Medication

Medications are important to living a healthy and long life. YOURLifeChoices discuss the different kinds of Vitamins & Supplements available on the market and looks at Alternative Medicines, some which are available subsidized through Medicare.

Medication labelling

Health consumer advocates have uncovered what they feel might be an unacceptable level of pharmacists dispensing medications with ‘use as directed’ or equivalent on the label. They argue that this is both dangerous and confusing

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New PBS medications

While not contagious or life threatening, psoriasis can have a devastating effect on people’s lives.  New PBS measures may bring long-term relief.

Adalimumab will be available for treatment of severe psoriasis.  This is an alternative to already listed medications, etanercept and infliximab.  Etanercept, which is currently available for a course of 12 weeks and then a treatment-free period of 12 weeks, can now be prescribed to certain patients for a 24 week period with no treatment-free period necessary.

Efalizumab has been delisted.

Peptic ulcers can be extremely painful and difficult to treat for those unable to swallow tablets or who are being tube fed.  A new granule formulation of pantoprazole is now available on the PBS.  It is available as a restricted benefit listing for the treatment of gastro oesophageal reflux, scleroderma of the oesohagus and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

For more information on what medications are available, visit the PBS.