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Pharmaceuticals

Researchers delve into cause of 'scary' antidepressant withdrawal symptom

One in seven Australians are taking antidepressants, but some of them only find out about the adverse withdrawal symptoms called "brain zaps" through online forums and TikTok.
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a girl with glasses, black top smiles with headphones around her neck.

Why US federal agents effectively control a key ADHD drug shortage in Australia

The only pharmaceutical company in Australia which supplies the critical ADHD drug Vyvanse is in the grips of a global shortage, plunging some Australians into fear and uncertainty.
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Mark McCudden sitting in his office in front of pictures of his family.

'Health crisis' looming as series of pain relief opioid medications discontinued

Doctors hold growing concerns about a significant shortage of opioid pain medicines given to some of the sickest Australians.
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Kathy Claxton smiling and standing next to her two children.

On New Year's Day, Katie desperately needed a 24-hour pharmacy. But there are none left in Victoria

Since January 1, Victorians have no longer had access to any 24-hour pharmacies as cuts to government funding shrink the opening hours at local chemists.
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a male customer stands waiting at a pharmacy counter

Having cancer has cost Karen more than $10,000 and the monthly pharmacy bills keep adding up

Prescriptions may be subsidised but the cost of over-the-counter pharmacy products is adding up for the chronically ill.
Karen Armanasco stands behind a counter laden with medications and over-the-counter pharmacy products.

It liberated your mother and grandmother, but has the pill become a burden?

The culmination of birth control content on social media gives the distinct impression that young women today are well and truly fed up with the pill. In Australia, however, the research suggests a different reality.
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An old Anovlar pill box.

analysis:The accidental arrival of Ozempic could affect the health of the global economy

Not since Viagra has the world of medicine seen a bigger "accident" but if Ozempic can tackle the challenges obesity has presented in recent decades, there could be a profound impact on the global economy, writes Ian Verrender.
Ozempic is displayed in a pharmacy in Provo

TGA issues safety alert after compounding pharmacies use 'loophole' to make Ozempic replicas

Australia's medicines regulator issues a public safety warning over unauthorised replicas of the popular weight loss drug Ozempic, after an ABC investigation revealed hundreds of patients have been ordering off-brand versions online.
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Four syringes of compounded semaglutide, lying on a table.

Chemist Warehouse may be a discount pharmacy, but it's agreed to a merger worth $8.8 billion

After months of speculation, the retail pharmacy juggernaut that is Chemist Warehouse will merge with Sigma Healthcare to create the biggest pharmacy company in Australia. Here's how the deal came to fruition, and what it means for their hundreds of stores.
A woman walks down the aisle of a chemist

What you need to know about the new 'Kraken' COVID vaccine in Australia

New COVID booster shots are now available in Australia. So who should get one, and will it protect against the virus in time for Christmas?
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A generic stock photo of a row of COVID-19 vaccines against a blue background.

Pharmacist says 70pc of clients are black market users switching to legal cannabis supply

More people are using medical cannabis than ever before, but some health professionals are concerned that the explosion in clinics and online services may not meet the holistic approach to healthcare.
A hand holding cannabis

Months after Australia gave psychedelic treatment the green light, some say the system is 'virtually unworkable'

Since a surprise decision by Australia's drug regulator to approve the use of psychedelic drugs MDMA and psilocybin in treatment of mental illness, public interest has spiked. But those working in the field are calling for their concerns about the rollout to be urgently addressed.
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Yellow mushrooms set against bright green grass.

Thalidomide survivor says apology is long overdue

Artist Trish Jackson, a survivor of the Thalidomide scandal says an apology should have happened years and years ago and called for actions to simplify health funds for survivors. 
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ABC News Current
Duration: 4 minutes 33 seconds

Federal government rolls out timeline for major vaping crackdown

Single-use vapes will be banned from being imported into Australia from January in the first stage of a government crackdown against recreational vaping.
someone vaping

analysis:Growing antibiotic resistance is a grave threat to humanity. Here's what animal farming has to do with it

Antimicrobial resistance is corroding one of the core pillars of modern pharmaceuticals, and it is rampant. Yet we do not know how many AMR incidents are occurring across Australia, nor how many antibiotics are in circulation, writes Linton Besser. 
Coloured pills in blister packs

Thalidomide was dubbed a morning sickness 'wonder treatment'. Now, its survivors will finally get an apology

Lisa McManus was born with deformities after her mum took a morning sickness drug during pregnancy. She's been waiting years for the government to apologise for allowing thalidomide on Australian shelves.
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Lisa McManus is a thalidomide survivor

Yoghurt vs probiotics: Which is better for restoring that good gut bacteria?

Probiotics that fill supermarket shelves promise to boost your digestion and immune system. Some even claim they can help people with an irritable bowel or low mood. Let's look at the evidence.
Probiotic variety

Not all Canberrans will benefit from a scheme allowing pharmacists to prescribe the contraceptive pill

Five ACT pharmacies will take part in a trial letting chemists resupply some oral contraceptives, but with tight requirements — including that patients have been prescribed the medication for over two years, are aged between 18 and 35, and are using it for contraceptive purposes.
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A pharmacist holds a medication box in one hand and a sheet of tablets in the other.

Kimberley pharmacist recognised for delivering medications by helicopter during floods

As floodwaters cut off towns and Aboriginal communities during the devastating Kimberley floods this year, pharmacist Mary Baker had one main concern: How to get critical medications to those in need. She's since been nominated for the National Rural and Remote Health Award.
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A woman standing in front of a pharmacy shelf full of medication.

Why marijuana users are worried corporations will replace drug dealers

The first-ever bill to create a legal recreational marijuana market in Australia was lodged in federal parliament earlier this year — but not all cannabis enthusiasts are on board with the proposal to legalise it.
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Close up of medicinal cannabis plant being grown in a farm.

National HRT patch shortages are having a big impact on those who need them

Women are being thrust back to the most severe stages of menopause amid long-running shortages of hormone replacement therapy patches.
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Jackie Fahey, Grace Lam, Jodie Barber, Sharon Marlow and Liz Depers

'Unpoliced pots of gold': The questionable business practices in podiatry 

An investigation into the business practices of a podiatrist who describes himself as probably the highest-paid practitioner in Australia has exposed some deep failings in the health system that open it up to rorting and privacy breaches.
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A person uses a ruler to measure someone's feet.

Trish learnt to thrive despite cover-ups, inaction and decades of pain. Now she'll receive an apology

It's Australia's worst pharmaceutical disaster. Now, more than 60 years later, thalidomide survivors and their families will receive a national apology.
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An old photo of a smiling baby in a white frilly dress, with no arms and few fingers.

How a golf club to the face led Rhonda and Terry White to an unstoppable partnership

A young pharmacy student never imaged a serious golfing mishap would lead to a lifelong business and romantic partnership.
An elderly couple in a pharmacy

Combination COVID/flu vaccines are passing clinical trials. When can we expect them in Australia?

Wouldn't it be handy if we could be vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 with a single shot? Early clinical trials indicate that could be possible in a few years.
Vaccination syringes and glass bottles on a yellow background