The Australian Prescriber Podcast provides a regular dive into some of the many great articles that Australian Prescriber publishes every two months. In each episode, our host will chat with one of the authors from a recent issue of Australian Prescriber.
E174 - Achieving safe medication management during transitions of care from hospital
Dhineli Perera talks to complex care coordinator Deirdre Criddle and senior pharmacist Rohan Elliott about their paper on safe medication management during transitions of care from hospital. They cover the potential hazards that arise during transitions of care, available services, and the need for a stewardship framework for managing hospital transitions. Read the full paper by Deirdre, Rohan, and their co-authors, in Australian Prescriber.
10/14/2024 • 21 minutes, 35 seconds
E173 - Management of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in primary care
Laura Beaton sits down with infectious diseases physician Anna Pierce to discuss her article on the management of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in primary care. Anna explains the importance of prevention measures, the steps to take after an exposure, as well as the principles of management for exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.
9/30/2024 • 19 minutes, 28 seconds
E172 - Utility of common investigations for suspected inflammatory arthritis in adults
David Liew talks to rheumatologist Nicola Cook about the utility of common investigations for suspected inflammatory arthritis in adults. They discuss the notion of pretest probability and how this is used to determine the utility of testing, and the role of specific tests. Nicola also talks about the potential harm of overinvestigation. Read the full article by Nicola and her co-author, Rachelle Buchbinder, in Australian Prescriber.
9/16/2024 • 19 minutes, 31 seconds
E171 - Controversies in the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults
Dhineli Perera chats with infectious diseases physician Emily Tucker about her article on controversies in the management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults. Laura talks about severity scoring tools, organisms involved with CAP, and the antibiotics and other treatments used to manage CAP. Read the full article by Emily and her co-authors in Australian Prescriber.
9/2/2024 • 19 minutes, 7 seconds
E170 - Quality use of medicines: who owns it now?
Dhineli Perera talks to Jonathan Dartnell, managing director of QUM Connect, and Darlene Cox, Executive Director of Health Care Consumers’ Association, about changes to the quality use of medicines landscape. They discuss the challenges and opportunities following the closure of NPS MedicineWise and speculate on the future of QUM in Australia. Read the full article by Jonathan, Darlene, and their co-authors, in Australian Prescriber. This interview was conducted on 3 July 2024.
8/26/2024 • 16 minutes, 47 seconds
E169 - Deprescribing antihypertensives in frail older adults
Laura Beaton talks to pharmacist Aili Langford and geriatrician Sarah Hilmer about their article on deprescribing antihypertensive drugs in frail older adults. They discuss how the potential benefits and harms of lowering blood pressure may change with increasing age and frailty, the evidence for deprescribing, and how to deprescribe antihypertensive drugs. Read the full article by Aili, Sarah, and their co-authors, in Australian Prescriber.
8/5/2024 • 20 minutes, 43 seconds
E168 - New and emerging drug therapies for Alzheimer disease
David Liew speaks with geriatrician and dementia specialist Louise Waite about her article on new and emerging therapies for Alzheimer disease. Louise explains key biomarkers for Alzheimer disease, and the potentially disease-modifying monoclonal antibody therapies that have been approved by the FDA and are now being considered by the TGA in Australia. Read the full article by Louise in Australian Prescriber.
7/22/2024 • 19 minutes, 22 seconds
E167 - Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults
Justin Coleman talks to Darren Mansfield, Director of the Epworth Sleep Centre, about his article on the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults. Darren outlines high-risk populations for OSA and the importance of screening. He also covers treatments, including CPAP therapy, positional and oral appliances, and surgical options. Read the full article by Darren and his co-author, Daniel Hynes, in Australian Prescriber.
7/8/2024 • 19 minutes, 45 seconds
E166 - Biologic therapies for severe asthma with persistent type 2 inflammation
Jo Cheah speaks to Peter Wark about his article on biologic therapies for severe asthma with persistent type 2 inflammation. Peter explains the difference between difficult and severe asthma and how to test for persistent type 2 inflammation. He also runs through the available biologics and when and how they are used. Read the full article by Peter and his co-author, Sahan Chandrasekara, in Australian Prescriber.
6/24/2024 • 15 minutes, 58 seconds
E165 - Assessing, communicating and managing cardiovascular disease risk
Justin Coleman talks to Garry Jennings, Chief Medical Advisor of the National Heart Foundation of Australia, about his article on the 2023 Australian Guideline for Assessing and Managing Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Garry discusses the updates to the guideline, including the age from which assessment should occur and new risk factors considered, and he gives some tips for communicating cardiovascular disease risk to patients. Read the full article by Garry and his co-authors in Australian Prescriber.
6/10/2024 • 15 minutes, 50 seconds
E164 - Diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis
David Liew talks to gastroenterologist Varan Perananthan about his article on diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). Varan explains the causes and symptoms of EoE, why the prevalence has been increasing, and how to differentiate EoE from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Also discussed are dietary approaches for identifying food triggers and pharmacological treatments for EoE. Read the full article by Varan and his co-author, Rebecca Burgell, in Australian Prescriber.
