CHOOSING Wisely Australia is today launching five new lists from leading medical organisations, including recommendations on reviewing Australians over the age of 65 taking five or more medications, to minimise risk of medication-related harm.
The 25 new recommendations being released by five expert bodies add to almost 160 NPS recommendations released over the two years since the campaign started.
President of the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand Dr Robert Pickles urges doctors treating Australians over 65 to implement a medication review as part of their next consultation.
Pickles said that studies indicated the risk of medication-related harm in over 65s rose once the number taken daily exceeded five, with risk rising exponentially as the number reached eight or more medications.
Medicines that Pickles suggested to reconsider included anti-anginal agents, benzodiazepines, anti-psychotics, hypoglycaemic agents, antithrombotic agents and anti-hypertensives.
Two other recommendations are designed to ensure Australian children do not have unnecessary diagnostic X-rays on their chest or abdomen and only patients totally unfit for work are certified as such.
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