Purple Pen Podcast

Kristin speaks with two pharmacists working in menopause care: Bo Kim, clinical pharmacist and founder of EmpowHer Menopause in Perth Jarrah Anderson, Clinical Lead at MedCast and member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance In this episode Types of menopausal hormone treatment (MHT) When different MHT options are used in perimenopause and menopause. Safety conversations Current thinking on precautions and contraindications, and how to explain risks and benefits clearly. Access and cost in Australia PBS considerations, affordability and opportunities for pharmacist support. Bio‑identical and body‑identical hormones Why it matters for patient communication. Testosterone in menopause care What the evidence says about when it can be used and practical issues with prescribing and access. Non‑hormonal therapies Options for symptom management, including the emerging medicine fezolinetant. Links: Medcast Qhub - quality use of medicines resources - https://medcast.com.au/qhub Australian Menopause Society Complementary medicines and therapies: options for menopausal symptoms - https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=3234710f-e5db-4aa1-bff8-ae98449fffad Guide to MHT/HRT Doses - https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=6ecead60-db26-4dfc-a662-794d7b39ef59 Jean Hailes Perimenopause and menopause symptom checklist https://jeanhailes.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Perimenopause-and-menopause-symptom-checklist_TGD.pdf

This International Women's Day (IWD) we a focused on women's health. In this episode, Kristin speaks with Professor Susan Davis, AO, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, Head Monash University Women's Health Research Program, Endocrinologist, leading menopause researcher. Prof Davis is Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne. She is a consultant Endocrinologist at Cabrini Medical Centre and Head of the Women's Specialist Clinic, the Alfred Hospital Melbourne. She is also President of the International Menopause Society and Past-President of the Australasian Menopause Society. They discuss the definitions of menopause, the menopause transition and perimenopause, along with factors that influence the timing of menopause and the wide range of symptoms women may experience. Professor Davis explains the role of blood hormone testing in menopause care. The conversation also covers contraception in perimenopausal women. They also review the evidence for menopausal hormone therapy, including indications for treatment, the benefits and risks of different therapies, and duration of use. Links: https://www.menopause.org.au/

In this episode, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pharmacists Clarissa Rentsch and Sheridan Rodda break down the essentials of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, from diagnosis and treatment options to the expanding role of monoclonal therapies. We explore Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, therapeutic drug monitoring and how pharmacists can optimise care for people living with IBD. A clear, practical conversation for clinicians and anyone wanting to better understand this complex condition. Purple Pen Podcast 2026 Listener Survey https://tinyurl.com/PPPSurvey2026

In this episode, I'm coming to you live from NAPSA Congress, the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association's week-long flagship event that brings together pharmacy students from across Australia. The Congress is packed with education sessions, workshops, social events, networking opportunities, and a vibrant trade exhibition, and this episode captures the energy of being right in the middle of it all. I spoke with Sebastian Harper from Griffith University, NAPSA's National President, Sebastian Schulke from the University of Queensland, and Mia Avram from Monash University and NAPSA's National Treasurer. We spoke about their favourite moments from Congress, what stood out most, and the key learnings they will be taking forward into their future pharmacy careers. Our conversations explored a wide range of timely and important topics, including practical insights into probiotics, the expanding role of pharmacists in harm reduction and dependency services such as naloxone take-home programs, and the skills of full-scope physical assessment. We also discussed how pharmacists can better support patients using GLP-1 agonists, from counselling to ongoing care, and what it really means to serve your community as a healthcare professional. We also touched on highlights from Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY), unpacking the qualities that set leaders apart, as well as a thoughtful conversation on authenticity in pharmacy. We discussed why being yourself matters, how to avoid the "pharmacist Barbie" stereotype, and the value of showing up as a real, relatable professional. This episode was recorded live in the trade exhibition space at NAPSA Congress, so you may hear some background noise throughout. Every effort has been made to optimise the audio while keeping the authentic atmosphere of Congress intact.

Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Josh Schiller, a Accredited Practising Dietitian, about navigating the world of nutritional supplements and vitamins in pharmacy practice. Josh breaks down which products he would recommend, the key interactions between diet, vitamins, and prescription medicines that you need to know about and the age old question, do you really need that multi-vitamin. From green leafy vegetables to food-drug interactions that can impact therapy outcomes, this episode will help you confidently guide your patients through the supplement aisle and beyond.