5/27/2024 • 17 minutes, 22 seconds
E163 - Managing pre-existing diabetes prior to and during pregnancy
Laura Beaton talks to Leonie Callaway, Obstetric and General Physician and Director of Research at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, about her article on the management of pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy. Leonie talks about maternal and fetal complications and the importance of high-quality preconception care, factors that can affect glucose control and the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring, and postpartum care. Read the full article by Leonie and her co-author Fiona Britten in Australia Prescriber.
5/13/2024 • 19 minutes, 8 seconds
E162 - Management of menopause symptoms
Laura Beaton speaks to Karen Magraith, GP and immediate-past president of the Australasian Menopause Society, about treatments for menopausal symptoms. They discuss the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and how to choose the most suitable preparation, as well as duration of therapy and nonhormonal treatment options for those with contraindications to MHT. Read the full article by Karen and her co-author, Christina Jang, in Australian Prescriber.
4/29/2024 • 15 minutes, 3 seconds
E161 - Managing hypercholesterolaemia
Dhineli Perera sits down with Adam Nelson to discuss updates in the management of hypercholesterolaemia. Adam explains how triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol differ in their links to cardiovascular disease. He provides useful tips for checking a lipid profile and highlights other tests that may be helpful when assessing a patient with hypercholesterolaemia. Adam also explains the latest in treatments for reducing LDL cholesterol concentrations and what this means for the role of statins. Read the full article by Adam Nelson and Stephen Nicholls in Australian Prescriber.
4/8/2024 • 21 minutes, 54 seconds
E160 - Ongoing challenges of off-label prescribing
Jo Cheah chats with clinical pharmacologist Richard Day about off-label prescribing. Ric explains why off-label prescribing occurs, the barriers to getting new indications added to a drug’s approved label, and the potential risks of off-label prescribing without sufficient evidence. Read the full article by Richard Day in Australian Prescriber.
3/25/2024 • 17 minutes, 37 seconds
E159 - Therapeutic Guidelines Dermatology
Justin Coleman sits down with Lee Fong to discuss the changes to the latest version of Therapeutic Guidelines: Dermatology. Lee talks about misconceptions around the use of topical corticosteroids, tailoring treatments to the subtype of acne, and management tips for scabies, sweating disorders, psoriasis and much more.
3/11/2024 • 15 minutes, 4 seconds
E158 - National Medicines Policy 2.0
Dhineli Perera and Andrew McLachlan, Dean of The University of Sydney’s Pharmacy School, talk about the 2022 National Medicines Policy. Andrew gives an overview of the refreshed Policy, what’s changed, and how the Policy can be implemented into practice. Read the full article by Andrew and his colleague, Parisa Aslani, in Australian Prescriber.
2/26/2024 • 16 minutes, 10 seconds
E157 - Top 10 drugs 2021-22 and 2022-23
Dhineli Perera chats with clinical pharmacologist and fellow podcast host David Liew about Australia's top 10 drugs over the last 2 years. David explains the relationship between the PBAC and the PBS and the different ways the top 10 drugs are presented, and offers some insights into why particular drugs are on the lists. Read the full articles for 2021-22 and 2022-23 in Australian Prescriber.
2/12/2024 • 18 minutes, 53 seconds
E156 - Physical health monitoring for people with schizophrenia
Laura Beaton speaks to psychiatrist David Castle about enhanced physical health monitoring for people with schizophrenia and the unique challenges to implementing preventive health care in these patients. David discusses modifiable physical health risk factors and how these can be addressed as part of a multidisciplinary holistic approach to care. Read the full article by David and his co-author, Amy Li, in Australian Prescriber.
1/29/2024 • 17 minutes, 54 seconds
E155 - Digital health and prescribing
Jo Cheah speaks with Jodie Austin, a clinical informatics specialist, about using new technologies to deliver health care. The conversation focuses on using digital health to improve prescribing and medication management, through the use of digital dashboards and machine learning. Jodie also outlines the role of the clinician in the developing digital world. Read the full article by Jodie Austin and her co-authors in Australian Prescriber.
1/15/2024 • 14 minutes, 51 seconds
E154 - An update on wound management
Dhineli Perera talks to Geoffrey Sussman, an expert on wound management, about the latest updates in the field. The conversation covers the importance of identifying the cause of a wound and tailoring the treatment accordingly. Geoff also provides useful tips for assessing wounds, the difference between acute and chronic wounds, and best practice for applying wound dressings. Read the full article by Geoffrey Sussman in Australian Prescriber.
1/3/2024 • 18 minutes, 45 seconds
E153 - Blood glucose monitoring devices
Jo Cheah and endocrinologist Benjamin Sly discuss devices for self-monitoring blood glucose concentrations. The conversation covers both capillary (fingerprick) monitoring and continuous blood glucose monitoring, the types of monitoring devices available to patients and their different features. Ben explains how to select the most appropriate device. Read the full article by Benjamin Sly and his co-author Janet Taylor in Australian Prescriber.
12/18/2023 • 18 minutes, 31 seconds
E152 - Therapeutic Guidelines Diabetes
SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists now have well-established cardiovascular and renal benefits. What does this mean for their role in the management of type 2 diabetes? Justin Coleman chats with endocrinologist and clinical pharmacologist, Tilenka Thynne, about this and other updates to Therapeutic Guidelines Diabetes.
