Understanding the role of palliative care for people with advanced dementia

Advanced dementia is a terminal condition for which palliative...

Symptom management in palliative dementia care

Physical symptoms commonly experienced by people with advanced...

Managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

Most people with dementia develop behavioural and psychological...

Recognising and managing early dementia

Dementia (mate wareware - see below) is a growing healthcare...

Age-related cognitive decline: prevention and future planning

Declining cognitive function can be a difficult topic to raise...

The funded brand of lamotrigine is changing

Changes in funded brands of antiepileptic medicines can lead...

Balancing the benefits and risks of prescribing antiepileptic medicines in women

Antiepileptic medicines reduce the risk of seizures in people...

Avoiding the triple whammy in primary care: ACE inhibitor/ARB + diuretic + NSAID

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II...

Prescribing gabapentin and pregabalin: upcoming subsidy changes

From 1 May, 2018, pregabalin will be available to prescribe,...

Selected topics in acute pain management for primary care

There are a multitude of causes of acute pain, however, the...

The principles of managing acute pain in primary care

The primary aim of acute pain management is to provide treatment...

Medicinal cannabinoids: current regulations for prescribing

Recent amendments have been made to regulations concerning the...

Diagnosing and managing headache in adults in primary care

A systematic approach is recommended when assessing patients...

I dream of sleep: managing insomnia in adults - Part 1

bpacnz recognises that the assessment and management of insomnia...

I dream of sleep: managing insomnia in adults - Part 2

bpacnz recognises that the assessment and management of insomnia...

Helping patients with epilepsy adhere to their medicines

People with epilepsy require good adherence to anti-epileptic...

Managing patients with neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain results from a lesion or disease affecting...

Melatonin: is it worth losing any sleep over?

Melatonin: is it worth losing any sleep over?

Modified-release melatonin is an unsubsidised medicine that...

Medicine updates

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

The role of triptans in the treatment of migraine in adults

Paracetamol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)...

The management of Parkinson’s disease: Which treatments to start and when?

The treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease usually involves...

Managing patients with dementia: What is the role of antipsychotics?

Concerns have been raised, both in New Zealand and internationally,...

Hazardous substances series: Pyrethroid toxicity and its management

Contributed by Dr Michael Beasley and Dr Wayne Temple, National...

Multiple sclerosis: Managing shades of grey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central...

H1N1 influenza vaccination and the risk of childhood narcolepsy

IN MARCH, 2012 A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE in the rate of childhood...

The night time hustle: managing restless legs syndrome in adults

Restless legs syndrome is a common neurological disorder that...

Sleep disturbances: managing parasomnias in general practice

The term "parasomnia" describes a group of sleep disorders associated...

Silencing tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the ear or head,...

A delicate balance: managing vertigo in general practice

Vertigo is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Although usually benign,...

Prescribing atypical antipsychotics in general practice

The use of atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine and olanzapine...

Raynaud's phenomenon: a whiter shade to winter's pale

Raynaud's phenomenon is a circulatory disorder, characterised...

The fear of enabling; misuse of prescription medicines

Misuse of prescription opioids is increasing worldwide and many...

Investigating mercury toxicity

Although there are many potential sources of exposure to mercury...

The pharmacological management of Alzheimer’s disease: The place of donepezil

From November 1, 2010 donepezil will be funded without Special...

Snippets: Dextropropoxyphene & Donepezil

Donepezil to be funded on pharmaceutical schedule | Dextropropoxyphene...

Snippets: Gabapentin Humalog & Tramadol

Humalog, Tramadol and Gabapentin

Prescribing issues associated with anticonvulsant medications for epilepsy

The goal of successful pharmacological treatment in epilepsy...

Having a senior moment?

Differentiating normal age-related memory loss from early onset...

Five-minute back examination with neurological assessment

Instructions and illustrations for performing a quick examination...

The problem of pain memory: persistent central sensitisation pain

Pain memory occurs when the nervous system has become up-regulated...

Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain

The treatment of neuropathic pain involves a different step-wise...

Medication-overuse headache: when the cure becomes the cause

Medication-overuse headache is a complex disorder best described...

Managing insomnia

There is a more recent article on managing insomnia. See:...

Dilemmas: Recognition and treatment of pain in elderly people

Chronic pain is common in elderly people, however it is often...

Snippets: Drug information of topical interest

• Calcium Supplementation and the risk of myocardial infarction
• Use...

Dear Dave

Do timolol eye drops cause cold extremeties and tiredness?Dave...

Headache in primary care

Advice on diagnosis and management of primary headaches

Parkinson's disease

Covers diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease

CARM Reports; Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Covers the symptoms and causes of Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic...

Dear Dave

Can smoking cessation affect the dose of antipsychotics?Do statins...

Practice Debate: antipsychotics in the treatment of dementia

This article covers the role and safety concerns of antipsychotics...