3 or more 200-dose canisters a year is linked to more severe flare-ups. 12 or more is linked to a higher risk of dying from asthma. Either is a cue to review treatment.

37.5–50 mg orally, then each morning for a total of 5–10 days. A short course does not need tapering. Adolescents: 1 mg/kg (maximum 50 mg) once daily for 3–5 days.

It is a prescription option for severe cystic acne that has not improved with standard treatment. TGA warnings highlight possible mood-related changes and sexual disorders.

Use gradual dose reduction when appropriate and monitor carefully. Deprescribing is a planned process, not simply deleting medicines from the chart.

Some antidepressants, antipsychotics and antihistamines also have anticholinergic effects. Their combined effects can contribute to cognitive decline and loss of function in older people.

No. Most commonly used medicines expose the infant to small amounts through milk. Assess the particular medicine and possible infant effects; seek reliable breastfeeding medicines advice when uncertain.

No. Participating pharmacies provide naloxone free without a prescription. Access also includes services such as alcohol and other drug treatment centres and needle and syringe programs.

Codeine needs metabolic activation to morphine. CYP2D6 inhibition can reduce that conversion, so combining the medicines may produce less analgesia.

Take the sample 12 hours after the last dose. Consistent timing is essential for meaningful interpretation.

No. Consider the medicine's full information, the patient's circumstances and the balance of maternal and fetal benefits and risks. Decisions should involve the patient and a health professional.

Schedule 3: pharmacist-only medicine. Schedule 4: prescription-only medicine. Schedule 8: controlled drug. Scheduling controls public access, with legal effect through state and territory legislation.

Selected letters are capitalised to make similar names easier to distinguish. The national list standardises this technique to help reduce medicine selection errors.

Neuromuscular overactivity, autonomic disturbance and altered mental state. Look for findings such as clonus or hyperreflexia, sweating or fever, and agitation or confusion.

Automated ECG measurements can be unreliable. Measure the QT manually; heart-rate correction formulas also become less accurate at very fast or slow rates.

Use the area under the concentration–time curve to assess exposure. Drug monitoring helps individualise therapy rather than assuming a standard dose suits everyone.

Andexanet alfa binds factor Xa inhibitors. Its association with thrombotic events means it is reserved for more severe bleeding, with specialist input and local protocols.

Changes in circulating volume can alter lithium concentrations and increase toxicity risk. Recheck levels in these circumstances and reassess treatment clinically.

The Australian Government subsidises listed medicines to improve affordable access. Most are dispensed through pharmacies for use at home; some require specialised services such as hospitals.

Renal impairment can increase DOAC exposure. Dose adjustment and contraindication thresholds differ between drugs; dabigatran has the greatest dependence on renal clearance.