Pharmacology & Prescribing Flashcards

Which organisation in New Zealand is responsible for determining which medicines are subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Schedule?

Answer: PHARMAC

PHARMAC (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) manages the NZ Pharmaceutical Schedule and decides which medicines are funded for New Zealanders.

When prescribing a long-term NSAID for an elderly patient with osteoarthritis in New Zealand, which co-prescription is most strongly recommended to reduce gastrointestinal risk?

Answer: A proton pump inhibitor (PPI)

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are co-prescribed with NSAIDs in high-risk patients (elderly, history of peptic ulcer) to protect the gastric mucosa from NSAID-induced injury.

According to New Zealand community-acquired pneumonia guidelines, what is the recommended first-line oral antibiotic for a non-hospitalised adult without significant comorbidities?

Answer: Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is the first-line antibiotic for community-acquired pneumonia in ambulatory NZ adults without comorbidities, as per BPAC NZ and national guidelines targeting typical pathogens.

In New Zealand, which of the following medications requires a Special Authority application before PHARMAC will subsidise it?

Answer: Adalimumab (Humira)

Adalimumab requires a Special Authority application approved by PHARMAC before it is subsidised, as it is a high-cost biologic with specific indications and criteria for use.

Under New Zealand law, when prescribing a controlled drug, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for the prescription to be legally valid?

Answer: The total quantity must be written in both words and figures

NZ Misuse of Drugs Regulations require that the quantity of a controlled drug on a prescription be stated in both words and figures to prevent tampering and fraud.

A patient on stable warfarin therapy begins taking St John's Wort for low mood. What effect would you expect on their INR?

Answer: INR decreases due to CYP450 enzyme induction

St John's Wort is a potent inducer of CYP450 enzymes (especially CYP3A4 and CYP2C9), which accelerates warfarin metabolism and reduces anticoagulation, thereby lowering the INR.

Which prescribing resource is specifically developed for New Zealand healthcare professionals and provides evidence-based, NZ-contextualised prescribing guidance free of charge?

Answer: New Zealand Formulary (NZF)

The New Zealand Formulary (NZF) is the primary NZ-specific prescribing reference, providing evidence-based guidance tailored to NZ medicines, PHARMAC funding, and regulatory context.