NEW recommendations on complementary medicines, homeopathy and polypharmacy were released yesterday by Choosing Wisely Australia, based on input from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
The inaugural PSA Choosing Wisely list says health professionals should not promote or provide homeopathic products, noting there is "no reliable evidence of efficacy.
"All health professionals should take the time to discuss with health consumers who are taking or considering taking these products, the lack of efficacy and the risks in rejecting or delaying other treatments known to be safe and effective," said newly appointed PSA National President, Dr Chris Freeman.
In regard to complementary and alternative medicines, the PSA advice is for pharmacists to present clear information about their safety and evidence base "and only recommend these products when the known benefit outweighs the potential harm".
One of the six recommendations deals with antibiotic resistance, advising pharmacists not to dispense repeat scripts for antibiotics without first clarifying clinical appropriateness.
Patients taking five or more medications should not be prescribed additional drugs without a comprehensive review of their existing medications, including OTC items and dietary supplements, to determine whether any medications or supplements should or can be reduced or discontinued.
Choosing Wisely Australia said every year about 230,000 people are admitted to hospital here as a result of medication misadventure - almost four times the number who are hospitalised as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
Despite costing the health system $1.2 billion annually, almost a quarter of adverse drug events in primary care are preventable.
The Choosing Wisely initiative launched in Apr 2015, and since then has released 189 healthcare recommendations from 42 colleges, societies and associations.
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