12/4/2023 • 16 minutes, 38 seconds
E151 - COVID-19 vaccines in 2023
David Liew talks to Ketaki Sharma, a staff specialist at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, about the latest developments in COVID-19 vaccines and what the future of vaccination looks like in Australia—who needs boosters and which vaccine should they have? Read the full article by Ketaki and her co-author, Jean Li-Kim-Moy, in Australian Prescriber. This interview was conducted on 21 October 2023.
11/20/2023 • 16 minutes, 51 seconds
E150 - COVID-19 testing: a 2023 update
David Liew speaks with infectious diseases physician Ella Meumann. They discuss the latest developments in COVID-19 testing and how the pandemic affected our virus-testing strategies. Read the full article by Ella and her co-author, Jennifer Robson, in Australian Prescriber. This interview was conducted on 28 August 2023.
11/7/2023 • 17 minutes, 41 seconds
E149 - Treatments for atopic dermatitis
Laura Beaton talks to Professor Gayle Ross, a Dermatologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital, about treating atopic dermatitis, otherwise known as eczema. If you’re itching for more information on the latest treatment options, this conversation will scratch that itch! Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.
10/16/2023 • 19 minutes, 17 seconds
E148 - Medicines Stewardship
Dhineli Perera talks to Dr David Liew, clinical pharmacologist and rheumatologist, and Elizabeth Su, clinical pharmacist. David and Liz share their experiences working in medicines stewardship and outline the objectives and broad strategies used in stewardship programs.
10/2/2023 • 17 minutes, 11 seconds
E147 - Therapeutic Guidelines Addiction
Justin Coleman chats with GP and addiction specialist, Dr Hester Wilson, about Therapeutic Guidelines' first ever Addiction guidelines.
9/20/2023 • 19 minutes, 5 seconds
E146 - Medicines and children
A spoonful of sugar? Dhineli Perera chats with pharmacist Lucinda Smith about some of the tricks and tips that help make the medicine go down.
9/4/2023 • 19 minutes, 33 seconds
E145 – Australian Asthma Handbook update
Justin Coleman chats with Professor Nick Zwar about the latest changes to the Australian Asthma Handbook. These include updated advice on exercise-induced asthma, dosing information, and use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.
12/1/2022 • 15 minutes, 51 seconds
E144 – Therapeutic Guidelines Gastrointestinal
Justin Coleman chats to gastroenterologist Chris Rayner about gastrointestinal disorders – from the top to the bottom.
11/30/2022 • 19 minutes, 28 seconds
E143 – Treating osteoporosis
David Liew chats with rheumatologist Lyn March and trainee physician Jimmy Zhu about the latest in osteoporosis – how to assess risk, lifestyle factors, and the drugs used to treat.
11/21/2022 • 21 minutes, 44 seconds
E142 – Rheumatic fever and heart disease
Dhineli Perera chats to infectious diseases specialist Anna Ralph about acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Who gets these conditions, how are they diagnosed, and how do we manage them?
11/7/2022 • 22 minutes, 11 seconds
E141 – Polycystic kidney disease
Dhineli Perera chats to nephrologist Gopi Rangan about autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease – simple interventions, drug treatment and pain management.
10/24/2022 • 20 minutes, 22 seconds
E140 – How to manage erectile dysfunction
Laura Beaton chats to sexual health physician Michael Lowy about the causes, assessment and management options for men with erectile dysfunction.
10/10/2022 • 20 minutes, 3 seconds
E139 – SGLT2 inhibitors for kidney and heart disease
Normally used as a glucose-lowering agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors have been found to have beneficial effects in patients with heart failure and kidney disease. Jo Cheah finds out more from cardiologist John Atherton.
9/19/2022 • 13 minutes, 39 seconds
E138 – Therapeutic Guidelines Sore Throat
Justin Coleman chats to infectious diseases physician Emily Tucker about one of the more common presentations in primary care – sore throat.
9/5/2022 • 18 minutes, 10 seconds
E137 – Stepping down asthma preventer treatment
Many people with well-controlled asthma are prescribed unnecessarily high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, which can increase the risk of adverse effects and costs for patients. Laura Beaton chats with respiratory physician Helen Reddel about how to step down treatment.
8/22/2022 • 15 minutes, 52 seconds
E136 – Imaging of patients with headaches
To image or not to image? When is imaging recommended for patients presenting with headache? Laura Beaton chats with neurologist Jason Ray.
8/8/2022 • 17 minutes, 11 seconds
E135 - Therapeutic Guidelines Wilderness Medicine
Justin Coleman chats to Charmaine Tate about how to prevent, prepare for and manage injuries incurred from being exposed to the great outdoors.
7/18/2022 • 25 minutes, 8 seconds
E134 - Hormonal contraception and mood disorders
Laura Beaton chats with Psychiatry Professor Jayashri Kulkarni about the effects of the oral contraceptive pill on mood.
7/4/2022 • 28 minutes, 3 seconds
E133 – Prescribing for patients on antiretrovirals
Many drugs can interfere with antiretroviral therapy. Dhineli Perera chats with Yasmin Hughes, an advanced trainee in sexual health medicine, about the importance of checking potential interactions when prescribing other medicines.
6/20/2022 • 22 minutes, 20 seconds
E132 – Making guidelines better
David Liew chats with Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis about using technology to bring clinical guidelines into practice, removing some of the barriers to their use.
