging for end of financial year tax print outs : 18/07/2008 : This week's poll asked 'listers whether or not a charge was levied in the pharmacies they work in for the provision of end of financial year tax print outs. The result, which we are sure comes as no surprise to anyone, is shown below.
We'll see about running another poll next week to determine whether the opportunity to think about this, prompted by this poll, has changed anyone's mind about whether or not a charge is appropriate. More....

Pearl: Just tell me the bad news

09/07/2008: Peter the Pearlcaster says: Does it really upset you, like it does me, when the first thing a patient asks is, "What are the side-effects of my new medicine?"

I tell them, "For a start, if you DON'T take it, there is ZERO chance of your getting benefit from it, isn't there?"

Now, you can write something on the back of their prescription repeat form to make the point that should get their thinking right about our wonderful modern medicines, and that they will remember. More... premium

Opinion

Celebrity Worship Syndrome - so that's how you get through to them! :: Ron Batagol : 10/7/2008 : “What do you mean it's useless unless he's a horny goat? That's not what Funky Spunky from the Deadbeats said! He reckons it works every time for him. And what's more, time and time again!"

In today's AusPharm feature Ron Batagol suggests that maybe we're approaching our counseling role from the wrong direction....

"In a national online survey of Australians in March 2007, it was revealed that a staggering 68% of Australians love celebrities. In fact they are so captivated that over 20% seek out celebrity news every day and 40% seek it out weekly. 31% of those responding went so far as to say they consider themselves completely celebrity obsessed or know someone who is." More premium

Opioid Therapy as a Pharmacy Specialty :: Peter Allen : 3/7/2008 : Methadone programmes have once again been a topic of discussion on AusPharmList in recent weeks afte... More

What the F2 do? :: Wendy Morton : 26/6/2008 : By now, everyone has their head firmly around what to do in the lead up to August 1, don't they?... More

Time for a 'stocktake' :: Frank Morgan : 19/6/2008 : In today's AusPharm feature Frank Morgan talks about what you need to do as we approach the star... More

Pharmacy incorporation – maximising the opportunities :: Norman Thurecht : 12/6/2008 : A recent AusPharm feature article by John Clayton looked at pharmacy ownership rules on a state by s... More

Questions on Dong Quai and Slippery Elm in Pharmacy Board Registration Exams? What are they thinking of! :: Ron Batagol : 5/6/2008 : In today's AusPharm feature Ron Batagol has a bit to say about the inclusion of questions on her... More

Triage - a useful tool in pharmacy? :: Patrick Mahony : 29/5/2008 : In today's AusPharm feature Patrick Mahony gives us the benefit of his 40 years of front line se... More

The last word

premium Live links to these items only available to 'premium' members

Old Antihistamine Pops Up as Potential Alzheimer's Therapy
medpage Today 19/7/2008

Internet Trafficking of Controlled Prescription Drugs Remains Extensive
Medscape 19/7/2008

New Medications May Offer Hope to Drinkers Battling Alcohol Dependence
Newswise 19/7/2008

Hair tests for drugs wins award
BBC news 19/7/2008

Family Planning Groups Object to U.S. Abortion Plan
Medscape 18/7/2008

Colorado to vote on personhood of embryo
Bioedge 18/7/2008

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AusPharm(e)news announcements

AusPharm Continuing Education : 19/07/2008 : This week's AusPharm CE topic is Asthma in the older person. It's been prepared for us by Debbie Rigby and we'll be publishing it on Tuesday morning.

In the meantime, click here to visit the AusPharm Continuing Education page where there are links to all of our CE activities.

AusPharm gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the sponsors of our CE program, MIMS and The Australian Medicines Handbook. More....

AusPharm(e)news announcements

The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition : 18/07/2008 : According to the Department of Health and Aging there have been reports of missing pages in the The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC). Anyone requiring a replacement copy can get it at the Immunise Australia Program website (here - link in right hand menu bar).
The Immunise Australia Program website is worth a look. It contains an FAQ section and a series of fact sheets you can print off for patients, including the ever popular Immunisation myths & realities. Responding to arguments against immunisatio n. Click here to have a look. More....