• Large Number Of New Zealanders Affected By Medication Changes. New Zealanders are experiencing arguably the largest medicine switch this country has ever seen. It began on January 1 for more than 200,000  people taking the most commonly used brand of omeprazole – a heart burn medication.
  
  From May, funding changes will also affect the 250,000  people taking the cholesterol lowering medication LIPEX® (simvastatin, MSD) although patients could be switched from as early as today. Click here for more.
  
  
• New Zealand HIV patients who were facing a bleak future, will now have a new treatment option thanks to ISENTRESS^TM (raltegravir) recently being approved for use in New Zealand.
  Dr Simon Briggs, Infectious Diseases Physician at Auckland City Hospital, says, "This is great news for people with HIV infection, and for the doctors treating them, as there is a real need for new HIV treatments in New Zealand."  Click here for more.
  
  
• Patients now have easier access to hypertension and heart failure treatments - COZAAR^TM (losartan potassium) and HYZAAR^TM (losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide) - thanks to PHARMAC widening the Special Authority criteria on 1 June 2008. Click here for more.
  
  
• Merck Sharp & Dohme New Zealand (MSDNZ) has gained registration for its osteoporosis medication FOSAMAX PLUS™ 5600 IU.  MSDNZ Managing Director, Alister Brown, says "This will be welcome news for the many doctors who have been calling for increased Vitamin D supplementation in osteoporosis medication.  Click here for more.
  
  
• New Zealanders with Type 2 diabetes now have access to a new medicine which is significantly less likely to cause weight gain or dangerously low blood sugar; thanks to Merck Sharp & Dohme New Zealand's (MSDNZ) once-daily tablet, JANUVIA® (sitagliptin, MSD), which has been approved for use in New Zealand.  Click here for more.
  
  
• The new PROPECIA® (finasteride, MSD) advertising campaign has recently gone to air. Titled "Propecia Twins" and starring the actors from the initial ad, it follows on from the original story but now we meet the twins four years later and there are some noticeable changes!  Click here for more.
  
  
• Doctors can now upgrade osteoporosis patients to FOSAMAX PLUS and initiate new patients straight onto the new, once-weekly combination treatment.  Click here for more.
  
  
• Final results were presented from the largest and longest arthritis study programme ever undertaken, the MEDAL (Multinational Etoricoxib and Diclofenac Arthritis Long-Term) Programme.  Click here for more.
  