6/6/2022 • 17 minutes, 54 seconds
E131 – Drugs for the management of obesity
Patients with obesity often need help with hunger suppression to maintain the weight loss achieved by diet. What drugs are used, and how do they work? David Liew chats with obesity clinician Professor Joseph Proietto.
5/16/2022 • 17 minutes, 46 seconds
E130 – Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions
Some commonly prescribed medicines can cause severe damage to the skin and internal organs. Jo Cheah chats with infectious diseases physician Jason Trubiano about how to identify the drugs responsible and assess the allergy.
5/2/2022 • 13 minutes, 27 seconds
E129 – Home oxygen therapy
When and for whom should home oxygen therapy be prescribed, and what is the evidence behind it? David Liew chats with respiratory physician Christine McDonald.
4/18/2022 • 15 minutes, 58 seconds
E128 – COVID-19 oral antivirals
What are the issues surrounding rational prescribing of oral antivirals for COVID-19? David Liew chats with clinical pharmacist Amy Legg and infectious diseases physician Andrew Henderson.
4/4/2022 • 20 minutes, 32 seconds
E127 – Chronic non-cancer pain in older people
David Liew talks with clinical pharmacology registrar Gloria Wong about some of the challenges involved in the pharmacological management of chronic non-cancer pain in frail older people.
3/21/2022 • 19 minutes, 15 seconds
E126 - Cluster headache
Cluster headache is one of the worst pains that can be experienced. Apart from the pain, what distinguishes a cluster headache from other headaches, and how do you go about treating them? Dhineli Perera finds out from neurologist Jason Ray.
3/7/2022 • 16 minutes, 1 second
E125 - How to quit smoking
Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in Australia. Jo Cheah chats to GP Colin Mendelsohn about the most effective ways to stop smoking.
2/21/2022 • 21 minutes, 5 seconds
E124 - Therapeutic Guidelines Psychotropic
What’s the latest management advice for anxiety, insomnia, dementia, suicide risk and personality disorders? Justin Coleman chats to GP Nick Carr who is one of the authors of the 8th edition of the Psychotropic guidelines.
2/7/2022 • 20 minutes
E123 - Top 10 drugs 2020–21
Dhineli Perera chats to Australian Prescriber Editor John Dowden about the top 10 drugs prescribed last year in Australia and their costs to government. How have these drugs changed compared to previous years, and why?
1/17/2022 • 15 minutes, 47 seconds
E122 - Medical abortion in primary care
Ashlea Broomfield talks to Medical director of Family Planning NSW Deborah Bateson about medical abortion – a safe, cost-effective alternative to surgical abortion in early pregnancy that can be provided by GPs.
1/10/2022 • 16 minutes, 14 seconds
E121 – Iron deficiency without anaemia
David Liew talks to haematologist Cecily Forsyth about this common yet under-recognised condition that can cause a range of non-specific symptoms such as lethargy, irritability and restless legs.
Justin Coleman chats to Nick Lennox, one of the authors behind the latest update to the Developmental Disability guidelines, which involves a strong focus on what to look out for as a GP.
12/6/2021 • 20 minutes, 31 seconds
E119 – The problems with fluoroquinolones
Tendinopathy, aortic disease, retinal detachment… These are just some of the adverse events which may be linked to fluoroquinolones. Dhineli Perera chats to Diva Baggio about the evidence for these effects, and the associated risk factors.
11/15/2021 • 19 minutes, 15 seconds
E118 – Pharma sponsorship of health consumer groups
Could patient groups be compromised by accepting pharmaceutical industry sponsorship? Ashlea Broomfield chats with clinical researcher Lisa Parker.
11/1/2021 • 15 minutes, 39 seconds
E117 – Hypertension in pregnancy
Jo Cheah chats with nephrologist George Mangos about high blood pressure disorders that can occur during pregnancy, and how best to manage them.
10/18/2021 • 17 minutes, 17 seconds
E116 – Vitamins and minerals: how safe are they?
Ashlea Broomfield chats with clinical pharmacist Geraldine Moses about the potential adverse effects from some commonly used vitamins and minerals, especially when taken in high doses.
10/4/2021 • 19 minutes, 20 seconds
E115 – Therapeutic Guidelines Liver Disorders
Justin Coleman chats to hepatologist Alex Thompson about livers and what can go wrong with them, including hepatitis B, C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
9/20/2021 • 17 minutes, 31 seconds
E114 - Rational prescribing: where are we now?
David Liew talks to Rob Moulds about the challenges facing rational prescribing and quality use of medicines in Australia today.
9/6/2021 • 19 minutes, 31 seconds
E113 – Managing insomnia in primary care
Jo Cheah talks to sleep physician David Cunnington about how GPs and other primary health providers can help patients struggling with lack of sleep.
8/23/2021 • 16 minutes, 54 seconds
E112 – Ocular effects of oral drugs
Dhineli Perera chats with ophthalmologist Hemal Mehta about how commonly prescribed oral drugs can have adverse effects on the eye. What are the symptoms, and the drugs, you should watch out for?
8/9/2021 • 20 minutes, 36 seconds
E111 – Therapeutic Guidelines Pain and Analgesia
Managing pain involves more than just analgesia, as reflected in the Therapeutic Guidelines’ extensive revision of this topic. Justin Coleman chats to pain specialist Chris Hayes about the more holistic, multidimensional approach to pain management.
