Evidence-based information for health professionals in NZ
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This bulletin summarises the latest evidence on the safety of oral anticoagulants in breastfeeding. Dabigatran in Milk Study: We are also looking for participants in Canterbury who are taking dabigatran and breastfeeding who may be willing to be involved in research –more information is available in the bulletin.
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, […]
Free access is now available across primary and secondary care to the BNF, BNF for Children, Palliative Care Formulary, Psychotropic Drug Directory, Briggs Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation, Stockley’s Herbal Medicines Interactions, and Stockley’s Drug Interactions. Primary care users need to register for a Health New Zealand OpenAthens account first: health-new-zealand.libguides.com/primarycare
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.
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 […]
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 […]
This bulletin provides practical guidance for pharmacists preparing extemporaneous oral liquids, focusing on alternative pharmaceutical options, stability, common excipients, and useful resources.
Te Whata Kura, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national antibiotic guideline, officially launched on 18 December 2025 to provide consistent, equitable, and safe antibiotic advice across the country. Te Whata Kura replaces various hospital guidelines and is accessible as a web app for mobile and browser use.
Using a higher strength pen and “click counting” enables patients to save money on Wegovy® (semaglutide), i.e. to have additional doses from one pen. Hence this has become relatively common practice. This is ‘unapproved use’ of the product. We are not aware of problems being demonstrated from this practice. The manufacturer recommends against “click counting” […]
See the recently published article in Australian Prescriber written by two of our local clinical pharmacologists on the use of oral anticoagulation for AF or VTE – link
