Ketamine is now a Controlled Drug !?!

A reminder that from 1 December 2010 ketamine is a Class C4 (Schedule 3 Part 4) controlled drug.

Restrictions on sale of codeine-containing meds

Restrictions on the Sale of Codeine-Containing Medicines

Further to the warning-of-change notice sent to you in June, the medicine classification of codeine-containing combination medicines changed today (4 October 2010).  Products for the relief of pain such as Panadeine and Nurofen Plus are now pharmacist-only medicines, and then only in approved small pack sizes.  Large pack sizes and repacks are now prescription medicines.

Up to Date – List of Pharmacist Only Medicine

COMMONLY USED PHARMACIST ONLY MEDICINES

(Restricted Medicines)

 

October  2010

 

Information on the role of pharmacists and Tamiflu in the current influenza outbreakInformation on the role of pharmacists and Tamiflu in the current influenza outbreak

Pharmacists and Influenza Update from PSNZ

26 June 2009 – Updated 14 September 2010

Reflecting the wide community transmission of the flu, most areas in New Zealand have moved from a “containment approach”, to “managing” the epidemic.  This means treating this new flu like the usual seasonal flu.

NeuroKare – Iodine for pregnant and breastfeeding women

A new iodine-only tablet (NeuroKare) is now available, with Pharmac subsidy, for pregnant and breastfeeding women to meet their extra iodine requirements over and above that obtained from a good diet.

Iodine is essential for normal brain development and function, especially during gestation and infancy.  The recommended dose is 150mcg a day.  Not enough iodine can result in impaired brain function and impaired growth and development in the unborn baby and young infant.

Sales restrictions on some cough and cold medicines for children

From 1 May next year cough and cold medicines for children under 12 years of age containing dextromethorphan and phenylephrine will only be sold in pharmacies.

Products containing these ingredients will only be available in supermarkets from 1 May 2011 if they are re-labelled for use in adults and children over 12 years of age. All non-compliant products will be removed from supermarket shelves from this date.

Group Manager of Medsafe, Dr Stewart Jessamine, said re-classifying products containing dextromethorphan and phenylephrine to pharmacy-only means parents will be able to get professional advice on how to use these medicines safely before buying them for their children.

“These changes are in line with the recommendations made to the Health Minister by the Medicines Classification Committee and Medsafe following concerns about safety of these medicines in children and are similar to changes being made or considered in other countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

“If a parent is unsure of the best way to treat their child, they should seek advice from their general practitioner or a healthcare professional,” Dr Jessamine said. “I would advise parents not to use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under six years of age,” he said.

Clozapine may now be prescribed by GPs

Clozapine may now be prescribed by GPs provided the doctor has the vocational scope of practice of general practice and is continuing the prescribing of clozapine for a specific patient whose illness is well-controlled in collaboration, or following consultation, with a Community Mental Health Team.

Pregnancy tests distribution to change from WSO to PSO

Pharmac has announced that from 1 February subsidised pregnancy kits will be distributed through pharmacies on Practitioner Supply Orders instead of the current Wholesale Supply Order arrangement.

NRT available 1 September by prescription and by Quit Card. New claiming rules

Summary of the Changes:

• NRT will be funded on prescription and Quit Card

• The processing of Quit Cards in TONIQ and LOTS will change so that they are processed in the same way as prescriptions

• New Quit Cards have been created to include information that is relevant to prescriptions (ie A4 code and the requirement for a registration number, a voucher number will no longer be required)

Glyceryl Trinitrate for Rectal Use Now Pharmacist-Only

Glyceryl trinitrate for rectal use (Rectogesic) in the treatment of anal fissure and to relieve pain and discomfort associated with haemorrhoids, has from 19 March 2009 been reclassified from pharmacy to pharmacist-only medicine.  The reason is because of concerns relating to its use with sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) where, although the risk of an adverse event is low, the consequences are serious.