7/26/2021 • 20 minutes, 9 seconds
E110 – Drugs for secondary stroke prevention
Over 40% of people who have a stroke have another one within 10 years. Dhineli Perera chats to clinical pharmacologist Chris Tremonti about the drugs used to lower the risk of a secondary ischaemic stroke or TIA.
7/19/2021 • 20 minutes, 42 seconds
E109 – Updated anaphylaxis guidelines
Jo Cheah chats to Katie Frith about the latest updates to the anaphylaxis guidelines, and what this means for infants and children and positioning of the patient.
7/5/2021 • 17 minutes, 12 seconds
E108 – Opioid and antidepressant combinations
Ashlea Broomfield chats to Varan Perananthan about prescribing opioids and antidepressants, and which combinations to avoid.
6/21/2021 • 12 minutes, 23 seconds
E107 – Hepatitis C elimination
David Liew chats with infectious diseases physician Dr Gregory Dore about the strategies required to achieve elimination of hepatitis C in Australia by 2030.
6/7/2021 • 21 minutes, 50 seconds
E106 – eTG Sexual and reproductive health guidelines
Justin Coleman chats with Medical Director of Family Planning NSW Deborah Bateson about the latest updates on sexual and reproductive health published by Therapeutic Guidelines. Their conversation covers the completely revised topic of contraception, endometriosis, infertility, menopause, medical abortion and, something for the blokes, testosterone deficiency.
5/24/2021 • 22 minutes, 54 seconds
E105 – Naloxone for opioid toxicity and overdose
Two-thirds of the 1000 opioid-related deaths per year are from prescription opiates. Jo Cheah talks with medical director Marianne Jauncey about how important it is for people who are prescribed opiates, and also their carers, to be made aware of this easy-to-use, life-saving drug naloxone.
5/10/2021 • 16 minutes, 29 seconds
E104 – Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation
How do you weigh up the risk of bleeding with the benefits of stroke prevention when anticoagulating patients in atrial fibrillation? Dhineli Perera chats to geriatrician Richard Lindley about how important it is to have the right conversation with the patients.
4/26/2021 • 20 minutes, 59 seconds
E103 – Speaking of statistical significance
Just because something is mathematically significant does not mean it is clinically significant. Ashlea Broomfield chats with GP Oliver Frank about ‘statistical significance’ and whether it is time to scrap the term all together.
4/13/2021 • 18 minutes, 50 seconds
E102 – eTG Respiratory guidelines
Justin Coleman chats with fellow GP Malcolm Clark about the extensively revised Respiratory guidelines published by Therapeutic Guidelines.
3/29/2021 • 20 minutes, 37 seconds
E101 – Managing pain after surgery
David Liew talks to anaesthetist and pain medicine physician Gavin Pattullo about managing patients’ pain once they are discharged from hospital after surgery.
3/15/2021 • 23 minutes, 17 seconds
E100 – COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ David Liew chats with infectious diseases physician Kristine Macartney about the latest on the COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia.
3/2/2021 • 23 minutes, 44 seconds
E99 – How to choose an antidepressant
It’s all about efficacy, tolerability, safety and patient preference.
2/15/2021 • 19 minutes, 36 seconds
E98 – Autism treatment
What is the role of drugs in the treatment of autism?
2/1/2021 • 25 minutes, 52 seconds
E97 – Harms and benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors
How do SGLT2 inhibitors fit into the management of type 2 diabetes?
1/18/2021 • 19 minutes, 55 seconds
E96 – Vulvovaginitis
What causes it and how is it diagnosed?
1/4/2021 • 17 minutes, 33 seconds
E95 – Migraine management
What works for migraine, what to avoid and when to refer patients
12/16/2020 • 24 minutes, 20 seconds
E94 – HIV diagnoses fall as PrEP is embraced
Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection a success story in Australia
12/7/2020 • 20 minutes, 16 seconds
E93 – Prescription monitoring and helping people at risk
Helping people identified through real-time prescription monitoring systems
11/23/2020 • 15 minutes, 59 seconds
E92 – Testing for COVID-19
What are the different tests and when should you use them?
11/9/2020 • 18 minutes, 17 seconds
E91 - Opioid prescribing in dentistry
Opioids can be ineffective for dental pain
10/26/2020 • 14 minutes, 10 seconds
E90 - What is hypertension?
How do you define high blood pressure? It depends on the guidelines you use.
10/12/2020 • 16 minutes, 31 seconds
E89 - Prescribing medicinal cannabis
What do GPs need to know about prescribing medicinal cannabis in Australia?
9/29/2020 • 20 minutes, 46 seconds
E88 – Managing chronic leukaemias
New drugs have greatly improved the life expectancy of chronic leukaemia patients.
9/21/2020 • 18 minutes, 22 seconds
E87 – Potions and the dark arts – the latest from eTG Toxicology
Latest updates on toxicology and toxinology from Therapeutic Guidelines
9/14/2020 • 19 minutes, 35 seconds
E86 - Deprescribing in older people
What are the safest approaches to reducing polypharmacy?
8/31/2020 • 11 minutes, 50 seconds
E85 - Managing autoimmune disease during the pandemic
Should rheumatic disease patients stop taking immunosuppressants during the pandemic?
