Appropriate inhaler technique
Winter is a great time to check inhaler technique with your patients. Appropriate inhaler technique is paramount to prevent asthma and COPD flares which are more common over winter. Key inhaler technique to patients:
How to use Ellipta devices
- Slide coloured lid open until click is heard. This preps the dose and counter will drop by one number.
- Breath out away from inhaler then seal lips around mouthpiece (ensuring the vent is facing up and taking care not to cover the vent). Inhale deeply, remove the inhaler from mouth before slowly breathing out.
- Close lid by pushing back in the opposite direction.
“Hold it like a burger, take a deep breath in, like trying to slurp up a thick milkshake!”
Expiry Reminder: Once foil packaging has been opened, the inhalers have an expiry of:
- 4 weeks - Breo and Trelegy
- 6 weeks - Anoro and Incruse
How to use a turbuhaler
- Unscrew and remove the protective cover and hold the device upright
- Twist base one way, hear it click, then twist back other way – this loads dose and gets back to start
- Hold device away from mouth and breath out fully. Seal lips around mouthpiece to form a tight seal and suck in sharply. Remove device from mouth, hold breath for 5 seconds before slowly breathing out, away from the device
Pharmac consultation:
Proposed changes to diabetes medicine criteriaPharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to change special authority criteria for empagliflozin, dulaglutide and liraglutide – diabetes medicines that reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications. This looks to remove ethnicity-based eligibility criteria and widen access based on CVRA values.
Ticagrelor Supply Issues – ensure patients can access their supply with no disruption to treatment
The Sandoz brand of Ticagrelor has been in short supply due to shipping delays. PHARMAC notified supplies arrived in New Zealand on 13th May 2026 but would take several weeks to move through the supply chain.
To ensure continuity of supply the Mylan brand was listed on the schedule under Section 29 in March 2026.
If you do not have stock and are not able to source either brand of ticagrelor in a timely manner, please ensure that whānau can get their supply of ticagrelor by referring them to a pharmacy that you know has stock and is able to fill the prescription.
Please reiterate to whānau the importance of continuing therapy and not missing any doses to reduce their risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
Save the date:
MidCPG CE Session - 1st July 2026 7pm MidCPG Winter Wellness CE Session – how you can support your patients
- Asthma updates and key tips on ensuring your patients with asthma stay well
- AWHI Healthy Homes team – learn how your patients can have safe, healthy, warm dry homes
TEAMS LINK and more information will follow via email.