Media Archive

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING LIPEX (simvastatin) 10, 20, 40 & 80 mg tablets:
LIPEX is indicated for patients at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or with existing CHD and as an adjunct (addition) to diet for patients with high cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia).  LIPEX should not be taken by patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction, active liver disease, who are pregnant or nursing. Precaution should be taken when administering LIPEX to children and to patients with muscle pain, increased creatine kinase (muscle enzymes), history of liver disease, raised liver function tests. Common side effects are: abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence. Rarely: muscle pain (myopathy), rhabdomyolysis and hepatitis. LIPEX is a fully funded, prescription only medicine, a prescription charge will apply. Consult your doctor to see if LIPEX is right for you, a normal doctor's visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673, or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-ZCR-3]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING JANUVIA (sitagliptin phosphate) 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablets:
JANUVIA administered with metformin or a PPAR agonist (eg thiazolidinedione) or alone, is indicated as adjunctive (added) therapy to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic (blood sugar) control in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes. JANUVIA should not be taken by patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction or patients with Type 1 diabetes or to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. Precaution should be taken when administering JANUVIA to patients with kidney dysfunction, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Side effects reported in clinical studies with an incidence similar to placebo are: hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hypersensitivity reactions. JANUVIA is a private purchase, prescription only medicine, that the patient will need to pay for. Price may vary across pharmacies. Consult your doctor to see if JANUVIA is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673 or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-JAN-1]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING HYZAAR (losartan potassium & hydrochlorothiazide) 50/12.5mg tablet:
HYZAAR is indicated for the treatment of hypertension and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. HYZAAR should not be taken in patients who have anuria or a hypersensitivity reaction, including a reaction to sulphonamides. Precaution should be taken when administering HYZAAR to pregnant women and patients with liver or renal impairment, low blood pressure, fluid imbalance or diabetes. Common side effects are: dizziness, fatigue, cough, diarrhoea, urticaria. Rarely: hepatitis, hypersensitivity, angioedema. HYZAAR is a prescription medicine fully subsidised under special authority for those who meet specified criteria. A prescription charge will apply. Consult your doctor to see if HYZAAR is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information consult the data sheet, or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673, or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-HYZ-2]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING FOSAMAX Plus (alendronate /colecalciferol) 70 mg/ 70mcg (2800 IU Vitamin D3) and 70mg/140mcg (5600 IU vitamin D3) tablets:
FOSAMAX Plus is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in select patients where Vitamin D supplementation is recommended. FOSAMAX Plus should not be taken by patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction, food pipe (oesophageal) abnormalities, low calcium (hypocalcaemia) and have an inability to stand/sit upright for 30mins. Precaution should be taken when administering FOSAMAX Plus to patients with active upper gastrointestinal problems or impaired renal function. Common side effects are: abdominal pain, dyspepsia, food pipe (oesophageal) ulcer, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), abdominal distension, musculoskeletal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and headache. FOSAMAX Plus 70mg/70mcg (2800IU vitamin D3) is a prescription only medicine fully subsidised under special authority for those who meet specified criteria. A prescription charge will apply. FOSAMAX Plus 70mg/140mcg (5600IU vitamin D3) is a private purchase prescription only medicine that the patient will need to pay for. Consult your doctor to see if FOSAMAX Plus is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673, or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-FSP-5]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING COZAAR (losartan potassium) 12.5, 25, 50 and 100mg tablets:
COZAAR is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, to provide renal protection in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria and to treat heart failure in patients who cannot tolerate an ACE inhibitor. COZAAR should not be used in patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction. Precaution should be taken when administering COZAAR to pregnant women and patients with, hypotension, electrolyte/fluid imbalance, liver dysfunction or renal impairment. Common side effects are: dizziness, hypotension, anaemia, muscle pain (myalgia), migraine, cough, itching (pruritis), rash (urticaria), hypersensitivity, swelling of face, lips and tongue (angioedema). Rarely: hepatitis and liver function abnormalities. COZAAR is a prescription only medicine, fully subsidised under special authority for those who meet specified criteria. A prescription charge will apply. Consult your doctor to see if COZAAR is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information consult the data sheet, or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673, or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-CZR-5]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING PROPECIA (finasteride) 1mg tablet:
PROPECIA is indicated for the treatment of men with male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) to increase hair growth and prevent further hair loss. PROPECIA should not be taken by women and patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction. Precaution should be taken in regard to pregnant women handling PROPECIA tablets. A decrease of serum prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) may be seen upon testing. Common side effects are: decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, decreased volume of ejaculate (each of these adverse effects occurred in less than two men in one hundred), testicular pain, breast tenderness/enlargement and hypersensitivity. PROPECIA is a private purchase prescription medicine that the patient will need to pay for. Price may vary across different pharmacies. Consult your doctor to see if PROPECIA is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional.
Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland
For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information on 0800 500 673 or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-PPC-2]

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING ISENTRESS (raltegravir) 400 mg tablet. ISENTRESS is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced patients with evidence of HIV-1 replication despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy. ISENTRESS should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, children or by patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction. Precaution should be taken when administering ISENTRESS to patients with indolent or residual opportunistic infections. Caution should be used when co-administering ISENTRESS with strong inducers of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 (e.g., rifampin). Common side effects are: diarrhoea, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, fatigue and dizziness. ISENTRESS is a private purchase prescription only medicine that the patient will need to pay for. Price may vary across pharmacies. Consult your doctor to see if ISENTRESS is right for you, a normal doctors visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information phone 0800 500 673 or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz.
[MPI-ISE-1]

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