8/17/2020 • 22 minutes, 30 seconds
E84 – Managing proteinuria
What do current guidelines recommend?
8/3/2020 • 14 minutes, 55 seconds
E83 - Dental pain management in primary care
What should a GP or pharmacist do if a patient presents with dental pain?
7/13/2020 • 18 minutes, 53 seconds
E82 – Immunosuppression for COVID-19
Could immunosuppression help save patients with severe COVID-19?
6/29/2020 • 13 minutes, 4 seconds
E81 - Paediatric penicillins – getting the dose right
How do you prescribe oral penicillins to children?
6/15/2020 • 12 minutes, 18 seconds
E80 – Prescribing antiemetics
What and when should you prescribe for vomiting and nausea?
5/25/2020 • 17 minutes, 32 seconds
E79 – COVID-19 and the quality use of medicines
Balancing the risks and the benefits of proposed COVID-19 treatments.
5/12/2020 • 22 minutes, 37 seconds
E78 – Oral or intravenous antibiotics
Is one form better than the other?
5/4/2020 • 13 minutes, 49 seconds
E77 - Ethical prescribing, hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19
A warning against using unproven medicines for the treatment of COVID-19.
4/21/2020 • 24 minutes, 36 seconds
E76 – Atrial fibrillation
What’s the latest approach for managing this common arrhythmia?
4/20/2020 • 15 minutes, 14 seconds
E75 - Australian Prescriber and COVID-19
A message to listeners about the COVID-19 pandemic.
4/7/2020 • 2 minutes, 50 seconds
E74 – Faecal transplants
Is one person’s faeces another person’s therapy?
4/6/2020 • 19 minutes, 12 seconds
E73 – eTG Oral and dental guidelines
Latest updates on oral and dental conditions from Therapeutic Guidelines
3/30/2020 • 22 minutes, 31 seconds
E72 – Shingles vaccination in Australia
Who should get the herpes zoster vaccine and how effective is it?
3/23/2020 • 15 minutes, 32 seconds
E71 – Drug interaction resources: mind the gaps
Which drugs should we be taking extra care with and what are the best information resources to use?
3/9/2020 • 15 minutes, 11 seconds
E70 – Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
How to manage this common form of heart disease
2/26/2020 • 11 minutes, 49 seconds
E69 – eTG Antibiotic guidelines
What are the latest antibiotic updates from Therapeutic Guidelines?
2/17/2020 • 18 minutes, 42 seconds
E68 – Our National Medicines Policy needs a reboot
What needs to be considered in an update to the policy?
2/2/2020 • 18 minutes, 25 seconds
E67 – Penicillin allergy
The ‘penicillin allergy’ label is often unjustified.
1/20/2020 • 17 minutes, 16 seconds
E66 – Psychoactive drugs and driving
Psychoactive drugs may affect the ability to drive safely.
1/5/2020 • 14 minutes, 3 seconds
E65 – eTG Bone and metabolism guidelines
Latest updates on bone and metabolism from Therapeutic Guidelines.
12/12/2019 • 20 minutes, 19 seconds
E64 - Antimicrobial use in aged care
Are antibiotics overused in aged care?
12/10/2019 • 12 minutes, 49 seconds
E63 – Immunomodulatory drugs in pregnancy and lactation
Which autoimmune disease drugs can be taken safely by pregnant and lactating women?
11/25/2019 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
E62 – Prescribing Skills Assessment
Medical graduates need to be tested on their competence to prescribe.
11/8/2019 • 14 minutes, 30 seconds
E61 – Dose adjustment in chronic kidney disease
How do you calculate drug doses in people with chronic kidney disease?
10/28/2019 • 13 minutes, 20 seconds
E60 – Stopping and switching antipsychotic drugs
Step by step directions for this challenging task.
10/14/2019 • 12 minutes, 37 seconds
E59 – Ulcer and wound management guidelines
Latest updates to Therapeutic Guidelines’ ulcer and wound management.
10/2/2019 • 16 minutes, 57 seconds
E58 – Blood pressure – when to treat?
Are Australians with high blood pressure being undertreated?
9/16/2019 • 14 minutes, 24 seconds
E57 – Meningococcal vaccines
Meningococcal disease is changing in Australia, as are the vaccines recommended to reduce risk of infection.
8/29/2019 • 13 minutes, 55 seconds
E56 – Safety of computerised prescribing in hospitals
Automation can reduce medication errors, but can it introduce new errors?
8/19/2019 • 14 minutes, 30 seconds
E55 – Venous thromboembolism
Which anticoagulant is best for your patient and for what duration?
7/18/2019 • 13 minutes, 57 seconds
E54 – Drug-induced movement disorders
Tremors, irregular movements and stiffness may be signs of adverse drug reactions. How do you recognise, distinguish and treat drug-induced movement disorders?
7/18/2019 • 9 minutes, 45 seconds
E53 - Adolescent self-harm
Ashlea Broomfield interviews Joel King about adolescent self-harm. What’s the best way to manage this common problem?
7/8/2019 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
E52 - Insulin pumps
What’s new, and what do GPs need to know?
6/23/2019 • 15 minutes, 9 seconds
E51 - Complementary medicines
What do they contain, and can we really tell from their label?
