Printer FriendlyIWK Drug Information
The IWK Drug Information Service is a resource for Maritime health professionals who practice in and outside of the IWK Health Centre. It exists to support the safe and effective use of drug therapy in pediatric and obstetrical patient populations, including post-partum and breast feeding patients.
The IWK Drug Information service is available from Monday to Friday, 8 am - 4 pm. Outside of these hours health professionals with non-urgent drug information requests are encouraged to call and leave a message or to e-mail their requests:
Tel: (902) 470-8689
Fax: (902) 470-8850,
E-mail: Click here to send a drug information request by e-mail
News
IWK Pharmacy Conference-slides available
On Saturday November 3rd 2012 the IWK Pharmacy department hosted a conference on Pediatric's and Women's Health at the Comfort Hotel in Bayers Lake, Halifax. Attendees can click on the links below to access the slides from that day. The slides will only be available until the end of November 2012. Please e-mail Dr Kronfli for a copy of his presentation at kronflipsychiatry@gmail.com identifying yourself as IWK CE.
Managing Anxiety & Mood Disorders in the Perinatal Period
Update on STIs in the Maritimes
Epilepsy: an update on Pediatric Treatments
Allergy or not Allergy: how do you know?
Knowledge is the Best Medicine!
Seven of Canada’s leading health care organizations have joined together to launch new electronic tools to help Canadians use their medications safely and appropriately.
They include a free new iPhone and iPad app, MyMedRec, and website which have been developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada with input from Canadian patient groups and health care provider organizations.
Pharmacists can review and share this tool with patients.
Pharmacists can review and share this tool with patients.
Drug Shortages
As you may be aware from recent media reports, Canada is currently experiencing drug shortages of commonly used medications, particularly those produced by Sandoz Canada. Recipes for compounded alternatives identified by the IWK will be posted to the IWK Compounding Formulas page. If we do not have the recipe you are looking for, our compounding room is available at 470-6436 to take calls between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Please review the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) weekly newsletter for updates and check back to this site regularly. Thank you.
Memos
Read the memo about the IWK Infectious Disease-approved recommendations for amoxicillin dosing while the penicillin-V suspension is back ordered here
Click here to read the latest information on the management of infants with reflux from the IWK Pharmacy and GI teams. This information is for health professionals not families.
IWK Formulary of Drugs and Dosing Manual
The most recent (8th)edition of the IWK Formulary was published in January 2009. There are no more copies for sale. This copy is acceptable to NSCP inspectors who may visit your pharmacy. According to the current list of Professional Library Requirements for Community Pharmacies in Nova Scotia all community pharmacies should also have the latest edition of the Pediatric and Neonatal Dosage Handbook (the 19th edition was published in August 2012) by Taketomo, or electronic equivalent.
The Pharmacy department is working hard to develop an on-line version of the Formulary - we hope to have this available in 2013.
Links
Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists
Dalhousie College of Pharmacy Drug Information Resources
Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia
Health Canada's Drug Product Database
Resources
Here are some suggested free, on-line resources that may help you find the answer you are looking for:
CAUTION: This information has been developed specifically for the IWK Health Centre. It is provided for informational purposes for qualified health care professionals. This material is not intended as a substitute for consulting qualified health care professionals. Patient situations will vary and some information may have become outdated as a result of more recent evidence or practice changes. The IWK Health Centre will not assume responsibility for the continued currency of the information, any errors or omissions, and/or any consequences arising from the use of the information outside of the IWK.
CAUTION: This information has been developed specifically for the IWK Health Centre. It is provided for informational purposes for qualified health care professionals. This material is not intended as a substitute for consulting qualified health care professionals. Patient situations will vary and some information may have become outdated as a result of more recent evidence or practice changes. The IWK Health Centre will not assume responsibility for the continued currency of the information, any errors or omissions, and/or any consequences arising from the use of the information outside of the IWK.
MGH Center for Women's Mental Health - a perinatal and reproductive psychiatry information center
Canadian Pediatric Society – Position Statements and Guidelines
Canadian Pediatric Society – Position Statements and Guidelines
Pediatric Pharmacotherapy – a monthly newsletter from the University of Virginia
LactMed - A peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed from the US National Library of Medicine. There is a free app available from iTunes.
Infant Risk - The Infant Risk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. Executive Director: Thomas Hale
Neonatal Formulary – a UK website that accompanies the book but does not repeat the text of the book
Neonatal Cochrane reviews – systematic reviews provided by the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group
Motherisk – from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children
Bugs and Drugs – Canadian reference for Infectious Diseases
Canadian Immunization Guide – from the Public Health Agency of Canada
BC Cancer Agency – health professional drug index
TRIP database - a clinical search tool designed to allow health professionals to rapidly identify the highest quality clinical evidence for clinical practice
For questions relating to poisons and antidotes please contact the Regional Poison Centre or call 1-800-565-8161.
Healthcare professionals requiring information for patients who are not part of the IWK’s patient population can call the Regional Drug Information Centre on 1-900-565-DRUG. There is a fee for this call.