We talk to Gary Bain (AKA the wound guy) about the integumentary system, the stages of wound healing, the advantages of good old fashioned clean water for wound cleaning, guiding principles of dressing changes for inflammatory phase vs proliferation phase, when to use different types of dressings e.g hydrocolloid, the benefits of a wound selfie to check progress, advantages of compression bandages for accelerating wound repair, the importance of moisturising a closed wound and busting wound management myths.

We talked with, Dr Eleni Yiasemides (board-certified consultant Dermatologist specialist from Sydney) about *Inappropriate indications for topical corticosteroids (cortisones) like perioral dermatitis when less is usually more *The verdict on combination products corticosteroids + anti fungal creams and when to use them *Busting myths on topical corticosteroids like "apply sparingly" *The issue of tachyphylaxis *Practice points about alcohol based treatments, preservatives and fragrance *Alternative topical therapy other than corticosteroids *Best practice for managing skin health (moisture, hydration and occlusion) alongside medicated treatment like corticosteroids Read further Perioral dermatitis https://dermnetnz.org/topics/periorificial-dermatitis RACGP https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2021/september/selection-of-a-corticosteroid The Australasian College of Dermatologists https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ACD-Fact-Sheet-Topical-corticosteroids-and-eczema-April-2024.pdf

We're marking World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025 with an episode dedicated entirely to antibiotics, the medicines we rely on every day and the ones we need to protect. We're joined by Caroline Chen, a senior antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist and project officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, for a deep dive into all things antibiotics. Together, we walk through the ABCs of commonly used antibiotics, or more accurately the B through T, including beta-lactams, clindamycin, doxycycline, macrolides, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, quinolones, rifampicin and trimethoprim. This episode highlights how these medicines work and when we use them and key counselling points. Antibiotics are a finite resource, and understanding them is one of the most powerful tools we have to preserve their effectiveness for the future.

Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Angela Kwong, a Sydney-based General Practitioner with a special interest in medically supervised weight management, about the use of GLP-1 agonists. Dr Kwong serves as the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management and works closely with colleagues across disciplines to improve care for people living with obesity. She is also the founder of Enlighten Me, a multidisciplinary online program that provides evidence-based, GP-led support for patients seeking weight management. The program has been recognised for its contribution to patient education and its focus on accessible, stigma-free care. Additional GLP-1 reading: 1. GLP-1 agonist role in renal protection - FLOW Trial 1a. Digestible summary of the FLOW trial 2. Current ANZCA guidelines for anaesthesia / sedation in patients using GLP-1 agonists (May 2025) 3. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity

We talk with Prof Pete Smith, an allergist from Queensland about Why rhinitis shouldn't be sneezed at (sorry we had to), including the consequences of allergic rhinitis being un/undertreated The recommended method to use intranasal sprays - hint "if you can taste it, you're wasting it" How to discuss concerns patients might have about intranasal corticosteroids The long list of potential triggers of nonallergic rhinitis What are the red flag symptoms of rhinitis? Some further reading: Nonallergic Rhinopathy: A Comprehensive Review of Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, S2213-2198(24)00270-8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2024.03.009 Itch Beyond the Skin-Mucosal Itch. Front Allergy. 2021;2:700368. Published 2021 Oct 28. https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2021.700368 Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis. World Allergy Organ J. 2009 Jun 15;2(6):102-5. https://doi.org/10.1097/wox.0b013e3181a8e389 Allergic and Mixed Rhinitis: Diagnosis and Natural Evolution. J Clin Med. 2019 Nov 19;8(11):2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8112019

Listen in to round out our conversation about anticoagulation, by hearing from two Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacists - Hadley Bortz from the Alfred in Melbourne and Julianne Chong from Concord Hospital. Find out more about ACS programs in Australia and overseas and the benefits that these programs can bring to your health service. Anticoagulant patient care plan Anticoagulation Forum Advancing Anticoagulation Stewardship: A Playbook CATAG Medicines Stewardship Toolkit