6/10/2019 • 12 minutes, 43 seconds
E50 - Real-time prescription monitoring
What is it, how does it work, and who will benefit?
5/27/2019 • 14 minutes, 23 seconds
E49 – Immune checkpoint inhibitors
How do these drugs help unmask hidden cancer cells?
5/11/2019 • 13 minutes, 36 seconds
E48 - My Health Record
A community pharmacy perspective to MHR.
4/29/2019 • 14 minutes, 38 seconds
E47 - Review of new eTG diabetes guidelines
Latest updates to Therapeutic Guidelines for diabetes.
4/10/2019 • 14 minutes, 30 seconds
E46 - Influenza: prevention and treatment
The latest in influenza fighting tools.
4/1/2019 • 12 minutes, 20 seconds
E45 – Old antibiotics for resistant UTIs
Could old drugs be a new solution to antibiotic resistance?
3/14/2019 • 11 minutes, 1 second
E44 – Prescribing for adolescents
What special considerations are needed when prescribing for adolescents?
3/4/2019 • 11 minutes, 37 seconds
E43 – Prescribing for transgender patients
Transgender-affirming therapy – what do the guidelines say?
2/14/2019 • 12 minutes, 32 seconds
E42 – Optimal antimicrobial duration
Prescribing antibiotics is difficult. Are shorter courses better than longer ones?
2/1/2019 • 12 minutes, 16 seconds
E41 – Top 10 drugs 2017–18
What were the top 10 drugs prescribed in Australia, and their costs to government? And how have they changed from last year?
1/21/2019 • 8 minutes, 5 seconds
E40 - Alcohol detox at home
Most dependent drinkers can detox safely and successfully at home, without the need for hospital admission, according to Dr Chris Davis.
1/7/2019 • 11 minutes, 12 seconds
E39 – Perimenopausal depression
How do symptoms differ from other types of depression, and what’s the best treatment? Jayashri Kulkarni talks about this significant but under-recognised problem in middle-aged women.
12/17/2018 • 11 minutes, 11 seconds
E38 – Unpronounceable drug names
Craig Patterson talks about how mispronunciation can impact on patient safety, and what can be done about it.
12/3/2018 • 12 minutes, 14 seconds
E37 – Drugs for benign prostatic hypertrophy
Joanne Cheah interviews Dr Matthew Roberts about treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, which depends on the severity of the symptoms. But be aware some drugs only make a wee difference.
11/13/2018 • 10 minutes, 54 seconds
E36 – Second steps in managing type 2 diabetes
Dhineli Perera interviews Dr Carolyn Petersons about the second- and third-line drugs for type 2 diabetes. After metformin, what comes next?
10/29/2018 • 15 minutes, 41 seconds
E35 – Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
David Liew interviews Dr Chamara Basnayake about irritable bowel syndrome and how consultation is key to managing this common disorder.
10/15/2018 • 12 minutes, 58 seconds
E34 – Medical management of metastatic prostate cancer
Jo Cheah interviews Dr Ganes Pranavan about metastatic prostate cancer – how, with the right combination of treatments, it has become a chronic disease.
10/2/2018 • 7 minutes, 51 seconds
E33 – Combining anticoagulation and antiplatelet drugs in coronary artery disease
Dhineli Perera interviews Associate Professor Harry Gibbs about the best way to balance the risk of thrombosis and bleeding after acute coronary syndrome.
9/17/2018 • 10 minutes, 38 seconds
E32 – Travelling with medicines
Joanne Cheah interviews Professor Nicholas Zwar about tips and traps when travelling with medicines.
9/3/2018 • 9 minutes, 37 seconds
E31 – Infantile colic
Ashlea Broomfield interviews Dr Valerie Sung about how to manage colicky babies. Which treatments work and which don’t?
8/20/2018 • 13 minutes, 22 seconds
E30 – Fast-tracking of new drugs
David Liew interviews Dr Paul Kubler on the pros and cons of fast-tracked approvals for new drugs – does it save patients or put their safety at risk?
8/6/2018 • 12 minutes, 46 seconds
E29 – Neuropathic pain
David Liew interviews Dr Bridin Murnion about neuropathic pain – what’s changed and why are opioids relegated to third-line treatment?
7/19/2018 • 9 minutes, 24 seconds
E28 – A RUM deal for unwanted medicines
Joanne Cheah interviews Professor Amanda Wheeler about returning unwanted medicines to pharmacies. How can health professionals help reduce the waste?
7/4/2018 • 11 minutes, 31 seconds
E27 – Common eye infections
John Dowden interviews Professor Stephanie Watson about how to diagnose common eye infections, how to treat them, and when to refer to specialists.
6/20/2018 • 9 minutes, 53 seconds
E26 – Reducing medication errors at transitions of care
Dhineli Perera interviews Professor Amanda Wheeler about medication errors at transitions of care and how these can be avoided.
6/7/2018 • 11 minutes, 9 seconds
E25 – Antihistamines and allergy
Andrew Boyden interviews Dr Carolyn Hawkins about the use of antihistamines for managing allergy.
5/28/2018 • 8 minutes, 11 seconds
E24 – Prescribing wellness: a better way to manage chronic pain
Ashlea Broomfield interviews Dr Newman Harris about the management of pain without opioids.
5/15/2018 • 13 minutes, 29 seconds
E23 - 'Cephalosporin allergy' label is misleading
Dhineli Perera interviews Professor Connie Katelaris about why labelling an individual with a ‘cephalosporin allergy’ is inaccurate.
5/1/2018 • 9 minutes, 18 seconds
E22 – Pharmacovigilance and expedited drug approvals
John Dowden interviews Professor Jennifer Martin about why, when and how adverse drug reactions should be reported.
4/16/2018 • 11 minutes, 54 seconds
E21 – The cost of asthma medicines
David Liew interviews Professor Helen Reddel about the cost of asthma inhalers and implications for adherence.
4/4/2018 • 11 minutes, 23 seconds
E20 – Prescribing for polymyalgia rheumatica
Dr Andrew Boyden interviews Dr David Liew about the aetiology, pathophysiology and management of polymyalgia rheumatica.
3/19/2018 • 12 minutes, 28 seconds
E19 – Adverse effects of sports supplements in men
GP Janine Rowse interviews Dr Sarah Martin about the different products found in sports supplements and their wanted and unwanted effects.
3/5/2018 • 10 minutes, 1 second
E18 – Drugs affecting milk supply during lactation
Dhineli Perera interviews Dr Treasure McGuire about the drugs that can be used to improve or suppress milk supply.
2/19/2018 • 11 minutes, 23 seconds
E17 – An update on the treatment of rosacea
Dr Andrew Boyden interviews dermatologist Dr Margot Whitfeld about the diagnosis and treatment options for the different types of rosacea.
2/5/2018 • 11 minutes, 36 seconds
E16 - Changes for codeine
Dr David Liew interviews clinical pharmacologist Darren Roberts about why codeine is being rescheduled to a prescription-only medicine and what the implications are.
1/22/2018 • 9 minutes, 23 seconds
E15 - Functional dyspepsia
Dr David Liew interviews Professor Nick Talley about functional dyspepsia - what is it and how is it managed?
1/15/2018 • 13 minutes, 38 seconds
E14 – Top 10 drugs 2016–17
Dr John Dowden, Editor of Australian Prescriber, is interviewed by Dr David Liew about the top 10 drugs in Australia for 2016–17. Find out what has changed in terms of prescription counts and cost to Government over the past 10 years.
12/21/2017 • 9 minutes, 16 seconds
E13 – Australian biters and stingers: the latest on antivenoms
Dr Justin Coleman interviews clinical toxicologist Professor Geoff Isbister about Australian biters and stingers, and the latest on how to manage injuries from them.
12/15/2017 • 14 minutes, 7 seconds
E12 – Product familiarisation programs
Dr David Liew interviews Professor Greg Kyle about product familiarisation programs – are they medically worthwhile or just a marketing exercise?
12/12/2017 • 10 minutes, 57 seconds
E11 – Medication management on sick days
Dhineli Perera interviews clinical pharmacologist Darren Roberts about how a patient’s regular medicines can cause adverse effects during intercurrent illness. He gives advice about diuretics, antihypertensives, diabetes medicines, corticosteroids and digoxin.
11/27/2017 • 10 minutes, 31 seconds
E10 – Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis
Dhineli Perera interviews Dr Trisha Peel about prophylactic antibiotics for surgical procedures and when they should and should not be used.
11/19/2017 • 11 minutes, 10 seconds
E9 - Antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures
Kicking off World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Dhineli Perera interviews Dr Chris Daly about infection risk and antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry.
11/7/2017 • 10 minutes, 29 seconds
E8 – Treatment of fibromyalgia
Dr David Liew interviews Richard Kwiatek, a rheumatologist from Adelaide, about fibromyalgia and how GPs can help these patients in the community.
10/23/2017 • 11 minutes, 16 seconds
E7 – Suicidality: prevention, detection and intervention
Dr Janine Rowse discusses the role GPs play in the early detection and management of suicidality with Associate Professor Josephine Anderson from the Black Dog Institute.
10/10/2017 • 10 minutes, 4 seconds
E6 – Encouraging adherence to long-term medication
Dr Janine Rowse interviews Professor Tim Usherwood about the different types of medication non-adherence and his practical recommendations for better identification in the primary care setting.
9/26/2017 • 7 minutes, 28 seconds
E5 – Community use of naloxone for opioid overdose
Pharmacist Dhineli Perera interviews Dr Marianne Jauncey about naloxone, how it works, when it is used and its increased access in the community.
9/5/2017 • 12 minutes, 1 second
E4 – Chronic heart failure
Dr David Liew interviews Dr Ingrid Hopper about the management of chronic heart failure. Diagnosing the type of heart failure is critical as it determines treatment.
8/21/2017 • 15 minutes, 10 seconds
E3 – Immunisation and pregnancy
Dr Janine Rowse interviews Dr Kerrie Wiley about the benefits and safety of vaccination during pregnancy.
8/8/2017 • 11 minutes, 28 seconds
E2 – Changing Australian medicine names
Dhineli Perera interviews Jerry Yik about the TGA’s decision to change approximately 200 Australian medicines names. Why are they doing this, is it a good thing, and who will be affected?
7/25/2017 • 11 minutes, 12 seconds
E1 - Retail Genetics
Dr David Liew interviews Dr Ken Harvey about over-the-counter genetic tests, and whether they are all they promise to be.