Join us as we talk with Prof Prash Sanders about the role of anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), learn when patients should be screened for AF, how to perform a stroke risk assessment and strategies to reduce the risk of bleeding. This podcast is in collaboration with Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, a provider of health professional education in Australia focused on the quality use of medicines. Check out their resources here. Clinical guide: Anticoagulant management for AF Anticoagulant patient care plan Prof Prash Sanders is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with a focus on heart rhythm disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation. He graduated with Honours from the University of Adelaide and completed advanced training in Melbourne and Bordeaux, France, earning national and international recognition for his research and clinical expertise. He is the Clinical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and holds the Knapman – National Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiology Research at the University of Adelaide. Dr Sanders has published over 600 papers and is a leader in advanced ablation techniques. He consults and performs procedures across multiple hospitals and regional clinics in South Australia. Jarrah is a clinical pharmacist with a passion for education and quality use of data. He has led national health programs, including GP audit and feedback initiatives and Indigenous health nKPIs. He is currently clinical lead at MedCast, supporting best practice care through the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance.

Naloxone has been available in Australia without prescription since 2022 (after pilot programs through 2019-2021, analysis showed this trial saved 3 lives per day). Join us as Kristin and Nat talk naloxone with Pharmacist Emily Turkovic. Emily shares her personal story and why she is passionate about ensuring that naloxone is widely available in our community. Listen in for tips and tricks on how to broach the subject with patients and ways to de-stigmatise naloxone. Resources: Opioid Safety Toolkit Free Take Home Naloxone training program Find out more about the Take Home Naloxone program here. Take Home Naloxone Program Resources

Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Ian Heslop about the health care needs of travellers, covering topics such as traveller's diarrhoea, altitude sickness and more. Listen until the end to find out what Ian brings in his travel medicine kit! Ian is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle and has a strong background in Hospital Pharmacy and in academia. He was involved in the establishment of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at James Cook University in Townsville - and whilst teaching at JCU, he completed his doctorate in travel health.

Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Chelsea Felkai about being a healthcare provider for patients with intellectual disability. Chelsea is a community pharmacist who is completing her PhD at the University of Newcastle. You can find resources relating to the provision of inclusive healthcare and the NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability that Chelsea refers to in the podcast here. Other resources include: PSA Medicine safety: disability care report https://www.psa.org.au/advocacy/working-for-our-profession/medicine-safety/disability-care/ Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care - https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/intellectual-disability-and-inclusive-health-care Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 - https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/ads/strategy NDIS - https://www.ndis.gov.au/ NDIS – Consumables - https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/consumables Guardianship Division - https://ncat.nsw.gov.au/how-ncat-works/ncat-divisions-and-appeal-panel/guardianship-division.html Behaviour Support Plans - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices Easy Read - https://pwd.org.au/resources/easy-read-info/ Ten Principles of Good Prescribing (British Pharmacological Society's Principles for Good Prescribing 2010) Maudsley deprescribing guidelines for antidepressants, benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids, and Z-drugs. PHARMACISTS OPTIMISING MEDICINES IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND AUTISM (POMPIDA) – Facebook group Public Hearing Report – Hearing 6 (Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability)

Join Natalie as she chats with Dermatologist A/Prof Deshan Sebaratnam about the management of acne. Listen in as they chat about over the counter treatment options, what may have changed in acne management and the effectiveness of isotretenoin. A/Prof Sebaratnam, in addition to his private practice, as a specialist dermatologist at Liverpool and Dubbo Base Hospitals in NSW.

Tune in as Dr Sayontonee Ghosh gives an overview of TB including: Transmission Diagnosis Screening Symptoms Treatment options

Did you know that PPIs are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in Australia according to PBS data? Join Kristin for a deep dive into proton pump inhibitors as she chats with Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Gastrointestinal endoscopist, Dr Kostas Brooks. What dose PPIs should patients actually be taking? How do you manage rebound symptoms? Listen in to find out.

Join Kristin as she chats with Dr Gaurav Sutrave to chat about emergening treatments for fungal infections. Gaurav is a Staff Specialist Haematologist and Transplant and Cell Therapies Physician at Westmead Hospital, as well as the Medical Director for the Westmead T cell Therapies Laboratory.